The Ref. Seiko 6105-8110/9 is an iconic vintage Seiko, originally introduced in 1970 by the brand as a 150m water resistant professional diver's offering. Key features were the comfortable and protective cushion case and the screw-down crown is located at 4 o’clock, protected by a chunky crown guard. The watch was famously worn by a young Martin Sheen who played Capt. Benjamin Willard in the 1979 classic Apocalypse Now; hence the namesake. Original versions of this vintage timepiece are rare to find in good condition due to their 'tool watch' nature from new, often reaching $3,500 - $4,000 NZD depending on condition. The origins of the current Seiko Turtle can easily be traced back to this original cushion cased model (comparison photo below).
In mid 2019, Seiko re-released this version with a new 8L35 movement and uprated water resistance at 200m. The release was however limited to only 2,500 pieces which were sold quickly, and examples are appreciating online around the $6,000 NZD mark.
There are a large number of Seiko 6105 homage watches on the market, so my goal to recreate this vintage icon is nothing new; indeed I have owned & cherished one of these homages myself (a Heritor Morrison, see below). Where the Time Design offering will differ is the recreation; rather than blindly copy either watch, I have set about to build a 6105 with a mix of modern and period-correct components, in my mind befitting the ideal 6105. For example, parts like the movement and crystal will be modern, but the bezel insert will be vintage-esque material to allow for that wonderful patina we all cherish to develop.
Parts: - 6105 recreation case - Single dome sapphire crystal - Vintage-esque bezel insert - 20mm recreation 'waffle' rubber dive strap - 6105 handset and dial - Seiko NH35 automatic movement - Coin edge bezel
Martin Sheen as Captain Willard wearing the famous 6105 in Apocalypse Now, 1979
6105 showing signs of patina from www.gearpatrol.com
Heritor Morrison 6105 homage from my collection, compared on right to the current model Seiko SRP775 Turtle