Vintage Japanese Steel

Here's a link to a forum entry I made. The pieces will be/have been featured here on my blog, but it's kinda nice to see them all together.

I've been swapping out pieces and concentrating on divers and 6138 and 6139 chronographs, and things are starting to come around. I'd say these are the highlights of my vintage collection.

Seiko Sawtooth Diver, SCH063

Age: September, 2007

Dimensions: 46mm wide w/o crown, 20mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Hardlex crystal, Uni-directional rotating bezel, Water-resistant 200m, Quartz movement, Fully lumed hands and hour markers, Screw-down crown at 4:00.

Notes: My low-ball bid won this on the bay last summer, and when I put it on it didn't come off for months. The lume is outstanding, the quality in materials is there, and it's quite comfortable. The bezel is still stiff (I hear it's an easy fix), and clicks with a very satisfying feel. Having recently fallen in love with automatics again (and procuring an amazing piece to be reviewed later), this out-of-production-diver has been nudged onto the "maybe for sale" list.

Seiko Chronograph, 6139-6000

Age: February, 1970

Dimensions: 40mm wide, 19mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Chronograph (30 min events), Tachymeter, Rotating inner-bezel, Water-resistant 70m

Notes: I landed this great example of a Seiko Pepsi Chronograph about a month ago. It's dial hasn't faded to deep blue, as most do. It still plays in the light. It's marked "proof/proof" and there's a notch above the crown, available only on the early makes of this watch. Bezel, case, and straight bracelet are in great shape. It needs a new crystal and the day function isn't advancing, so in the coming months it'll get shipped out for service.

Tissot Quickster Chronograph

Age: 2001

Dimensions: 42mm wide (w/o crown), 20mm lugs

Features: Date, Tachymeter, Event timer (1/10 second, 12 hour events), Sapphire crystal, 100m water resistant, Swiss quartz movement

Notes: I bought this watch used, but just after its release. I really like its 70's style, but modern durability and ease of use. This edition, with the blue and white rally striped strap, is a bit of a collector's item and has appreciated nicely. I still take it out and enjoy it from time to time.