I’ve featured one of these Scubapro 450 branded 6306’s before but that won’t stop me featuring another! These are so scarce (if you discount the thousands of fake dialled 6309’s you see) that it’s always nice to have a look at the genuine article. This one came in for a movement service recently and as you can see it’s in cracking condition.
Author: thewatchbloke
Seiko 8306-8020
I thought I’d feature todays watch because you don’t see too many calibre 8306’s around, this one is in truly fantastic condition and it’s a front loader so I thought I’d explain the different methods available for crystal removal. This watch is branded ‘Business-A’ which was a Seiko JDM marketing campaign in the 60’s and early 70’s to try and make young Japanese businessmen think their life in the cut and thrust world of commerce would only be complete with one of these branded timepieces strapped to their wrist!
Rolex 16030 calibre 3035
This lovely gents Rolex came in recently for a movement service, it was losing time, had very little power reserve and kept stopping. Powered by the calibre 3035 which is the predecessor to the current calibre 3135, it was the first high-beat (28,800bph) movement made by Rolex. The 3035 was a development of the venerable 15xx series and has a free-sprung balance with Breguet overcoil, contains Rolex’s patent Microstella regulating system and has an instantaneous date changeover mechanism.
Help for breast cancer research – with Seiko content!
I had an unusual request recently, to paint the seconds hand of a watch from red to pink! I asked why the owner wanted this done and he explained the watch was his wifes and that she (and he) had just bought a pink highlighted NATO strap each that were being sold by a guy who’s raising money for breast cancer research. This particular chap and his wife had their world turned upside down 8 weeks after the birth of their first son when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Out of a feeling of hopelessness that there was little he could do to help his wife he decided to get some NATO straps manufactured and see if he could raise some funds to battle the disease. The story is here along with details of how to order your own strap, and there’s a link to Mikes instagram account here.
Here’s how the watch started….
Seiko 6159-7010 ‘Tuna can’
Seikos professional range of dive watches started in 1968 with the introduction of the 6159-7001, this was a traditional type of divers watch albeit with a monocoque case and was water resistant to 300m. Now the Japanese at this point were excellent at taking design cues from other manufacturers and incorporating them in their own watches, but in 1975 they released the 6159-7010 which was a truly unique and original design of their own. It included several industry firsts, the first titanium case, the L-shaped single crystal gasket and of course the ceramic-coated titanium shroud. With a 600m depth rating, the 6159 dispenses with a helium release valve in part due to very consistent and tight manufacturing tolerances, but also due to the one piece case and screw down crystal retaining system. This means that the crystal cant blow out as atmospheric pressure drops in a decompression chamber as it’s physically restrained by a locking ring. It’s not hard to see how this watch earned the nickname ‘Tuna can’! The watch featured came in for a movement service.
Timefactors PRS-1 Speedbird
Todays featured watch comes from my favourite micro brand, this watch was the one that kicked it all off for Eddie Platts the proprietor of Timefactors. I own many of Eddies watches (seven at the last count) but I don’t have a PRS-1, however I’d love to! This was the first of his designs and was released in 2001 with a production run of only 300. It was called the PRS-1 and is powered by the ETA 2836-2, a 25 jewel 28,800bph automatic movement. The example below came in for a service and to investigate a slipping noise when manually winding.
Omega Seamaster GMT calibre 1128
This Seamaster GMT came in for a service and I thought you may find it interesting to see the insides of the calibre 1182 movement. The 1128 is based on the ETA’s calibre 2892-A2 so it should look reasonably familiar!
Omega Speedmaster Calibre 321
I’ve written about the Omega Speedmaster before so I won’t delve into the history but it’s nice to have a pre moon one on the bench with the original calibre 321 movement inside. This one dates from about 1967 according to the serial number and as such is know as the ‘pre moon’ because it pre dates the Apollo moon landings. This example came in for a spruce up, a service and to sort a couple of niggles.
Tudor Pelagos
The introduction of the Tudor Pelagos (and the Black Bay) at Baselworld in 2012 reinforced Tudors ability to get the styling of their watches spot on. Whilst the Black bay was undoubtably inspired by the vintage Tudor divers of the 50’s and 60’s the Pelagos was much more up to date with it’s titanium case, 500m depth rating with just a nod to the traditional with it’s snowflake hands. Both watches were instant successes with people clamouring for both models in equal measures. The original Pelagos is powered by a slightly breathed on and decorated ETA2824-2, the new Pelagos which was introduced at this years Baselworld has an in house movement, the MT5612. This is hardly surprising with Swatch Group controversially cutting off the supply of ETA movements to manufacturers and parts to independent repairers (me!) at the end of this year. This Pelagos came in with an interesting problem, when manually wound the spring made a loud slipping noise almost as though the spring was broken near the barrel wall.
Seiko 6138-7000 slide rule
I thought I’d feature this 6138-7000 because it’s a variation of Seikos twin register chronograph that isn’t seen very often. It’s unusual in as much as it has a slide rule bezel and indicator much like the contemporary Breitling Navitimers, although quite how pilots were meant to operate it whilst flying a plane I’m not entirely sure! This example came in for a bit of a smarten up and a full movement service.
The Watch Bloke 