Vintage Series
Every great story has a beginning. The 1960's were an important decade for Seiko. In this decade alone the brand released their first Grand Seiko, unveiled the world's first automatic chronograph movement and in 1969 developed a technology that would turn the watch world around; the quartz movement. But that was not all they achieved.
In 1965, one year after being named the Official Timekeeper of the Tokyo Olympics, Seiko entered the world of dive watches by releasing Japan's first dive watch; the now-famous 62MAS. This model was instrumental in laying the groundwork for what we know today as the Prospex line.
In 1970, Seiko developed its first asymmetrical cushion-case dive watch with the 6105. This model became highly popular with US servicemen during the Vietnam War, due to its reliability and ruggedness; and is known as the "Captain Willard" due to it featuring on the wrist of a young Martin Sheen as Captain Willard in the 1979 movie Apocalypse Now. The 6105 developed through the 6309 model to what we know today as the SRP77x line of Seiko models, otherwise call the Turtle. The range is named affectionately from to the silhouette of the cushion case design, harking way back to this original 6105.
In 1975, Seiko released its first Professional Dive Watch with the 6159-022. This case is identifiable from its large protective shroud from which it gains its namesake, the Grandfather Tuna. The former for its vintage, and the latter for its reminiscence to a can of tuna. Whilst function was sought over form, it is notable that the shroud design is still used to this day; and has developed into an iconic part of the Seiko Prospex lineup with current models running Solar Quartz, Automatic and even Spring Drive movements.
I have set about to create a range of timepieces to pay homage to these original greats which started the Seiko diver range.
Click each image below for more information on each timepiece in the Time Design Vintage Series.
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See the other Time Design Series watches below:
