Finally up'ing my Seiko diver game. A Feb 1972 6105-8110.

[28A]

So a few of you know I've been seeing a local Seiko watchmaker on and off for parts and throwing together a project 7548 watch.. But since the first time meeting him I always knew he had this. It was serviced about a week after I first spoke to him on the phone mentioning the 6105 in passing and he ended up digging this up. I've been super interested in it and knowing how hard they are to find in good condition and getting more and more expensive after selling a few watches and a commodore ute tonneau cover as payment for a welding job.. I ended up getting this tonight.

I'll first put a photo of the watch as "found". A really crap dial and seconds hand and incorrect hour and minute hands. As this bloke is a fourth generation watchmaker he has quite a Seiko collection of spares. Two proof dials and three resist dials later we cleaned up this dial and I luckily found a better set of original hands as well amongst a ton of random other non collectible dials.

While the movement has been serviced and the mainspring barrel jeweled the case I don't think ever got cleaned and it's got quite a bit of crud on the back and around the crown. I might get him to ultrasonic clean the case for me next time we catch up. As I'm sure a lot of you will wonder, and I'm quite happy to admit.. I paid $700Au / $500US / £330 for it.

Anyway onto those pictures!

[Deleted]

Nice, good basis for a crackin' Diver there  :winner:

[sdoocms]

Hopefully it will clean up nicely!

[tritto]

Plenty of wabi, but it's going to be a fun watch to wear. Good to know it's been serviced and good to go for few years. Enjoy.

[28A]

Thanks guys. Gave it a scrub with an old toothbrush and the underneath has come up fantastic. I really enjoy the aged look of it. So many 6105's look way too fresh if you ask me.

[28A]

[cd_god]

Aside from the missing lume pip it looks good now.

[28A]

I agree but i can live with that for now. Perhaps when the watchmaker i bought it from relumes the other dials i can use the old lume from the dials to fill the lume pip on the bezel so that it looks authentic.

[cd_god]

Oct 8, 2015 18:39:23 GMT -8 28A said:

I agree but i can live with that for now. Perhaps when the watchmaker i bought it from relumes the other dials i can use the old lume from the dials to fill the lume pip on the bezel so that it looks authentic.

The plastic "shield" or lume cup is missing from the insert.  You would have to get a raised pip fitted from the top or find a new insert unfortunately.

Before I was big into Seiko's and found my local watchmaster I had a few watches fixed at the only place in town who did inhouse watch repair.  It was a pawn shop and the owner was in a wheel chair and later by 3 degrees it turned out he was the cousin of a woman my mother worked with.  Luckily for me he didn't swap out any parts when I had my 6306 serviced.  The lume dot was missing and the bezel o-ring was missing and the bezel was filled with putty to maintain the rotating resistance when I got it.  I'm not sure where the jeweler got the pip plug but it looks better than the hole that was there.

[Adrian-VTA]

You can make a pip plug out of an old food container or something. They are **just** a plastic disc. You then shave it with sandpaper till it presses in, and when you paint the lume from the back that should secure it at least for a while.

[28A]

I wonder if you were to put something flat over the bezel, mix up some lume and varnish or whatever binder you would use.. and fill over the hole and a bit either side of it. When it dries remove whatever you put over the front so the lume becomes flat with the bezel insert.

Might have to give it a go down the track.

[Adrian-VTA]

You can do that but the lume will get grubby. The other option is to use clear epoxy as a binder. That should also self-level.

Oct 8, 2015 22:18:53 GMT -8 28A said:

I wonder if you were to put something flat over the bezel, mix up some lume and varnish or whatever binder you would use.. and fill over the hole and a bit either side of it. When it dries remove whatever you put over the front so the lume becomes flat with the bezel insert.

Might have to give it a go down the track.

[28A]

Have you got a recommendation for clear epoxy? Is it just something from the hardware?

[69ChevelleSS]

Congrats!  Love the "ridden hard, put away wet" look!  Enjoy it and wear the snot out of it!

[Myles]

Oct 8, 2015 22:18:53 GMT -8 28A said:

I wonder if you were to put something flat over the bezel, mix up some lume and varnish or whatever binder you would use.. and fill over the hole and a bit either side of it. When it dries remove whatever you put over the front so the lume becomes flat with the bezel insert.

Might have to give it a go down the track.

As someone else mentioned, you'll need to use epoxy as binder or the "pip" will get grungy. Be sure to use epoxy that allows UV light to penetrate if you want the "pip" to glow.

Jonathan Koch (RIP) made a custom insert for my 7C46-7011 using luminous compound and epoxy. It looks great and works well. He started with a genuine Seiko insert taken from a 7S26-0020 (SKX007 and similar). The hole for the "pip" was enlarged and countersunk from behind to help hold the compound in place. He also machined a backing plate so the insert doesn't sit too deeply.





Myles