Help Me Find/Identify A Seiko For My Father
Hi! I am new here (really enjoying it!). I am a relatively new (one year) collector. It’s very sentimental to me as all the men in my family have enjoyed watches or passed them down to me.
I’ve noticed my father doesn’t wear a watch and when I asked him why he explained that because of his career as a plumber it wasn’t very practical and I understood that, but he did say that at one point he had a “really pretty blue Seiko that he liked”. Well Father’s Day is coming up and I want to gift him that pretty blue Seiko!
I’m not sure if there are any vintage ones that someone may be able to recommend that could be the one he was talking about or if there are any modern offerings that would work better. I assume it would be around the late 70s to mid 80s when he owned that seiko. I do believe the dial was what was blue.
Attached is a photo of my dad from back in the day to get his vibe. This may be a silly request but it would mean a lot! My dad rarely treats himself and I want to give back to him.
Of course I could do research on my own but the Seiko offerings are a little overwhelming and I’m not as well versed as some of you are!
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Very nice story. May i recommend you some of my favourite blue-dialed seikos
1: Seiko snxs77
2: Seiko SRPE51
Or you could just have a look around ebay for 70's and 80's Seiko 5s
Not sure what your budget is, but if you're looking into vintage Seikos from the 70's, have a look at the Seiko Pogue 6139-6002. The most common Pogue (or perhaps the most coveted one) has a yellow dial, but it also comes with a blue one. Be prepared to pay anywhere between 300 and 1000€, depending on where you buy it and its condition.
Best of luck on your search. I am sure whichever you settle on he will love. I would say you are best off staying with a tool watch from what you have said of your father’s occupation and from the photos you added. I just do not see him in a dress watch very often.
What is your budget? That would narrow it down a lot. The blue Willard SPB151 is really nice and works on a variety of wrist sizes due to its cushion case and short lug-to-lug.
Or check out the blue Presages and Cocktail Times if you don't want dive watch styles.
This would be my pick.....I00% hassle free,vintage style and most importantly in stock!
https://www.jomashop.com/seiko-prospex-black-dial-mens-watch-snj039.html
You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the watch in question, would you? Any descriptive details perhaps? Was it a sporty type of watch like a diver with a rotating bezel or a chronograph with sub-dials? Seiko made a ton of watches with blue dials during that time frame so any additional info at all would be helpful.
I can suggest a few that I think are pretty cool though.
Silverwave 7123-825A
Type II Quartz 7123-8020
Seiko DX 6106-7729
Best of luck on your search. I am sure whichever you settle on he will love. I would say you are best off staying with a tool watch from what you have said of your father’s occupation and from the photos you added. I just do not see him in a dress watch very often.
He’s retired now but still loves working with his hands, also I agree, he’s not a very dressy guy!
You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of the watch in question, would you? Any descriptive details perhaps? Was it a sporty type of watch like a diver with a rotating bezel or a chronograph with sub-dials? Seiko made a ton of watches with blue dials during that time frame so any additional info at all would be helpful.
I can suggest a few that I think are pretty cool though.
Silverwave 7123-825A
Type II Quartz 7123-8020
Seiko DX 6106-7729
I unfortunately don’t have pictures and since I want it to be a surprise I don’t want to ask too much haha. Those seem accurate to his style though
What is your budget? That would narrow it down a lot. The blue Willard SPB151 is really nice and works on a variety of wrist sizes due to its cushion case and short lug-to-lug.
Or check out the blue Presages and Cocktail Times if you don't want dive watch styles.
I would say ~$300 + $500
Just want to say that’s it’s super cool that you’re trying to find your dads watch!
Just want to say that’s it’s super cool that you’re trying to find your dads watch!
Thanks! He never wears one anymore and I think it’s a shame
What is your budget? That would narrow it down a lot. The blue Willard SPB151 is really nice and works on a variety of wrist sizes due to its cushion case and short lug-to-lug.
Or check out the blue Presages and Cocktail Times if you don't want dive watch styles.
If I was to put this on a strap what would the sizing be? I see him as a rubber strap rather than bracelet guy
If I was to put this on a strap what would the sizing be? I see him as a rubber strap rather than bracelet guy
Case Size Thickness:13.2mm Diameter:42.7mm Lug-to-lug:46.6mm, those are the dimensions straight off the Seiko website. You might check out @MWC2020 youtube video on the Willard, I think he measures the bezel diameter as 39 or 40 mm so not as wide as the total case.
As far as how it will wear on a strap, that depends on the strap. It will wear true to the dimensions on a rubber strap I think, most watches do and especially dive watches. Wearing it on a double pass NATO would certainly add 2 mm or so to the height, depending on how tight it is worn. Google pictures of them, I think they look good on just about anything.
For reference, here is my spb143 on a Fluco rubber strap and it wears really well, even on my 6.5 inch wrist. This watch is a 40.5 MM case and 47 mm lug to lug, 13.5 mm thick. Definitely true to size, definitely makes the watch hug the wrist with the downward curve of the lugs. From the photo of your dad I think he has a larger wrist than I do so I can't see a rubber strap being an issue for fit.
@SurferJohn made a great suggestion above as well, definitely check out the solar quartz Arnie and Tuna watches, huge variety to choose from, more affordable and no maintenance.
Regardless of what you end up getting, let us all know!
I am guessing that if your Dad described the watch, as being “pretty blue”, then it is more likely a dress watch rather than a diver style. I cannot recommend a particular model number but I would assume he is referring to a thin dress watch. I don’t know anyone who would describe a rugged diver watch as ‘pretty’.