A lot of dedicated, detailed articles and reviews already exist on the Seiko diver watches. For Seikoliks, an interesting book exists “SEIKO Diver's Watch Evolution”. Unfortunately, it is in Japanese but worthy.

I just briefly introduce the 6105 model in the Seiko diver’s history to highlight the continuity and legitimacy of Seiko in this watch’s category.

Seiko Chronos Sea Horse and SilverWave

By the end of the 50’s and the beginning of the 60’s scuba diving is becoming possible for - almost! - anybody. Seiko, like other brands designed models for this new sport. In 1959, appeared a Seiko 50m rated water proof model: the Seiko Cronos Sea Horse (ref. J13032) with a manual Diashock 21 jewels movement and a new 2 parts screw-down case. Honestly, I do think that we could rather consider this model as a sport watch with swimming and snorkeling capabilities even if it was marketed as a diver watch.

The first real waterproof Seiko belonged to the Seikomatic line in 1961: Seikomatic 50m SilverWave (ref. J12082). From a history perspective, the Silverwave models made the link between the previous Sea Horse models and the first Seiko professional diver watch, the 62MAS.

The J12082 SilverWave was discontinued when a budget SilverWave model with a cheaper movement appeared in 1964 until early 1966. This model named Sportsmatic SilverWave (ref. 69799) was 30m rated water proof due to a pressure fit case back.

It’s important to notice that the SilverWave models were the first model of Seiko having the “tsunami wave” symbol on the case back.

62MAS (first professional diver watches by Seiko)

In 1965, Seiko released the 62MAS (autoMAtic Selfdater – ref.6217-8000/1). It retailed for 13,000 yen. This is the first professional diver watch from Seiko with dedicated features:

• Guaranteed up to 150 meters
• External elapsed time bezel (but bidirectional and no click)
  
• Large lumed indices
  
• Hands with large lume
• Screw down case back

 The « tsunami wave » symbol was not used anymore, replaced by a « dolphin » symbol (except for the later models having Seiko engraved inside a « horseshoe »). The 62MAS 6217-8000 reference is the first generation of the 62MAS mainly featuring a smaller crown (April-May 1965). The 62MAS 6217-8001 reference is the second generation (Jan. 1966 - June 1967) with a bigger crown, a larger crown tube and a small case cut for the crown. If the first generation is built by Suwa, Daini joined from 1967 to June 1967.

However, since this emblematic model, we can retrieve the 62MAS DNA in the next Seiko divers and for sure, the 62MAS is an important milestone in the Seiko history, considered as an emblematic model for all Seikolic!

Professional Divers and 150m lines

After the 62MAS, we can consider 2 different ranges of Seiko divers. The professional one with 300m or 600m rated water proof models like 6125-7000 (in 1967), 6159-7001 (in 1968), the shrouded Tuna models and more recently the Marine Master.

In 1988, the new model 7002-7039 introduced a new era: water resistance of 200m, 120 clicks unidirectional bezel and a thinner case, still present in the current models.

Now, let’s focus on the 6105-8xxx models.

Hieraklion 01/2020

** TO BE CONTINUED **

Some interesting readings, videos and references

Adventures in Amateur Watch Fettling: adventuresinamateurwatchfettling.com m
Fratello Magazine : www.fratellowatches.com /
Horology Crazy: www.horologycrazy.com m
Keep the Time Blog: www.keepthetime.com /
Plus9Time : www.plus9time.com /
Seiko & Citizen Watch Forum (SCWF): www.thewatchsite.com /
Seiko Club Singapore: forums.seikoclubsg.com /
Seiko Corp: www.seiko-watch.co.jp /
Seiko Diver Blog: seikodiver.blogspot.com /
Seiko Museum: museum.seiko.co.jp /
Seiko Shizuku-Ishi Studio : www.shizukuishi-watch.com www.morioka-seiko.co.jp l
Spencer Klein: www.kleinvintagewatchrepair.com m
The Grand Seiko Guy : thegrandseikoguy.com m
The Seikoholics Forums:
www.tapatalk.com /
The Sping Bar : thespringbar.com m
Vintage Time Australia: www.vintagetimeaustralia.com Haut du formulaire
Worn & Wound: wornandwound.com /
Wrist Sushi, A Japanese Watch Forum: wristsushi.proboards.com /
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