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Seiko 6139 6010 "Bruce Lee"

  1. keepsonticking May 22, 2021

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    After posting the group of Seikos I just picked up and not seeing a thread for the Bruce Lee Seiko, I thought maybe we could try to get some background on this ref. and maybe stir up some photos from members. I'll give just some basic info. I did see photos in a WTB thread, and maybe there is more info that I have missed.

    It is generally accepted that Lee wore the 6139 6010 with black dial during the final few years of his life. It is the only watch seen on his wrist in several photos. He wore it on a non-original rally style bracelet and is thought to have started wearing it in mid to late 1969.

    There is discussion regarding the brown and black dials, whether they were all black to start...whether Lee's was brown or black. There were other colors of the ref, at least I know there was a blue dial. I'm too lazy to research.
    It just seems to me that given Lee's place in history, an icon, to be sure, that his watch should get some attention, too. Any corrections or additions to my blurb are encouraged. I'll include a few photos.

    Here is the one I just got.
    [​IMG]
    Here are some photos of Lee wearing the watch and maybe an example on another wrist. I borrowed those photos from the WTB thread on here. I removed a few photos of Lee with his family because the group included a closeup of just a man's wrist with a similar watch. There is no evidence it is Lee's wrist, and the watch is a version that has the 5 sports markings. According to the article I am including at the bottom, there are no photos that show Lee wearing that version of the watch. All photos show the white 70m proof text.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
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    Below is an example of someone else wearing what is believed to be the ref and style Lee wore.
    [​IMG]

    Here is the best info I could find online. https://www.thewatchsite.com/threads/the-‘bruce-lee’-seiko-6139-6010.339526/#:~:text=After he gave away his,was a Seiko 6139-6010.
     
    Edited May 22, 2021
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  2. loniscup May 22, 2021

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    It is believed that he had more than one 6010s. The one in the 2nd picture is a Resist and not the 5Sports which appears on his wrist in the 1st one. From long long discussions in the Japan related forums, his mother probably gave him the 5Sports when he visited him in LA and he got the Resist one form HK during a film shooting.
     
  3. loniscup May 22, 2021

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    I like them with chocolate dial by the way, very nice!!
     
  4. keepsonticking Jun 5, 2021

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    "Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick."
    Bruce Lee

    The 6010 in black or browned black is actually hard to find. 5F133A23-0A36-4DB1-9385-42DCD959B333.jpeg 8D4E40FA-EBD4-429B-B72E-35D17F9EA0DE.jpeg
     
    Edited Jun 6, 2021
    befobe, IDXM and Walrus like this.
  5. Pepe Lucas Jun 25, 2021

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    I bought this 6139-6011 together with 2 other watches and it seems pretty similar. It is from 1971 and looks in really good shape. I polished the crystal but the case seems original. I am just wondering what the main differences might be between mine and the Bruce Lee one . B9B48198-2BC3-465E-9664-4221D26BE334.jpeg
     
  6. IDXM Jul 3, 2021

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    Question, how do you define a Bruce Lee? Just the 6139-6010 or any black dialed 601x? I prefer a broad definition, but I'm biased by owing a 6012.
     
  7. dgozalie Jul 27, 2021

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    Screen Shot 2021-07-27 at 1.31.53 PM.png
  8. ewand Sep 7, 2021

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    Actually, the Hong Kong watches would have had an English/Chinese day wheel, not English/Kanji
    (日 - Sunday. 一 - Monday, 二 - Tuesday, 三 - Wednesday, 四 - Thursday, 五 - Friday, 六 - Saturday)

    And according to the collective expertise on the internet, the watch above - a PROOF, black dial non-JDM, is what Bruce Lee was seen wearing.

    However, look at ...
    upload_2021-9-7_7-42-1.png

    and
    upload_2021-9-7_8-1-6.png
    upload_2021-9-7_8-1-15.png

    and
    upload_2021-9-7_7-43-42.png
    [​IMG]

    ... make me wonder if it was actually a brown-dial.

    I'm certain the brown 6139-6010 was not black-gone-brown like a tropical Speedmaster - it's always been brown. Here's mine, from Nov 69:
    upload_2021-9-7_7-58-45.jpeg

    ... but in daylight, it can look dark enough to be almost black:
    upload_2021-9-7_7-59-59.jpeg
     
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  9. Revrac13 Jan 8, 2023

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    This is my 6139 6012 don't know very much about it but it needs some tlc.it works but
     
    20230105_211126.jpg 20230105_201949.jpg
  10. bananapeanut Jan 8, 2023

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    Here's a true beater watch
     
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  11. SOG53 Jan 12, 2023

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    A lot of info on the Bruce Lee Seiko is available on the dcvintagewatches.com site I believe Nick Ferrell did a lot of the research on this.
     
  12. Tristanp Feb 8, 2023

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  13. bradurani Feb 8, 2023

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    My blue 6010
    IMG_20230207_122332_406.jpg
     
  14. hyperhound71 Feb 16, 2023

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    Blue dial is really striking and. I really like the original bracelets. This one’s def on my list
     
  15. Wryfox Feb 16, 2023

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    That watch had to put up with some abuse if he wore it for his routines:eek:
     
    Edited Feb 16, 2023