diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/account.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/account.cpp
index 313d803a5..eb79f5949 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/account.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/account.cpp
@@ -93,6 +93,22 @@ DISABLE_VS_WARNINGS(4244 4345)
     return first;
   }
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------
+  void account_base::create_from_viewkey(const cryptonote::account_public_address& address, const crypto::secret_key& viewkey)
+  {
+    m_keys.m_account_address = address;
+    m_keys.m_view_secret_key = viewkey;
+
+    struct tm timestamp;
+    timestamp.tm_year = 2014 - 1900;  // year 2014
+    timestamp.tm_mon = 4 - 1;  // month april
+    timestamp.tm_mday = 15;  // 15th of april
+    timestamp.tm_hour = 0;
+    timestamp.tm_min = 0;
+    timestamp.tm_sec = 0;
+
+    m_creation_timestamp = mktime(&timestamp);
+  }
+  //-----------------------------------------------------------------
   const account_keys& account_base::get_keys() const
   {
     return m_keys;
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/account.h b/src/cryptonote_core/account.h
index 909fa7ef6..088363bf1 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/account.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/account.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
   public:
     account_base();
     crypto::secret_key generate(const crypto::secret_key& recovery_key = crypto::secret_key(), bool recover = false, bool two_random = false);
+    void create_from_viewkey(const cryptonote::account_public_address& address, const crypto::secret_key& viewkey);
     const account_keys& get_keys() const;
     std::string get_public_address_str(bool testnet) const;
     std::string get_public_integrated_address_str(const crypto::hash &payment_id, bool testnet) const;
diff --git a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
index c4d0acb7a..dee53c478 100644
--- a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
+++ b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ namespace
 {
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_wallet_file = {"wallet-file", "Use wallet <arg>", ""};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_generate_new_wallet = {"generate-new-wallet", "Generate new wallet and save it to <arg> or <address>.wallet by default", ""};
+  const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_generate_from_view_key = {"generate-from-view-key", "Generate wallet from (address:viewkey:filename) and save it to <filename>", ""};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_daemon_address = {"daemon-address", "Use daemon instance at <host>:<port>", ""};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_daemon_host = {"daemon-host", "Use daemon instance at host <arg> instead of localhost", ""};
   const command_line::arg_descriptor<std::string> arg_password = {"password", "Wallet password", "", true};
@@ -224,6 +225,11 @@ bool simple_wallet::seed(const std::vector<std::string> &args/* = std::vector<st
   bool success =  false;
   std::string electrum_words;
 
+  if (m_wallet->watch_only())
+  {
+    fail_msg_writer() << "This wallet is watch-only and cannot have a seed.";
+    return true;
+  }
   if (m_wallet->is_deterministic())
   {
     if (m_wallet->get_seed_language().empty())
@@ -249,6 +255,11 @@ bool simple_wallet::seed(const std::vector<std::string> &args/* = std::vector<st
 bool simple_wallet::seed_set_language(const std::vector<std::string> &args/* = std::vector<std::string>()*/)
 {
   bool success = false;
+  if (m_wallet->watch_only())
+  {
+    fail_msg_writer() << "This wallet is watch-only and doesn't have a seed.";
+    return true;
+  }
   if (!m_wallet->is_deterministic())
   {
     fail_msg_writer() << "This wallet is non-deterministic and doesn't have a seed.";
@@ -390,7 +401,7 @@ bool simple_wallet::ask_wallet_create_if_needed()
   // add logic to error out if new wallet requested but named wallet file exists
   if (keys_file_exists || wallet_file_exists)
   {
-    if (!m_generate_new.empty() || m_restore_deterministic_wallet)
+    if (!m_generate_new.empty() || m_restore_deterministic_wallet || !m_generate_from_view_key.empty())
     {
       fail_msg_writer() << "Attempting to generate or restore wallet, but specified file(s) exist.  Exiting to not risk overwriting.";
       return false;
@@ -445,12 +456,12 @@ bool simple_wallet::init(const boost::program_options::variables_map& vm)
     return false;
   }
 
-  if(!m_generate_new.empty() && !m_wallet_file.empty())
+  if((!m_generate_new.empty()) + (!m_wallet_file.empty()) + (!m_generate_from_view_key.empty()) > 1)
   {
-    fail_msg_writer() << "Specifying both --generate-new-wallet=\"wallet_name\" and --wallet-file=\"wallet_name\" doesn't make sense!";
+    fail_msg_writer() << "Specifying more than one of --generate-new-wallet=\"wallet_name\", --wallet-file=\"wallet_name\" and --generate-from-keys doesn't make sense!";
     return false;
   }
-  else if (m_generate_new.empty() && m_wallet_file.empty())
+  else if (m_generate_new.empty() && m_wallet_file.empty() && m_generate_from_view_key.empty())
   {
     if(!ask_wallet_create_if_needed()) return false;
   }
@@ -483,7 +494,7 @@ bool simple_wallet::init(const boost::program_options::variables_map& vm)
     }
   }
 
