Vintage watch experience 古董手錶

Friday, January 17, 2014

Vintage Seiko 6306 7001 (1976-81)

The 6306 is made for the Japanese domestic market. From the appearance they looked almost identical but

1. 6309 weighted 108 gm as compared to 102 gm of 6306 due to a finer finishing; i.e. the case is well polished.

2. 6306 diver differs from the 6309 in that it used the cal. 6306 movement with 21 Jewels and 6309's with 17 Jewels)

3. 6306 has hacking feature

4. 6306 has the Kanji (Japanese) day wheel.

Vintage Seiko 6105 8000

My Vintage Seiko divers and my wish lists 2014

After years of collecting vintage Rolex and Patek, I have started the new year 2014 with a new collection of vintage Seiko. There are many reasons for venturing into these new field.

Firstly, Seiko, especially the Grand Seiko were very well made with high precision 36000 hi beats (remembering that it was during the 1960s) movement and it has very nice case design that requires many man hours to finish the case polishing. Secondly, these watches are affordable ranging from HK$8000 upwards making collecting less painful to the pocket. Thirdly, the challenge is to find these watches in pristine conditions especially for the diver watches that were made as a tool watch. The challenges is also to avoid the after market dials, hands, bezels etc.

My humble Seiko divers collection so far consists of the following :

L to R the 6217. 6159-7010, 6306, 6105-8000

1. 1965年 – 6217-8000/8001 (1965-1968) – 150M –

The retail prices in 1965 was ￥14000 yen. This is first Seiko diver and is one of the unique watch as the size of the watch is not huge compared to the later version. This is a must for any Seiko Diver fans. I have found two both with the rare dolphins back case and one with a nice dial then the other. My friend Bryan has 4 units of these beauties.

When comparing with the 6159-7010 tuna, the 6217 looks like a baby..

2. 1967年 – 6215-7000 (1967) – 300M Professional

This is a rare one and I saw one at the vintage watch shop but the condition is average only. This is in my to find list

3. 1968年 – 6159-7000/7001 (1968-197X) – 300M Professional

I was fortunate to have the help of 7 gor who has helped to work out the various administration and logistics and shipping from Japan. The watch is from a Japnese collector and it shall be arriving in 5 days time and I am eagerly waiting for it to be back. For me, this is the most beautiful diver watch. Initially, my plan was to get the SBDX003, which is the reissued version produced in year 2000 limited to 500 units. However, being priced at HK$30-34k, I find it difficult to pay for a reissue plus, as a vintage watch collector, my preference is for vintage first, whenever possible..to get this watch, I need to sell away my limited edition Fortis IQ watch...

4. 1968年 – 6105-8000/8009 or 6105-8110/8119 (1968-1977) – 150M

I have just received the 6105-8000' a thinner case version from Ray yesterday night, upon my return from Shanhai business trip. The watch is in very good condition with all original case, dial, hands etc. given the thinner case, it is in fact very comfortable to wear. The faded bezel has also given the watch a vintage Rolex divers watch feel...but at a faction of the price. The hunt is on for the bigger brother and bigger cased 6150 8110 .

Martin Sheen wearing the Seiko 6150-8110. This is on my wish list now..

5. 1970年 – 2205-0640/0649/0760/0769/4090/0530 (1970-1981) – 150M Professional

This will be in my wist lists as well.

6. 1975年 – 6159-7010 (1975-1977) – 600M Professional (Tuna) – it was retailed at ¥89,000 yen in 1975.

As mentioned earlier, I have to trade one pair of my precious vintage speakers in order to get the watch. The search has been an interesting one as I was offered one but with winding crown not working and another with a loose turning bezel and scratched case. In the end, with good old fashioned barter trade, I was able to get this beauty, making it a win-win for both of us..

7. 1976年 – 6306-7000/7001 (1976-1981) – 150

This was an accidental find as initially I have no intention of getting it until I was informed that the 6306 7001 was made for the Japanese market with a different case back nos and dial marking and different day wording in Japanese as well as a different movement. Likewise, the case, dials and overall conditions are at its best!

