WTK: Seiko 6139 30 minute timer dial markers..

[falcon007]

Hello,

New member here and I have a question on an August 1970 (087307) proof/proof 6139-6001 found at a local pawnshop. The 30 minute timer dial has the numbers 3,6,9,12,15,18,21,24,27 and 30 at the markers. I've searched around and have not seen another 6139 30 minute dial marked like this, does anyone know if this is an original dial or a repro?. It needs a cleaning, bracelet and service but keeps decent time.

Click on picture for larger view

[dapellegrini]

Welcome falcon007

To my (non-expert) eye, you have either a re-dial or a an aftermarket dial of some kind there...

[leffemonster]

Non-original dial for sure.

[HiBeat]

Welcome to WristSushi you came to the right place to get your question answered !!

That is positively a vintage re-painted dial.   End of story.

As you say, the interesting multiples of 3 minutes has never been seen before, which normally means re-dial or aftermarket.  Yet we must always reserve some minute possibility in the whacky world of vintage Seiko where we can rarely learn of new things - BUT - in this case the entire dial is all wrong fonts and size and precision of text location.  And there is no dial code at the bottom.

The first 2 digits of the case back code tell the month and date of manufacture.   
The last digit of the year is the first digit on the case back, for this must be a 9 (1969) or a Zero (1970)
e.g. 98 would be August 1969 and 02 would be Feb 1970.  

What is your watch's case back serial number?   Just curious if the re-painter had this exact style to start with or if he had one in his pattern library and pulled it out for his next jobs which could have included yours.






Here is an OEM dial:

[HiBeat]

Let me add my personal opinion, I think it is very cool and worthy of keeping it just as it is.   


I have a few vintage re-dials that one could argue are more pleasing than the originals !

[falcon007]

Thank you for the responses with all the information, it is greatly appreciated. I'll probably just have it cleaned & serviced, get an original style bracelet and wear it like it is.

The case back serial number is 087307

[HiBeat]

So the original bracelet would have been the "non-tapered" or "straight" H-Link.

Being August 1970 (08XXXX) case back, the dial would have been of the style that your re-paint used and as such I find this a very interesting vintage piece.   I too would keep its journey through time unaltered in the moment and rock that bad boy with its interesting subdial marking as it is.  If you ever decide to put a non-altered original dial on it keep the one you have it's one of those WIS items you will regret moving on if you do (ask me how I know).

[trilo]

Dec 7, 2022 6:43:39 GMT -8 HiBeat said:

So the original bracelet would have been the "non-tapered" or "straight" H-Link.

Being August 1970 (08XXXX) case back, the dial would have been of the style that your re-paint used and as such I find this a very interesting vintage piece.   I too would keep its journey through time unaltered in the moment and rock that bad boy with its interesting subdial marking as it is.  If you ever decide to put a non-altered original dial on it keep the one you have it's one of those WIS items you will regret moving on if you do (ask me how I know).

I have to chime in and say that I agree 100%.

I have no experience on this related to watches, but the same applies pretty much with all collecting.

If you have a verified early example of a repair or a mod from an era when the item in question wasn't coveted by collectors (and faked enmasse), that itself usually tells a story.

In this case it tells that whoever owned the watch, it was important to him to an extent, that he saw it worthwhile getting it re-dialed.

OR

Even if someone did it in the purpose of re-selling it, they really needed those dollars, because the profit on these wasn't huge back in the day and times were different.

And so on and so on...

Either way, it's a story which most likely isn't about cheating shit loads of dough from an unaware customer or a novice collector.

[trilo]

I watched this video a while back and it summarizes it all.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=SnBUQD49W-0

EDIT: I just find this topic utterly fascinating!

[scubarob99]

I like the lume dots at 3 and 9, a further "improvement " that the dial refurbisher decided were necessary for him or his customer

Rob

[pip]

This would have been used as a telephone timer I'm guessing? I know there are Valjoux chrono's with telephone dials, I'm guessing someone wanted their Seiko modded to carry out the same job. Interesting piece in any case.