1968 Vintage Seiko Diver Automatic 6105-8009
Ref: 6105-8009
Specification
Lugs : 19mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Seiko box or paperwork. The watch comes paired with a well-suited black Uncle Seiko rubber strap. The watch is from Circa. May 1968 and is sold in worn, vintage condition and signs of age and wear will be seen throughout. The watch is all original and has just returned from a recent service. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
The Watch
The 6105-8000 was Seiko’s second true diver with its characteristic cushion case, their C-shaped 41mm case was designed to be robust with a recessed signed crown which Seiko called “anti-snag” at 4 o’clock, introduced in 1968 as a replacement for the 62MAS. This 8009 version was made for the international market, a popular choice of American servicemen during the Vietnam war. The curve of the case leads to a lug-to-lug length of 48mm and a case thickness of 13mm giving the watch an impressive wrist presence and brushed and polished sides transition with crisp edges. A bidirectional friction fit bezel has knurling around its edge and a dive insert with large numerals, this was the first model to have Hardlex crystal fitted. The black dial has an outer minute track with applied square indexes coated in luminescence and outlined in chrome marking the hours, at 3 o’clock a framed dated window. Thick baton hands have lume infill complemented by a second hand with a stoplight-style counterweight, the indexes and hands have an even patina. At 12 o’clock applied Seiko with Automatic underneath, at 6 o’clock “water150proof” and the Suwa factory symbol. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the horseshoe arrangement of the watch credentials and Seiko in the centre, inside an automatic Seiko Cal. 6105, 17 jewels, 21,600 beats per hour. The movement has a quick-set date when you pull out the crown and rotate it and the watch comes fitted with a 19mm black Uncle Seiko rubber strap.
Personal Note
Original examples of this reference are getting harder to find, this is the case for most vintage Seiko's, especially the diver models. This is partly due to the fact these were originally sold as true tools, you purchased a Seiko as it was reliable and did everything you needed it to do, not wanted to do, but needed in your career or life situation! That is a very different situation to how we view watches today, for that reason originality was often not worried about as what mattered was the tool working as it was intended.
The Brand
Seikos history began in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori established the K. Hattori retail and repair store. In 1892 Seikosha was established to make wall clocks. 1895 saw the production of their first pocket watch. 1913 saw the launch of their first wristwatch, the Laurel. In 1924 the first Seiko was manufactured. Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments Inc.) was established in 1937. Seiko was listed on the Tokyo stock exchange in 1949. The Suwa factory became independent and formed Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corporation in 1959). In 1956 Seiko launched Marvel as their first true in-house made watch; they continued to make this watch until 1959. Japan’s first chronograph watch was introduced for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics; it was called the Seiko Crown Chronograph monopusher. Not stopping there Seiko launched Japan's first true divers watch the Seiko Diver’s 150M fitted with the automatic Caliber 6217 which later was given the nickname “62MAS” by collectors. The company name was changed to the Seiko Corporation in 1990. Innovation at Seiko continues today with GPS Solar watches.