8. 1976年 – 6309-7040/7049 or 6309-7290/729A/729B (1976-1988) – 150M

I have bought one 6309 buy since it is still under service, I will have to ait to see if its a 6309-7040or other serial nos. I bought it at a bargain HK$1000 only..

9. 1982年 – 4205-0140/0143/0144/0150/0152/0156/015A/104A/014B/014T (1982-1987) – 150M
10. 1982年 – 7005-8052 – 70M
11. 1988年 – 7002-7000/7001/700A/700J/7010/7020/7039/ (1988-1996) – 150M

Even though some of friends could not understand why I collect Seiko, I must say the learning and joy in collecting and understanding this brand is an excitement. Moreover, the budget needed to collect these beauties were smaller and very affordable ..

Out of the 6 vintage Seiko 150m automatic divers, 4 down and 2 more to go... : )

Sunday, January 12, 2014

淺談大MM由來(insights from the forum discussion)

淺談大mm由來

大mm乃坊間對精工潛水錶形號SBDX001的別稱，緣於錶面上印有MARINEMASTER字様，
乃精工首枚潛水錶被冠以MARINEMASTER之名，之後的新一代吞拿也相繼加上同樣的字在錶面上.

大mm 原祖乃形號6215，要追索到1967年。精工首枚潛水錶，擁有150 米防水能耐,形號6217於1965年誕生。
精工銳意再推出更高規格的潛水錶 (和現在不同，現時一般小形制錶廠也可做到標榜300，600，1000
米甚至更高防水功能的潛水錶)六十年代,奈於物料和技術，那時並非一般錶廠能設計和生產高性能的潛水錶，
為表自身有能耐和決心與瑞士名錶一爭夕朝,催生了 6215的

誕生。

採用一體錶殻，具有300 米的防水功能。配以金色邊的大圓點刻度和粗指針。錶面簡約的字様。外圈的數字排序與一般潛水錶不同，採用倒數設計，數目字逆時針由小至大 (實用與否見人見智), 錶的在4點位置, 搭載35石, 18 000 bph機芯。

All photo borrowed

，

一年後，再推出6159, 外形和6215極之相似。注入 25石高頻 (36000 bph)機芯，錶面更特別註明Hi-Beat,
外圈改回慣用的順時針數字排序.

未經証實，路邊社資訊，在1968年 6159推出後，一名在廣島的專業潛水員用6159作 350米深海潛水後
(雖 6159規格為 300米，但錶廠一定作較保守的規格設定) 發覺在爬升上水時, 因氦氣令玻璃面破裂,
另更指6159防震能力不佳，於深海碰撞到岩石令錶損壞.

這令精工為之震驚，同時亦令其投放大量資源，重新設計一枚全新的專業潛水錶，花了7年時間，
擁有精工獨特的外形，經歷了四十多年亦歷久不衰，近日更掀起熱朝的吞拿由此而生。若兄想更了解
呑拿系列的誕生和轉變，可參考blowoff12345678兄的舊帖，內有詳盡資料。

資料所知, 6215和6159的生產期十分之短，只有兩年, 不知是否因為與上述問題有關.
(實際停產年份小弟不大淸楚，如有兄知知曉請糾正)

[ 本帖最後由 kimimika 於 2013-12-18 09:47 PM 編輯 ]

Seiko 6217 8001 (1965-8)

I am fortunate to be able to find this lovely 6217 from my friend Bryan

One of the most important element is that the dolphin's logo is still highly visible and the wordings are still pertruding as many of these dolphin's case back were worn and non visible.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

New Seiko SBGW047

Seiko has relaunched the Gramd Seiko 6145

Vintage SEIKO 6159-7010 PROFESSIONAL DIVER WATCH Tuna Can 600m (1975-77)

Very often, collector is unwilling to sell their watches. I have just traded my pair of rare vintage speakers for this lovely vintage titanium 6150 7010 Tuna diver watch. The overall condition is very good despite the fact hat this is a tool watch from the 1975-1977.