Seiko 6159-7001 Professional

Seiko’s first 300m was a landmark. Five years after the 62MAS, on the heels of the 150m 6215, Seiko released this beauty. The 6159 was Seiko’s first monocoque case design with a screw down crown. This was a new high, or rather low depth, for the brand—and an innovation within dive watches generally. This design may not have been their first diver, but it was a massive leap in engineering and design. This 6159 set a blueprint for every turtle, SKX, and Prospex you love today.

It seems that Seiko got carried away a little here. Not only was its monocoque case a first, but they had a new bulletproof caliber. Seiko fitted the case to their cal 6159A, which was a 36000 vph hi-beat movement originally intended for their new Grand Seiko line. It was one of their first automatic calibers that could also be manually wound. The hands are all thicker than the previous 6215 with wider lume plots for increased visibility. The watch was only produced for 1968 and 1969, making it one of the rarest high-production models in Seiko’s vintage history. This is watch you want to buy carefully, as almost all parts of its movement and case are not shared with any other models.

Good examples don’t show up often. Great examples like this are one or two every other year. This is the kind of find I present with pride. If you can’t tell, I adore the 6159. This example is an excellent proposition. The crystal, case, crown, and bezel all appear correct and original. The watch has light wear, but the unique case is sharp and totally unpolished. Its back has a clear insignia, the watch was not worn frequently. Moreover, it is running well and guaranteed for a year. It comes retailed from a known well-reviewed retailer Chronoholic. If you want to start collecting Seiko seriously, you could do far worse.

Find this 6159-7001 here from Chronoholic for 8500 USD.