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.

Seiko Bullhead Chronograph, 6138-0049

Age: February, 1975

Dimensions: 42mm wide, 19mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Chronograph, Tachymeter, 2 sub-dials for 12 hour events, Mineral glass crystal, Water-resistant 70m, Lumed hour markers and hands

Notes: This wonderful Bullhead chronograph was too good of a deal to pass up. I've wanted one for years, and my patience paid off. A fine, all original example on fishbone bracelet, it makes a great addition to my 6138 collection. Eventually, I'll get a new crystal and the case needs minor work, but it is an enjoyable watch in just about any state. Keeper!

Seiko Chronograph, 6139-6005

Age: June, 1973

Dimensions: 40mm wide, 19mm lugs

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

Notes: This was another try at a good 6139, and my first gold-dialed one. It was a nice example, but I had my sights set on a "proof/proof" from 1970 (which I landed yesterday!). This classic has found a new home.

Seiko Chronograph, 6139-6009

Age: March, 1970

Dimensions: 40mm wide, 19mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Tachymeter, Chronograph (30 min events), Rotating inner-bezel, Mineral glass crystal, Lumed hour markers, hour and minute hands.

Notes: This is my second attempt at procuring a 6139-600X series. I've decided that I want one with a "proof", or at the very least a "resist", dial. The case is immaculate, but it has some mechanical problems. All that combines in a reluctant catch-and-release situation. The search continues...

Seiko Arctura Kinetic Chronograph, 7L22-0AA0

Age: June, 2004

Dimensions: 40mm wide, integrated bracelet

Features: Date, Chronograph (45 min events), Sapphire crystal, Kinetic movement, Integrated bracelet, 100m water-resistant, Lumed hands

Notes: I was excited to receive this, but now I find the styling too modern for my taste. I like the recesses, finish and coloring of the dial, and I really appreciate the bracelet's homage to the fishbone bracelet of the old 6138s, but the overall shape of the watch combined with the small time-keeping portion of the dial makes it feel cold and impersonal. Something I find interesting is that the chronograph buttons have a feel like that of a mechanical watch as opposed to a quartz. I have yet to find a kinetic that fully satisfies me. The search continues...

Seiko Black Ion Chronograph, SNDA65

Age: November, 2008

Dimensions: 42mm wide (w/o crown), 22mm lugs

Features: Black ion-plated stainless steel case, Hardlex crystal, Chronograph (1/20 second, 12 hr events), 100m water-resistance, Quartz movement, Lumed hour markers and hands

Notes: I bought this watch for myself as a holiday gift late last year. I love it for several reasons: its Sinn-like appearance, light weight, strong lume and durability. I replaced the factory canvas strap with a 22mm Bond Zulu strap, and think it looks great. There is also an orange-striped black Zulu that would look good on it as well. I heartily recommend the SNDA series watches to anyone contemplating buying one. Or two.

Seiko Chronograph, 6139-6040

Age: September, 1976

Dimensions: 38mm wide, 19mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Tachymeter, Mineral glass crystal, Fully recessed crown

Notes: This is the One That Started It All. My first Seiko, purchased in 2001 on eBay from the notorious Sophon. I should probably feel lucky that I escaped from that transaction with an actual Seiko, and not something cobbled together with an old picture and washing machine parts, seeing as I knew absolutely nothing then. This watch, missing the white part of its outer bezel decal, reminds me of 1/2 of a 6138 because its sub-dial is square-shaped. The pushers don't stick, it keeps fantastic time, has the rare black (and not orange) dial, and takes curved end-pieces of some unique radian (because I can't find a match after all these years for a bracelet), and I'll never, ever sell it.

Seiko Yachtman Chronograph, 6138-0017

Age: January, 1972

Dimensions: 40mm wide (w/o crown), 18mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Chronograph, Tachymeter, 2 sub-dials for 12 hour events, Mineral glass crystal, Water-resistant 70m, Lumed hour markers and hands

Notes: I have been lusting after one of these 6138-001X series watches for some time, and mine finally arrived yesterday. It is a big sucker and sits quite high on the wrist, though comfortably. The bracelet is sort of a fishbone/oyster hybrid. The two sub-dials, one smaller than the other and with a checkerboard pattern, make it one of the more distinctive Seiko chronographs. I wrote a more in-depth review of it here. I look forward to collecting its cousins, the -0010 and -0011.

Seiko Macchina Sportiva Chronograph, SDWA87P

Age: May, 1996

Dimensions: 41mm wide, 13mm/18mm notched lugs

Features: Date, Chronograph, Tachymeter, Alarm, Water-resistant 200m, Giugiaro design, Hardlex crystal

Notes: This is a finely designed and crafted watch. The case has a unique ovoid shape and polished finish on top of the circular satin finished base. The hands are fully lumed. The chronograph sweep hand ticks at .25 seconds, and the top sub-dial tracks time at one hour increments. Hardlex crystal tops it off for durability and readability, and the sturdy 7T32 movement provides years of trouble-free service. This particular watch is lacking the original strap (which is blue sharkskin), so I will put this one up for sale and wait for a better example of this great piece.

Seiko Chronograph, 6138-8020

Age: Feb, 1977

Dimensions: 39mm wide, 18mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Tachymeter, Two sub-dials, Solid gold-plating

Notes: This beautiful watch was a great score, and my second 6138. Everything about it is in great shape, and it still has the original bracelet. It's my first gold watch, and probably my last as I don't really like the bling. The chronograph function can time up to 12 hour events.

Seiko Quartz Chronograph, 7A28-7039

Age: Dec, 1992

Dimensions: 39mm wide, 22mm lug

Features: Tachymeter, 1/20 second measure

Notes: This is one of the cleanest vintage watches I own. It looks brand new; even the lume is still strong enough to be seen in the daylight, as shown in the picture. It's the best looking watch I never wear -- there's no date function, and I have to admit this one taught me it's something I prefer. As it rarely leaves its box, I would sell it if the offer came around.

Seiko Chronograph, 6139-6005

Age: Aug, 1973

Dimensions: 40mm wide, 19mm lugs

Features: Day, Date, Chronograph w/30 min sub-dial, Tachymeter, Rotating inner-bezel

Notes: I took a flier on this one, as the seller posted a terrible picture, knowing that it was a bit of a crap-shoot. The case is very crisp, but the outer-bezel insert is badly faded. The inner-bezel is a somewhat rare gray in combination with the black dial. It still has the original bracelet, which is pretty rare on a watch of this age. There are some mechanical problems with it that my watchmaker seemed to shy away from, so I will probably end up selling it at some point.