-  if (!m_generate_new.empty() || m_restore_deterministic_wallet)
+  if (!m_generate_new.empty() || m_restore_deterministic_wallet || !m_generate_from_view_key.empty())
   {
     if (m_wallet_file.empty()) m_wallet_file = m_generate_new;  // alias for simplicity later
 
@@ -513,9 +524,50 @@ bool simple_wallet::init(const boost::program_options::variables_map& vm)
         return false;
       }
     }
-    bool r = new_wallet(m_wallet_file, pwd_container.password(), m_recovery_key, m_restore_deterministic_wallet,
-      m_non_deterministic, testnet, old_language);
-    CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(r, false, "account creation failed");
+    if (!m_generate_from_view_key.empty())
+    {
+      // split address:viewkey:filename triple
+      std::vector<std::string> parts;
+      boost::split(parts,m_generate_from_view_key, boost::is_any_of(":"));
+      if (parts.size() < 3)
+      {
+        fail_msg_writer() << "--generate-from-view-key needs a address:viewkey:filename triple";
+        return false;
+      }
+
+      // parse address
+      cryptonote::account_public_address address;
+      bool has_payment_id;
+      crypto::hash new_payment_id;
+      if(!get_account_integrated_address_from_str(address, has_payment_id, new_payment_id, testnet, parts[0]))
+      {
+          fail_msg_writer() << "Failed to parse address";
+          return false;
+      }
+
+      // parse view secret key
+      cryptonote::blobdata viewkey_data;
+      if(!epee::string_tools::parse_hexstr_to_binbuff(parts[1], viewkey_data))
+      {
+        fail_msg_writer() << "Failed to parse view key secret key";
+        return false;
+      }
+      crypto::secret_key viewkey = *reinterpret_cast<const crypto::secret_key*>(viewkey_data.data());
+
+      // parse filename
+      m_wallet_file = parts[2];
+      for (size_t n = 3; n < parts.size(); ++n)
+        m_wallet_file += std::string(":") + parts[n];
+
+      bool r = new_wallet(m_wallet_file, pwd_container.password(), address, viewkey, testnet);
+      CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(r, false, "account creation failed");
+    }
+    else
+    {
+      bool r = new_wallet(m_wallet_file, pwd_container.password(), m_recovery_key, m_restore_deterministic_wallet,
+        m_non_deterministic, testnet, old_language);
+      CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(r, false, "account creation failed");
+    }
   }
   else
   {
@@ -538,6 +590,7 @@ void simple_wallet::handle_command_line(const boost::program_options::variables_
 {
   m_wallet_file                   = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_wallet_file);
   m_generate_new                  = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_generate_new_wallet);
+  m_generate_from_view_key        = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_generate_from_view_key);
   m_daemon_address                = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_daemon_address);
   m_daemon_host                   = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_daemon_host);
   m_daemon_port                   = command_line::get_arg(vm, arg_daemon_port);
@@ -667,6 +720,32 @@ bool simple_wallet::new_wallet(const std::string &wallet_file, const std::string
   return true;
 }
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool simple_wallet::new_wallet(const std::string &wallet_file, const std::string& password, const cryptonote::account_public_address& address,
+  const crypto::secret_key& viewkey, bool testnet)
+{
+  m_wallet_file = wallet_file;
+
+  m_wallet.reset(new tools::wallet2(testnet));
+  m_wallet->callback(this);
+
+  try
+  {
+    m_wallet->generate(wallet_file, password, address, viewkey);
+    message_writer(epee::log_space::console_color_white, true) << "Generated new watch-only wallet: "
+      << m_wallet->get_account().get_public_address_str(m_wallet->testnet());
+    std::cout << "view key: " << string_tools::pod_to_hex(m_wallet->get_account().get_keys().m_view_secret_key) << ENDL;
+  }
+  catch (const std::exception& e)
+  {
+    fail_msg_writer() << "failed to generate new wallet: " << e.what();
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  m_wallet->init(m_daemon_address);
+
+  return true;
+}
+//----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 bool simple_wallet::open_wallet(const string &wallet_file, const std::string& password, bool testnet)
 {
   if (!tools::wallet2::wallet_valid_path_format(wallet_file))
@@ -1585,6 +1664,7 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
   po::options_description desc_params("Wallet options");
   command_line::add_arg(desc_params, arg_wallet_file);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_params, arg_generate_new_wallet);
+  command_line::add_arg(desc_params, arg_generate_from_view_key);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_params, arg_password);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_params, arg_daemon_address);
   command_line::add_arg(desc_params, arg_daemon_host);
diff --git a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.h b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.h
index bc100f507..2b8ca0ed2 100644
--- a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.h
+++ b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.h
@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@ namespace cryptonote
 
