For sale is a stunning Seiko 6159-7010 Grandfather Tuna, from April 1976. It also has it's original 'Seiko Divers Watch' box which is extremely rare to see.

Apart from the DAL1BP strap the watch is completely original and in superb condition. The shroud is pretty much unmarked which is uncommon on these as they are so big. All other parts are original to the watch. The shroud screws are minty fresh. The bezel is in great shape too. The watch starts up after 1 flick and keeps amazing time as it was serviced this year.

Some history on the 6159-7010

Everything Seiko had previously learnt from their 6217 MaS, 6215 and 6159-7000 went into the 6159-7010 you see here.

In the late 1960s the Seiko design department received a letter of complaint from a saturation diver, in the letter he complained that his Seiko dive watches would always fill with helium past a certain depth, and fog. Rolex and Omega had already avoided the issue with the helium escape valve design that you can still see today (Seadweller and Ploprof).

Seiko decided to start from fresh and build a new watch to avoid this issue. The 6159-7010 has over 20 patents and world’s firsts – a titanium monocoque case, a ceramic protective shroud, an L shaped gasket and the vented strap. Using the special L type gasket, the 1 piece case and a 36,000 bhp high beat movement, the 6159-7010 was born in 1975, a full 7 years after the work began.

Unfortunately I am not wearing this beauty and incomings are on the horizon. That is the only reason I am selling this piece of Seiko history.

£3200 plus shipping. UK RMSD insured £10, EU £30 and ROW £40. EU/ROW Fedex express/PP insured.

Returns if incorrectly described, buyer pays all costs/fees.

Feedback

https://omegaforums.net/search/10676312/?q=smitty190373&o=date&c[node]=10

Pictures



Thank you O.F

 

As a Seiko junkie, that is an amazing piece of history for whomever snaps it up.

 

Great piece but note. Ploprof does not have an He Valve, this is why Comex switched to the Seadweller. Note testing showed it didn’t need it.

He infiltration would not cause fogging of glass but internal over pressure from the He that got past the seal on ascent in a dive chamber. Water molecules are too large to infiltrate the watch. I could see some scenarios where the outside fogged if the watch “burped” and lost it’s internal over pressure rapidly which would lower the temp of the watch.

Killer piece obviously designed for heavy duty deep diving and awesome for any collection. I’m just not sure how true or well translated the story is.

 

Please accept my apologies if the story was mis translated in any way for the sales thread. To avoid any confusion the article is below.

https://monochrome-watches.com/history-seiko-tuna-dive-watch/

 

Not questioning you or the watch . They are amazing pieces just sometimes “stories” are just that.

In the case of the article you linked that does describe the failure I was talking about and what would be expected in a deep sat He environment, ie the crystal popping off due to overpressure on ascent due to He infiltration. This is what I assume the extra thick gasket in an L shape prevents. Not a fogging issue.

There is no question that the Tuna is a real hardcore deep diving watch, that needs no stories to be worthy of any collection esp one in such great condition as yours.

GLWS!!!

 

No problem at all, it's an interesting article either way.

I have always had a soft spot for Seiko divers, especially the 6159, 6217, 6306 and 6309s. Like you say, this is a pretty hardcore watch...and more than ample for the 1-2 meter depths that I usually 'dive' to .

unfortunately it's not getting worn, so I hope someone else can enjoy it.

Cheers.

 

£3000 plus ship

 

£2875 plus ship

 

£2775 plus ship...

 

£2675 plus ship.

 

£2595 plus ship.

Surprised this hasn't gone, the last 6159-7010 on here was more (without the original box).

 

£2495 plus shipping .

 

£2400 plus ship

 

As Rolex Divers gallop into stratospheric pricing…

These Seikos are due a well deserved, ( indeed over deserved ), sharp incline in value…they are real ‘sleepers’

This is an iconic contemporary, to Rolex… in astonishing condition…and a real piece of watchmaking History

It’s worth it, for the lollipop hand alone !

GLWS

 

Thanks @ICONO

Seiko always offers incredible value. As dive watches go the 70s 6159s were pretty special pieces.