August 1984 Seiko Turtle Automatic 6309-7049
Ref: 6309-7049
Specification
Lugs : 22mm
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 20mm NATO. The watch is from August 1984 and is sold in worn condition, but overall fair condition as you can see from the photos. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have an August 1984 Seiko Turtle Automatic 6309-7049 with a 45mm stainless steel cushion case, seiko gets wrist ergonomics so right with its subtle curves and lug-to-lug length of 44mm and a case thickness of 43mm giving the watch an impressive wrist presence, at 4 o’clock a screw-down crown is recessed for protection within the case. The unidirectional bezel has double knurling for extra grip around its outer edge and a black dive insert with large numerals, a flat hardlex crystal sits above a black dial. An outer minute chapter ring is precisely marked, disc and Trapezoid indexes coated in luminance mark the hours, and at 3 o’clock a day/date window. Arrow and sword hands coated in luminance complemented by a lollipop counterweighted sweeping second hand, at 12 o’clock we have the Seiko motif with “Water 150m Resist” at 6 o’clock completes this workhorse of a dive watch. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the Seiko Tsunami engraved in the centre, inside an Automatic Seiko Cal. 6309, 17 jewels, 21,600 beats per hour. The watch comes fitted on a 20mm NATO strap.
Personal Note
The Seiko Turtle is by far my favourite Seiko and I often have one in my personal collection, the trouble is they make so many different variants that it's hard to choose one! Thankfully, their vintage models are truly incredible and well worth bypassing the modern references and jumping straight for one of these vintage examples.
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, and 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.