     bool new_wallet(const std::string &wallet_file, const std::string& password, const crypto::secret_key& recovery_key,
         bool recover, bool two_random, bool testnet, const std::string &old_language);
+    bool new_wallet(const std::string &wallet_file, const std::string& password, const cryptonote::account_public_address& address,
+        const crypto::secret_key& viewkey, bool testnet);
     bool open_wallet(const std::string &wallet_file, const std::string& password, bool testnet);
     bool close_wallet();
 
@@ -194,6 +196,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
   private:
     std::string m_wallet_file;
     std::string m_generate_new;
+    std::string m_generate_from_view_key;
     std::string m_import_path;
 
     std::string m_electrum_seed;  // electrum-style seed parameter
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
index b798ae264..63205f429 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet2.cpp
@@ -675,6 +675,40 @@ crypto::secret_key wallet2::generate(const std::string& wallet_, const std::stri
   return retval;
 }
 
+/*!
+* \brief Creates a watch only wallet from a public address and a view secret key.
+* \param  wallet_        Name of wallet file
+* \param  password       Password of wallet file
+* \param  viewkey        view secret key
+*/
+void wallet2::generate(const std::string& wallet_, const std::string& password,
+  const cryptonote::account_public_address &account_public_address,
+  const crypto::secret_key& viewkey)
+{
+  clear();
+  prepare_file_names(wallet_);
+
+  boost::system::error_code ignored_ec;
+  THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION_IF(boost::filesystem::exists(m_wallet_file, ignored_ec), error::file_exists, m_wallet_file);
+  THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION_IF(boost::filesystem::exists(m_keys_file,   ignored_ec), error::file_exists, m_keys_file);
+
+  m_account.create_from_viewkey(account_public_address, viewkey);
+  m_account_public_address = account_public_address;
+  m_watch_only = true;
+
+  bool r = store_keys(m_keys_file, password, true);
+  THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION_IF(!r, error::file_save_error, m_keys_file);
+
+  r = file_io_utils::save_string_to_file(m_wallet_file + ".address.txt", m_account.get_public_address_str(m_testnet));
+  if(!r) LOG_PRINT_RED_L0("String with address text not saved");
+
+  cryptonote::block b;
+  generate_genesis(b);
+  m_blockchain.push_back(get_block_hash(b));
+
+  store();
+}
+
 /*!
  * \brief Rewrites to the wallet file for wallet upgrade (doesn't generate key, assumes it's already there)
  * \param wallet_name Name of wallet file (should exist)
@@ -689,8 +723,8 @@ void wallet2::rewrite(const std::string& wallet_name, const std::string& passwor
   THROW_WALLET_EXCEPTION_IF(!r, error::file_save_error, m_keys_file);
 }
 /*!
- * \brief Rewrites to the wallet file for wallet upgrade (doesn't generate key, assumes it's already there)
- * \param wallet_name Name of wallet file (should exist)
+ * \brief Writes to a file named based on the normal wallet (doesn't generate key, assumes it's already there)
+ * \param wallet_name Base name of wallet file
  * \param password    Password for wallet file
  */
 void wallet2::write_watch_only_wallet(const std::string& wallet_name, const std::string& password)
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet2.h b/src/wallet/wallet2.h
index 4a07de8d1..cae21463e 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet2.h
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet2.h
@@ -145,6 +145,15 @@ namespace tools
     crypto::secret_key generate(const std::string& wallet, const std::string& password,
       const crypto::secret_key& recovery_param = crypto::secret_key(), bool recover = false,
       bool two_random = false);
+    /*!
+     * \brief Creates a watch only wallet from a public address and a view secret key.
+     * \param  wallet_        Name of wallet file
+     * \param  password       Password of wallet file
+     * \param  viewkey        view secret key
+     */
+    void generate(const std::string& wallet, const std::string& password,
+      const cryptonote::account_public_address &account_public_address,
+      const crypto::secret_key& viewkey = crypto::secret_key());
     /*!
      * \brief Rewrites to the wallet file for wallet upgrade (doesn't generate key, assumes it's already there)
      * \param wallet_name Name of wallet file (should exist)