Well, unofficially anyway - the Seiko divers’ cohort of timepieces all seem to have gathered collectors’ if not cult status as nicknames for each design type have been attached (with the possible exception of the earliest and most valuable 62MAS model of 1965). Largely using names from Japanese warriors and sea beasties their monikers include Turtle, Tuna, Abalone (Captain Willard), Sea Urchin, Monster and of course, Sumo, Samurai and Shogun.
Our favourite and (we think) probably the most popular or, at least, most recognised, are the Turtle types and specifically the Captain Willard version with its asymmetric case (crown protectors). These were the second and third divers’ case variants produced by Seiko respectively - being models 6105-8000 (Turtle(ish)) and 6105-8110 (Capt. Willard aka Abalone) respectively.
Captain Willard was the Martin Sheen character in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now and he wore a 6105-8110 as part of the character wardrobe for the film, apparently as an informed choice as it was a popular purchase by the US troops (particularly officer corps) as they moved through Asia whilst staging into he Vietnam war zones.
Accordingly their cool level has been through the roof since the film, but with the increased interest in all things horological that seems to have happened during / after (if not resulted from) the Covid pandemic, Seiko are currently busy reissuing these most cool of divers’ watches, including their first divers’ watch (the 62MAS), in order to cash-in on this increased interest and increased value that the madding crowds have put onto watches - with these reissues fetching double the cost of similarly built Seiko standards.
Equally then, these are a modder’s / builder’s dream, allowing them (us) to emulate or enhance their cool with new and interesting styles, colour schemes and add-ons to give totally individual pieces for wearers (see our Royal Blue Willard in the builds section).
Picture left to right =
62MAS type - actually 6217-8000 (big crown version)
6105-8000
6105-8110 Capt. Willard
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