1964 Seiko WeekDater cal 6218 - Grand Seiko equivalent.

The 6218 WeekDater is a watch far above the ordinary. The 1964 WeekDater is the immediate, automatic equivalent of the 1964 Grand Seiko hand-wind (the first automatic Grand Seiko appeared in 1967 in the form of the 62GS).

At the time of its introduction in 1964, the 6218 was top-of-the-range, the flagship of the Seiko automatic lineup. Both the 57GS/43999, 6218 and the 62GS have 35/39J movements, and it has been suggested that the extra jeweling was introduced to facilitate the day/date complication in the low-beat, low-torque movements (http://seikoholics.yuku.com/topic/911/Seiko-6216#.UMugiKU1blI).

I feel we may underestimate the complexities involved in the mechanics of a day/date function back in 1964 - Seiko specifically highlights this feature in their description of the second-generation (1964) GS (http://www.grand-seiko.com/features/history.html) and Rolex has the "Day-Date" as a flagship model in their lineup to this day.

The quality of finishing on the dial, indices, hands etc. of the 6218 is superb, equally to that of the Grand Seiko, and the tadpole regulator of the 6218b is identical to that of the 43999 movement. At the moment the 6218 WeekDater is undervalued by collectors, and in my opinion a good long-term investment together with the second-generation GS.

1964 Seiko "Olympic" catalogues

Just in from Yahoo Japan. Its not too often you find Seiko catalogues from the Tokyo Olympic year of 1964, so you have to bait your line when they do appear. Only local Japanese can bid on Yahoo Japan, so I had to get hold of my Japanese "agent" to snag these:

Well, lets see if there is something new in them....

One-button chronograph....nope, got that! How about an Olympic stopwatch then?

Nope...been there, done that. Maybe a dress watch for Christmas, how about a full day/date?

Rats! I got that one too. Well, lets try some high-end "showcase" stuff, maybe Grand Seiko? Or a diver?

Aaargh! I give up! Well, at least I have something to wrap fish in.....

1964 vintage Seikomatic on "Omega" style open mesh bracelet...

I have a small collection of 1964 Seikomatics, including this rather nice vintage Seikomatic Weekdater 6218-8970. I only use these Seikomatics very occasionally, for formal business meetings where a diver would be out of place, or for special family occasions, such as weddings. I have my other Seikomatics on leather straps, but have been looking for a bracelet which complements this particular watch (my favorite Seikomatic), makes a statement and at the same is appropriate for formal occasions.


Well, my quest is over, with the new 19mm "shark" mesh which I picked up from SCWF member and supplier wjean (http://myworld.ebay.com/wjean28/. For those who havent seen the earlier review, I also have my Citizen Nighthawk on the same mesh, although in 22mm (http://www.thewatchsite.com/index.php/topic,2475.0.html), and the effect is IMHO equally stunning!

Seiko/Seikomatic 1964 collection

I have started a collection of 1964 Seikos, in part due to the fact that I was born in 1964, in part due to the immediately recognizable characteristics of 1960s Seikos which I find so appealing. In my opinion the combination of elegance and simplicity of Seiko steel watches of this era are unsurpassed. Design, case quality, hands, indices and dials are of very high across the range of Seikos from Grand Seiko to the mid-level Seikomatics, Sportsmatics etc. Resources appear also to have been spent on movements across the board, where high-jewel, slim movements like the middle-tier 8305/6 series must have caused quite a stir at the time (sic!).

Searching for these pieces on eBay is easy, as Seiko began using 4 digit movement numbers in the 60s, with the 3rd digit representing the grade of movement (a 39j 8325 being a higher grade than a 30j 8305) while the 4th digit indicates the display: 1 = no date, 5 = date only, 6 = day/date).

In the mid 60s Seiko (Suwa) developed the 66xx series, which includes the Sportsmatic and Sportman in my collection shown below. I understand these may have been the precursors to the Seiko “5” series. The 66xx’s in my collection do not hack, are manual wind or automatic.

The 83xx Suwa series (represented in my collection by two ´64 Seikomatic Slimdates) are also a product of the mid 60s, and are characterised by their thinner movements. In addition to the 8305 30j Slimdate, I have my eye open for the 8306 30j Business/Weekdater. With respect to movement quality I have seen these refered to as upper-middle, and they do have a relatively high jewel count.

From LEFT to RIGHT (some of the information comes from Japanese translations):

SEIKOMATIC - Slimdate Calendar
Caliber 8305B 30 jewel Diashock Automatic
Caseback: Seikomatic Slimdate 841990 4D01279 (Snap caseback)
Landmark slimline self-winding watch, calendar. Seiko's own early-haul system (Patent No.3097512) So it is very easy to use. (I understand this caliber uses a more complicated and efficient roller clutch in the winding gear train, rather than the simpler "magic lever" system). Abbreviation: MAMD
Temp frequency: 18000 times / hour 5 bps. Released start (Seiko sales data): February 1964 Earliest check individual: March 1964 The latest confirmation individual: September 1964.
Comments: This watch is in pristine condition and is the watch I use at work, replaced by a 6309-7049 when I leave for home.

SEIKOMATIC - Slimdate Calendar
8305B 30 jewel Diashock movement
Caseback: Seikomatic Slimdate 841990 44902906 Engraved: Den Nakayama 1968
Snap caseback, perimeter scoring pattern (Laurette ring) "to emphasize the feeling of luxury". Landmark slimline self-winding watch, calendar. Seiko's own early-haul system (Patent No.3097512) So it is very easy to use. (I understand this caliber uses a more complicated and efficient roller clutch in the winding gear train, rather than the simpler "magic lever" system) Abbreviation: MAMD
Temp frequency: 18000 times / hour. Released start (Seiko sales data): February 1964 Earliest check individual: March 1964 The latest confirmation individual: September 1964.
Comments: This is my first 1964 watch, and keeps excellent time. The case has been quite badly scratched, and the dial has some gouges.

Sportsmatic 17 jewels no date
Caseback: Seiko waterproof diashock stainless steel unbreakable mainspring 69990
Seiko Sportsmatic 4401542
Screw caseback
Seiko 6601B features automatic no manual wind sweep second Dm= 27.6mm, H= 5.45mm 17 jewels f = 18000 A/h power-reserve 38h Code SMAC intro 1961 5 beats per second (6309=6 beats per second).
Comments: this is a watch in reasonable condition with an even patina on the dial. I particularly like the simplicity of the no-date dial.

Sportsman 17 jewels diashock
Caseback: STP 6602-9981 Seiko Water Proof 5N01737
Comments: not a 1964, but I really wanted a hand-wind and saw this going for a very reasonable price so I snapped it up. Dial is rather weathered but still acceptable. No quick-change for the date. A nice, solid watch.