Seikomatics that I love

Posts

3,424

Likes

7,579

SOG53

·Jul 16, 2025

Seiko developed the Seikomatic line in early 60s as a watch to wear everyday and never need to set or wind. With the breakthrough of the Seiko Magic lever ( still used today) the watch could be wound with bidirectional rotor movement and they used a design feature of small recessed crown. They have a clean simple and elegant look with interesting day and date windows. Here are some in my collection. I’m obviously smitten by their mid century elegance/ practicality. Plenty of review material avail my group is focused on early 6218 references and some predecessors. 6206 reference came later.

And if you are interested in the inner workings this is a good read

https://adventuresinamateurwatchfettling.com/2015/09/29/diashock-35-jewels-the-seikomatic-6218-8971/


J13085 cal 395 1963

J13080 cal 400. 1963

6218-8970. 1965 Apr

6218-8971. 1965 Dec

6218-8970 Gold Cap 1965

6245-9000 rebranded to GS 1966

Edited: Jul 16, 2025

 

Posts

3,047

Likes

6,350

Fallout Boy

·Jul 16, 2025

cool classic watches and underrated 👍

 

Posts

3,424

Likes

7,579

SOG53

·Jul 16, 2025

And an earlier 1961 bonus Seikomatic Blue Yacht

Edited: Jul 16, 2025

 

Posts

2,382

Likes

2,549

ErichKeane

·Jul 16, 2025

Those are all beautiful! Seiko definitely made some absolutely stunning dials through the years. And their magic lever automatic is, IMO, the most clever/simple/cool automatic movement there is.

Having messed with quite a few movements now, I'm frequently amazed at the level of value-engineering that went into Seiko movements without any real compromises. Their combo click/clickspring design, frequent use of putting screw holes inside of alignment pins (so the bridge alignment pin doubles as the screw hole!), and pretty simple/clever day/date complications are all things that I'm amazed by. I've gained a great appreciation (in addition to seeing how beautiful they are!) of Seiko messing with their insides.

 

Posts

3,047

Likes

6,350

Fallout Boy

·Jul 16, 2025

SOG53

And an earlier 1961 bonus Seikomatic Blue Yacht

cool special-dial👍

 

Posts

8,962

Likes

74,640

Spruce

·Jul 16, 2025·Sunburst dial fan

Can I join in?

I have rediscovered Seikos and these are in my current rotation

 

Posts

3,424

Likes

7,579

SOG53

·Jul 16, 2025

All lovely !! I have similar taste I keep buying dress watches although I likely have more of them than future dress occasions to wear! Also took a jaunt into vintage GS which is a thread for another day.

 

Posts

8,962

Likes

74,640

Spruce

·Jul 16, 2025·Sunburst dial fan

Absolutely.
I am also very tempted by vintage GSs, particularly @CPRwatch’s SBGW267, but I reckon that my entire collection of Seiko’s is worth less than one GS and I’m loth to spend that sort of money ….

 

Posts

3,424

Likes

7,579

SOG53

·Jul 16, 2025

I’m only into original 1960s-70s GS there are quite a few interesting references that are available at vintage Constellation prices. It’s possible to go off the deep end with ultra collectable versions like VFA and 44 series is pricey in good condition but many others less so. Maybe I’ll make a thread with that focus “ “Affordable vintage GS”. I’m no expert here just been dipping toe in water for a few years.

 

Posts

141

Likes

590

Leeroy

·Jul 23, 2025

I have a few Seikomatics and particularly like the 6218-8970/1, a handsome watch.

You can play spot the difference with these 3 dating from April '64 to April '65.

These are my oldest and newest Seikomatics, a J13060 from 1963 to a 1968 5106-7010 that I think show how much Seiko evolved. The 5106 Seikomatic-P is probably not for the Seikomatic purists as it has an integrated automatic winding system and is hand windable, it also has a push button date quickest and a rather nifty instantaneous day date change at midnight.
The 395 movement in the J13060 is a beauty but not all the 39 jewels are functional, mine arrived with only 33 as some philistine had fitted a bog standard metal balled rotor bearing.

