How Good Things Last: 1970s Seiko 150m Diver Watch (6309-7040)

This is one of the few vintage Seiko watches that I currently own, Seiko 150m Diver 6309-7040 from the early 1980s. This is the original Seiko Turtle diver. The watch is one of the first ISO few certified divers around and this is why the depth rating is clearly stated on the dial. I procured this sixteen or so years ago at a flea market in Ipoh, Perak at a real bargain. 

Those days the flea markets in and around Malaysia were a veritable treasure trove of authentic vintage stuff. These days most of the good stuff have been taken or the traders have found out the true value of their wares and have upped prices. There are also those who take advantage and offer junk at high prices too. This explains why I have actually stopped 'treasure' hunting or frequenting places like these already. There are not many opportunities to procure 'grail' finds at local flea markets anymore. Maybe you still can, but the chances are slim these days as there are others that have woken up to this hobby.

Anyway, back to the watch at hand. The 6309-7040 (as well as its twin, the 6309-7049 North American export model) was produced from 1976 to 1988. There were many of them sold throughout the world and many were sold here in South East Asia. I have to state that this is not a rare watch. During the 1970s and 1980s, many military personnel who were stationed in South East Asia bought and used them. This was the period where the Vietnam war was at an end. So you see a lot of American, Australian and other military men sporting one of these in Thailand, Philippines and even here in Malaysia (we had an Australian squadron operating out of Butterworth at the time). 

I think Malaysians at the time did not really warm up to the Seiko Diver like some do today. I remember both my grandfathers owned Seiko watches but both were dress watches. My uncles and more older cousins at the time (1980s) wore the first digital Casio and Seiko watches. These were catching more than the chunky Seiko Diver back then. I remember personally wanting a Casio digital watch in 1980. Prior to this I wore a tiny boy's size single jewel hand wound watch that my father bought from the watch shop in Taiping where I was living. Nope. Do not remember most people wearing chunky Seikos back then. 

Anyway, I somehow started procuring diver type watches in the early 2000s as I liked the look. The clear dial and simplicity made it easy to tell the time. It looked nice and chunky too. It had a tool watch look to it and had something quite unique, a military provenance or a specialist tool type of image. Much like a Rolex Submariner or a Panerai. They were actually used by the military, deep sea divers and adventurers. The Seiko diver was also part of this mystique. So back then I wanted one.

And sixteen years ago I was at a flea market in Ipoh and I bought one. The condition of it was slightly worse than it is right now. The bezel insert with the 60 minute/sec counter was so badly damaged - it had scratches, faded all over till no writing was to be seen. It also very dented....and then it fell off a few years later. So that was replaced with one of parts you could buy online. Sometimes, I purposely get a little clumsy with it so that I add a few scratches to it here and there. But since this is a Seiko diver, it is almost impossible to really cause any serious wear to it. Maybe I need to leave it out in the sun a little. The bezel I mean. There rest are fabulously worn.

The hands are all original, as is the dial and the Seiko Hardlex crystal. So can see all of the weather, sun worn patina or 'wabi' (in Japanese dive collector's speak) on the watch. The cushion shaped case has not been polished in any way. Just cleaned. Like my Parker 75 I have basically left it the way managed to get hold of it. I like how 'perfect' it looks after decades of use. The watch is currently on an original Seiko folded metal link oyster bracelet with custom end links bought from the web. I like this look the best even though I have almost every optional strap that I can think of for this watch.

I have other vintage watches which have been fixed up but on some watches, it is as beautiful to look at if it has that weather worn look to it. This is natural patina  built up over the years. I do not wish to replace this look with something else. If fact, if I wanted a new Seiko diver with a cushion case, Seiko has just launched a 'reissue', a new Prospex 200m model. It looks the same as this one with very slight differences and a much higher entry level price to boot. 

These days I see many still interested in getting their hands on one of these. I see them on sale on EBay a lot and it is not that hard getting your hands on one. There is this excellent guide on WatchUSeek forum which tells you what to look for. You will see them flogged on the local buy-sell websites for close to RM1,000 these days. I bought mine at RM180.

Another reason to start collecting early.