I agree with that. If the 1st owner is unable to confirm exactly what is original, and what isn't, it's an uphill task for anyone.

For the past 12 + years the majority have assumed the characteristics I mentioned are correct though, and therefore those pieces always achieve a higher interest.

Either way as a relatively affordable vintage watch the 6139-600xs offer great value, and an interesting story.

 

Since I grew up and went to school a few miles away, I've actually spent time in the Ellington BX, being an Air Force brat myself. There was not a whole lot going on in the suburbs of Houston in the early 70s, and Ellington was never much of base, so "nearest market" isn't the same as walking into a local jewelers. Whether or not it was even something that AAFES carried at all versus a special order item that someone had to try to figure out on his behalf isn't known. There is evidence that it was a layaway item, so it's very likely (in my mind) that it wasn't sitting in the display case when he walked in. Someone tracking down a special order for a special customer may not have been aware of the available variants and then had to deal with the bureaucracy involved in federal procurement regulations.

That the subdial hand was replaced is all the evidence *I* need to suggest that something else might have also changed along the way, including the dial. I'm sorry that I don't share your conviction, but the non-English day dial is still a huge red-flag against certainty for me. I need at least the caseback. Until then, we'll have to agree to disagree and I won't debate this any further.

 

Hi, I have contributed a little to this thread but not being an expert I have been mainly reading to educate myself.
One item of interest is your comment on the non English day dial. My 6002 is dual language (French and English) I assumed the Pogue watch would be the same. What am I missing?

 

Two more NASA photos, Bill Pogue wearing the Seiko 6139 Automatic in this family portrait and onboard the Skylab-4 mission...
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Here’s a new addition with some sunburn. Born Sep 1971.

 

saw this on ebay and was snagged quickly

 

very nice collection although the printing on the subdial of the furthest right example in the photo looks suspicious to me

 

They have been on my smart investment list for excellent examples at a good price for a few years now.

 

Not quite Pogue, but close enough for me. These are really nice watches. Only one complaint I have is 19mm bracelet...

 

They made many good watches, especially the GS and KS lines. However, in addition to the lack of hand-winding, the low jewel count in many of the autowinding movements is also a negative. Of course, some Swiss watches imported into the US also suffer from the same shortcoming because of the low-jeweled movements made in response to import duty rules.

 

Between Nov 73 & Feb 1974, during Skylab-4 space station mission both astronaut William Pogue (Seiko 6139) and astronaut Gerald Carr (Movado Datron) wore an automatic chronograph. So the "Seiko Pogue" and "Movado Carr" were both the first automatic chronographs to be worn in space! #MoonwatchUniverse
https://moonwatchuniverse.tumblr.com/archive

 

I wish the case were better.

 

Markers and hands seem relumed to me, that looks like new...

 

You are right, but the fact is that in my experience I've seen very few dials without any kind of moisture issue, still retaining factory snowy lume.

 

another one appeared with a BIN price of $950 https://www.ebay.com/itm/193359965261Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

And gone.

 

I was thinking the same thing and even worse it could be an aftermarket dial. Maybe, maybe not but I’m not going to toss +$1500 at it if I’m not certain.

 

I have no problem with the lume. Looks genuine to me. see service photos of my dial below which is 100% genuine original untouched

 

Are your suspicions that they want to drive down the price to buy it for themselves? What is wrong with asking questions about the authenticity of a particular watch? The only thing that differentiates this $2000 watch from a $300 watch is the dial and there are hundreds of aftermarket dials for sale on eBay alone. I’m not an expert on Seiko dials but I do have old tritium dials (including Seiko ones) and they don’t look bright white. I’m not saying this is a relume or aftermarket but it’s enough to give me pause before dropping a lot of money on it.

 

I have observed a “tell” for an original, aged yellow sunburst dial which may be seen in the change in appearance around the outside of the 30 minute subdial. It is the circular edge where the recessed subdial breaks into the “flat” of the major portion of the dial. Often I’ve seen a ring of corrosion in that area, but it can also look like a thinning, less vivid appearance of the yellow color. I believe this example below is all original. You can see the feathers of corrosion branching up into the flat of the dial.


I Agree that even old, original lume plots on such a dial can appear to be much whiter in color than one may expect.
See the plots on this Kakume. The 12/6/9 dots are white, while the lume plots on the outboard side of the other indices are aged so differently to a charcoal gray- as are the hands.