Now back to full strength.

These are my Seikomatic-R's, they use the 8305/6 movement, another integrated hand windable automatic. They haven't got all the whistles and bells that the P's have but are some of my favourites.

This 6206-8120 is on the wrist today, another favourite.

@SOG53 that Blue Yacht is a stunner, I'll have to redouble my efforts to pick one up.

 

Posts

102

Likes

304

50kopek

·Jul 24, 2025

A lot of very nice watches here! Here are a couple of mine

 

Posts

102

Likes

304

50kopek

·Jul 24, 2025

SOG53

I’m only into original 1960s-70s GS there are quite a few interesting references that are available at vintage Constellation prices. It’s possible to go off the deep end with ultra collectable versions like VFA and 44 series is pricey in good condition but many others less so. Maybe I’ll make a thread with that focus “ “Affordable vintage GS”. I’m no expert here just been dipping toe in water for a few years.

It's a very slippery slope indeed. I started out looking at a few random Seiko's from the 60s and, amongst many more Seiko's, ended up with about 15 or so GS from that era. No VFA's (though I think I want one eventually) and pretty much all affordable. A thread about the subject is a cool idea.

 

Posts

3,424

Likes

7,579

SOG53

·Aug 9, 2025

Latest addition J13060 on rare original bracelet

Fyi just posted Vintage Grand Seiko Sharing thread.

 

Posts

8,962

Likes

74,640

Spruce

·Aug 9, 2025·Sunburst dial fan

SOG53

Fyi just posted Vintage Grand Seiko Sharing thread.

… and very helpful too

 

Posts

2,621

Likes

5,839

hansaboy

·Aug 10, 2025

SOG53

Seiko developed the Seikomatic line in early 60s as a watch to wear everyday and never need to set or wind. With the breakthrough of the Seiko Magic lever ( still used today) the watch could be wound with bidirectional rotor movement and they used a design feature of small recessed crown. They have a clean simple and elegant look with interesting day and date windows. Here are some in my collection. I’m obviously smitten by their mid century elegance/ practicality. Plenty of review material avail my group is focused on early 6218 references and some predecessors. 6206 reference came later.

And if you are interested in the inner workings this is a good read

https://adventuresinamateurwatchfettling.com/2015/09/29/diashock-35-jewels-the-seikomatic-6218-8971/


J13085 cal 395 1963

J13080 cal 400. 1963

6218-8970. 1965 Apr

6218-8971. 1965 Dec

6218-8970 Gold Cap 1965

6245-9000 rebranded to GS 1966

What a lovely collection!

Thanks for sharing!
👍👍👍

 

Posts

3,424

Likes

7,579

SOG53

·Aug 10, 2025

hansaboy

What a lovely collection!

Thanks for sharing!
👍👍👍

Thank you. Check out the GS sharing thread I went a little overboard maybe…..

 

Posts

2,621

Likes

5,839

hansaboy

·Aug 12, 2025

With the passion we have for watches, I do not think that overboard is a problem....😉

 

Posts

3,424

Likes

7,579

SOG53

·Aug 12, 2025

50kopek

It's a very slippery slope indeed. I started out looking at a few random Seiko's from the 60s and, amongst many more Seiko's, ended up with about 15 or so GS from that era. No VFA's (though I think I want one eventually) and pretty much all affordable. A thread about the subject is a cool idea.

I posted a thread on vintage GS here please add yours!

 

Posts

102

Likes

304

50kopek

·Aug 13, 2025

SOG53

I posted a thread on vintage GS here please add yours!

I saw that and am planning to! Just need to take some decent photos one of these days. Thanks for posting your excellent collection.

 

Posts

1,322

Likes

6,024

ewand

·Aug 19, 2025

Nice to see a couple of Blue Yachts on this thread. They were only made for about a year (https://www.thewatchsite.com/threads/seikomatic-blue-yacht-j13034.204842/). I've been wearing mine, from Sept '61, for the last couple of days...