The 300m 6159-7001 (and 7000) diver is Seikos first proper attempt at a “professional” dive watch. When I say the first there was of course the 300m 6215-7001 which was released a year earlier in 1967, and the 150m 6217-8001 released in 1965, but according to the Seiko parts catalogue of the time these two models are listed as a divers watches and the 6159-7001 is listed as a professional divers watch – so who am I to argue with Seiko? Of course another clue is the fact the 6159 has”Professional” printed on the dial and the 6215 doesn’t! The 6215 and 6159 cases are very similar, both are monocoque and both share the same dimensions but the 6215 has a larger diameter crystal and slightly different bezel. It’s inside where the biggest changes are, instead of the 6215’s 35 jewel 19,800bph movement it has the beautiful 6159a movement, the 25 jewel, 36,000bph masterpiece that allows the seconds hand to almost glide around the dial. The case style and distinctive lines continue to this day in Seiko’s SBDX001 more commonly known as the MM300.

The example featured arrived looking rather sorry for itself.

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