The elusive Seiko 62MAS Tropic

[akable]

As everyone knows the first real diver from Seiko was the 62MAS that was released in 1965. Most people often associate this watch with the ZLM01 waffle strap but the earliest official photos of the 62MAS show the watch on a Tropic style strap.

This Tropic strap can be seen in a very early catalog shot that was spotted in a Yahoo Auction sale a few years ago. It was initially thought that the catalog was from 1965, but the first modern Seiko complete line up catalog was released in 1966, so it is probably from that year. In this shot a short section of both the upper and lower parts of the strap can be seen.





This product shot can also be seen in a Seiko Summer brochure from the same period.



As the 62MAS was the first diver from Seiko it is not surprising that they did not produce a dedicated strap at the time. Tropic straps were used on many dive watches from various manufacturers, including Rolex and Tudor Submariners, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, Longines Super Compressor and others throughout the 60’s and 70’s. It does seem logical that Seiko would have initially turned to Tropic for the supply of a dive strap, but with Seiko’s philosophy of producing all parts of a watch the rapid development of the ZLM01 was to be expected.

As can be seen in the product shots the strap has the basket weave pattern commonly seen on Tropic straps. The unusual feature is the hole pattern, with three holes across the lower strap section but just two holes on the upper section. Normally Tropic straps have a pattern with just two holes wide on both sections of the strap. A three hole pattern was seen occasionally on 22mm straps but the narrower straps are almost always seen with just the two holes. While this configuration is unusual I did find an advert from the same period showing a Lip Blancpain Fifty Fathoms with a three hole strap.



I have been aware of this strap image for a few years but have never seen one come up for sale. A few weeks ago I was browsing Yahoo Japan and saw a strap pop up. This strap had the three hole pattern on the tail and was 19mm wide so I put in a bid and won the auction. After a couple of weeks the strap turned up along with a number of other auction wins.



The strap has the same soft very pliable feel that the vintage Tropic straps are known for. This strap is more flexible than the ZLM01, but they both feel really good in comparison to other older rubber straps.

As you can see the tail section of the strap has three rows of three holes. These are separated by a single hole, two holes and another single hole. As the strap narrows the holes become two wide. All of these ventilation holes are diamond shaped. The strap has seven sizing holes and these are all round.



The strap is marked on the lug ends as Tropic, Swiss Made and 19mm.



The buckle end is marked MOD. DEP. which means Modèle Déposé or registered design in French.



The buckle is stamped Seiko.



The buckle is drilled through and has a flattened top surface.



The general design of the buckle is similar to the one on the ZLM01 but is a little less flared. The other obvious difference is the buckle tongue. On this strap the tongue is flat but the tongue on the ZLM01 has a rounded top surface.



The end of the strap is rounded in comparison to the more common squared wedge design that Tropic straps are usually seen with.



The strap has the following measurements.

Dimensions
Length Buckle Section: 75mm
Length Tail Section: 121mm
Lug Width: 19mm
Strap Buckle End Width: 16mm
Buckle Internal Width: 16.5mm
Buckle Length: 13.5mm
Max Buckle Width 23mm
Tail Width at Round End: 16mm

I am very happy that I was able to acquire this strap and document the details. As it is so rare I might also donate this to the Seiko Museum in Tokyo. Currently their 62MAS on display has a terrible looking thin modern band on it.



While I would love to have it in my collection I think it is better served in the museum where many more people will be able to see it. The museum has around ten thousand visitors per year.

I hope this was of interest to people and it helps to clear up some of the mystery around the band shown in the early product shots. I will now just have to keep my eyes peeled for another to turn up to pair with my 62MAS.

[Thomas]

Awesome documentary investigation Professor Kable!


I hope Seiko gets your name tag corrected soon!   


- Thomas
 

[cd_god]

Nice score.

Did the seller list it as a 62MAS strap or just a tropic strap?

I think donating it to the Seiko Museum and providing them with the evidence you presented here that it is the correct and unique strap for the watch it would do the worldwide watch community and any future researchers who visit the museum a great service.

Just think before the internet you had to go to a museum to do research and take their word for something that that was the way it should be.  If you wanted to know about a Seiko you would expect the Seiko Museum to have the truest examples of each watch.

[akable]

Thanks Guys, the auction did not specify 62MAS so I think that is why there was not more interest in this.

I think the seller did not know exactly what it was as they are so rarely seen.

I have previously donated the ZLM01 that can be seen on the 6105-8000 in the museum photo. This was on a modern curved vent strap that did not suit the watch at all.

I was surprised to see the incorrect straps on a number of watches at the museum. I think that the concept of the museum was not even considered back in the 60's and early 70's so these pieces had to be sourced at a later time. These days examples of all models are provided for the museum.

[Adrian-VTA]

Thanks for posting this Anthony. I hadn't seen this before and it's a really useful piece of information.

[cobrajet25]

Very cool stuff, sir!  Thanks for posting it.

[west.au]

there should be a "DR" in front of your name ... that was a dissertation and an enjoyable and educational read 

[Groundhog66]

Great post, thank you!

[HiBeat]

Anthony that is the best post of the year so far !  Thank you for posting this.