Often the "gateway" into this madness, I enjoy Seiko's range, from the wonderful, perfectly proportioned chronographs from the 1970's through to the perfection and obsessive attention to detail of Grand Seiko.
Mine is a modest collection, but each watch is special in its own way. I've managed to resist the rabbit hole that is the diver range, that way madness lies. Here goes:
6138-0020 "Panda": This has a beautiful cream linen effect dial with grey-blue subdials. One of my favourite watches, recently serviced and lightly refurbed by .olli., (O.N.Atelier) and he made a superb job of it. As is often the case, it needed a replacement centre chrono wheel, which are becoming increasingly hard to find.
https://i.ibb.co/zHgjyY4/99-E9-B3-EF...-B-1-201-a.jpg
6138-300X "The Japanese Speedmaster" Not a great deal to say about this, I bought it from an eBay seller who turned out to be a trader in Seikos which have allegedly been put together in Filipino sweatshops. It's been serviced, but needs the attention of somebody who knows what they're doing, many repairers won't go near a 6138 these days. It's actually a good looking watch, the dial is a lovely dark iridescent blue, and as with other 6138's, nicely proportioned, legible, and easy to use.
https://i.ibb.co/4F8P33H/A7-C96-FC1-...50-1-201-a.jpg
6138-0011 "UFO" Bought from my good friend Omegary of this very Forum, a lovely example of a fairly chunky 6138, due to the substantial case.
I've seen polished and brushed examples of the UFO, I'm still unsure whether they were available in both finishes from new.
https://i.ibb.co/kS2xQNR/14-C3-F7-B4...-E-1-201-a.jpg
6139-6002 "Pogue" "Water 70m Proof" dial, this is the watch that started it all for me. I remember gazing longingly at these in the windows of jewellers, dreaming of the day when I might be able to afford one. It's certainly striking, the bold gold dial and Pepsi bezel made it stand out among the conservative everyday watches surrounding it. I finally bought this example in 2009, it's been serviced, and I hardly ever wear it, which is a shame.
https://i.ibb.co/8xWfbb3/AF2-A9719-4...E8-1-201-a.jpg
The ubiquitous "Fifty Five Fathoms" conversion. Just because.
https://i.ibb.co/D4vf226/3-FB529-ED-...B3-1-201-a.jpg
First Generation Monster. Bought new in 2009 (can anybody spot a trend here?), it does, of course, have the non-hacking, non hand-winding 7S26 movement, so I tend to wear it for a few days at a time, then it goes back into the box for a few months.
https://i.ibb.co/M9C7LHn/473-C90-F6-...43-1-201-a.jpg
SARB-035. I bought this from Creation, on a bracelet, which has Seiko's "pin and collar" system, which is designed to eject one tiny collar across the room, never to be seen again, when you try to adjust it. Which is why it's on a strap. It's an excellent everyday watch, hacks, can be hand-wound, and is nicely understated. Perfect.
https://i.ibb.co/61JXCqt/2288-D535-2...B8-1-201-a.jpg
And while we're on understated everyday watches, a quartz Grand Seiko, bought from Sales Corner in January of this year, and my current default everyday watch. So subtle, so beautifully made. And so accurate.
https://i.ibb.co/vqMzRR8/98-C6-C0-CC...BD-1-201-a.jpg
Another mod, this is my "Planet Fauxcean". Dial, hands and bezel from Dagazs, 7S26 movement, so non-hacking, non hand-winding, it's an homage to Omega's Planet Ocean. Sort of. Who doesn't love a modded Seiko?
https://i.ibb.co/XtZTDqs/EA85503-C-E...-A-1-201-a.jpg
And last, but by no means least, my Takuro Yura. One of only 600 made for the Japanese domestic market, designed by racing car designer Takuro Yura, everything about this watch is special, from the flip-up case, which is released by a quarter turn of the bezel, through the lugs which are designed to look like suspension wishbones, to the unique box and instruction manual. And it's made from titanium. It's delightfully bonkers, and wonderfully daft at the same time. One of my favourite watches of all time.
https://i.ibb.co/hRqqVhy/L1020339-zpsb83d9259.jpg
I doubt that I'm finished with Seiko. I suspect that I've barely started.
