Seiko Rally Diver...need help

Seiko guys...

Do you guys know anything about this watch...

Nice bezel, like that case and hidden crown...

1960s from the dial. Suwa factory (little hurricane symbol under the 17 Jewels). Got a case or model number?

This is from a post by Isthmus at WUS http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=194147

The Rally divers were a series of 70m sport divers first made by seiko in the late 1960's and early 1970's. They were nicknamed rally divers because of the checkered pattern of their bezel inserts, which originally resembled a checkered flag. I'm not sure were the rally association came from, but I suspect it might have something to do with the less traditional and often colorful designs of rally cars (which is not unlike how these watches are relative to more traditional dive watches). They were first issued as 6106 models and very shortly thereafter as 6119's. In fact there is a period of overlap in which both were produced simultaneously. The easiest way to tell is that the 6106 models, AFAIK, do not have a 5 logo on the dial, while the 6119's and all later reissues do. AFAIK, the 6106 models only come in two variants, the silver dialed 6106-7119 with a dark blue checkered bezel, which was also available as the 6106-7117.

The 6119 variants not only reissued the two original 6106 rally divers, such as this 6119-7170 that differs from the original 6106-7117 mainly on the addition of the 5 logo and a bit of dial text over the 0600

The basic style of seiko rally divers has been reissued and/or reinterpreted on several different calibers over the years. However the basic design has retained a basic commonality with the original models from the 60's. IIRC, besides the original 6106 and 6119's, you can find later issues as 5126's. They might have been issued in other vintage calibers, but I don't know that for sure.

[quote="Docrwm"]1960s from the dial. Suwa factory (little hurricane symbol under the 17 Jewels). Got a case or model number?quote]

I think it is a 6106-8227...

[quote="andrema"]

Docrwm wrote:

1960s from the dial. Suwa factory (little hurricane symbol under the 17 Jewels). Got a case or model number?quote]

I think it is a 6106-8227...

Seiko Rally Diver, 6106-8227

Age: Oct 1970
Dimensions: 39mm wide (approx), 20mm lugs
Features: Bi-directional, non-ratcheting bezel, Day, Date

In good shape they can run $5-700.

The lug width is looking like its 19mm, which is ok for leather - you just compress a 20mm, but for bracelets you'll have to file each side down .5mm.

Docrwm wrote:

This is from a post by Isthmus at WUS http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=194147

This is an awesome thread with really cool vintage divers!!!

andrema wrote:

Docrwm wrote:

This is from a post by Isthmus at WUS http://forums.watchuseek.com/showthread.php?t=194147

This is an awesome thread with really cool vintage divers!!!

Yup, and there are a bunch like that over there by Isthmus. He did give us permission to copy any we wanted to for our use here.

That pair of posts are the best that I have seen. I was looking for vintage Seikos and found them awile back...GREAT info!! I picked one (orange dial) up in rough condition for about 50 bucks from Ebay; was gonna try my hand at totally refurbing it, put a new crystal tried to grind and polish the case....effed it up royally! Was working fine until I tried to put the movement back and locked up the stem removal button.

Old Seikos are really cool! Your interest is re-sparking my own; gonna keep a look out for some as well. Another group of vintage Seikos to check out is the Bellmatics. Some had oversized cushion cases with alarms.

Great stuff Doc!!!Love all the vintage seiko watches, little small for my taste but very cool!!

These reissues are pretty cool too...from the WUS thread:

They were also released as part of the 1996 7s36 powered reissue collection, as you can see in this picture:

I forgot about the reissues, also very cool! Its amazing how well those old beasts hold up. All the ones I have have never been more than serviced, never rebuilt etc. and the keep running incredibly well for being more than 30 years old.

That is a nice watch in real good condition for it's age. I have to get a Seiko to fix up. These post have gotten me interested again. And I may even be able to afford it.

Dale wrote:

That is a nice watch in real good condition for it's age. I have to get a Seiko to fix up. These post have gotten me interested again. And I may even be able to afford it.

Great thing about them is you get a awesome piece with tons of character for under 200 bones in most cases!!!

cali kid wrote:

Dale wrote:

That is a nice watch in real good condition for it's age. I have to get a Seiko to fix up. These post have gotten me interested again. And I may even be able to afford it.

Great thing about them is you get a awesome piece with tons of character for under 200 bones in most cases!!!

I've got one on the way Soxa 6309 with 2 bezels (black & pepsi) and 2 straps (NATO and Super Oyster) for around that myself.

Docrwm wrote:

cali kid wrote:

Dale wrote:

That is a nice watch in real good condition for it's age. I have to get a Seiko to fix up. These post have gotten me interested again. And I may even be able to afford it.

Great thing about them is you get a awesome piece with tons of character for under 200 bones in most cases!!!

I've got one on the way Soxa 6309 with 2 bezels (black & pepsi) and 2 straps (NATO and Super Oyster) for around that myself.

Is that the symetrical case? I love that case...Noah's Soxa dial was meant for that case IMO!!

I was going to say that the Atomicwarehouse, which I learned about from Chris (Cski),
had some information. However, it looks like you already know about that site, by the looks
of your picture Mark !

http://www.atomicwarehouse.com/more.cfm?productid=2202&categoryid=15

. . . great old Seiko!!! And that's a hell of a site AT. . . . I'll stick to the new ones for now though guys.

Mostly 'cause I remember most of the old ones from when they were NEW!!!!!

noahfuller wrote:

what about this ?

randyswagon wrote:

. . . great old Seiko!!! And that's a hell of a site AT. . . . I'll stick to the new ones for now though guys.

Mostly 'cause I remember most of the old ones from when they were NEW!!!!!

Hmm Stellaris !..REALLY intriguing, and this was basically a Seiko ? Thanks Noah !
..Glad you liked that site Randy ! ..I got that one from Chris sir !

I am very close to a deal on one of these...keep your fingers crossed!!

andrema wrote:

I am very close to a deal on one of these...keep your fingers crossed!!

O.K. Mark !..You got it ! Keep us posted !

Cool! Might be the first vintage...DEFINITLY won't be the last..you got the bug!