SEIKO 6105

I love the smell of a high-quality leather strap in the morning

SEIKO’S 6105 diver watch made during 1968-77 is best remembered on the wrist of Martin Sheen’s character, Captain Willard, in the 1979 movie Apocalypse Now . The timepiece’s inclusion was fitting, given the watch’s popularity with American servicemen during the Vietnam War. It was sold at Army PX (Post Exchange) stores and known for its robust case. Early iterations were rounded in design, while later models, like Sheen’s, were distinguished by a wide asymmetrical cushion case.

Water resistant to 150m and dramatic on the wrist, the 6105 was more of a workhorse than a diver’s tool, though. In fact, it was not until the Professional Diver’s 600m in 1975 that Seiko conquered the deep. In 1968, a diver called Yo Oshima complained that the 300m Seiko dive watch was not fit for purpose when worn in diving bells. Seiko then spent years perfecting its product, resulting in 20 new patents and the the 600m model. Nevertheless, the 6015 flew the flag for hardiness and reliability on terra firma throughout this period.

Fifty years ago, the fearless Japanese explorer Naomi Uemura wore his model (a 6105-8110 like Martin Sheen’s) for his trip across the Arctic when he became the first solo adventurer to reach the North Pole in May 1978. He also walked the length of Japan in under two months, scaled Mount Kilimanjaro, Everest, Mont Blanc and Mount McKinley and travelled solo down the Amazon on a raft. He died during a descent of Alaska’s Mount McKinley in 1984, having become the first solo mountaineer to climb its summit in winter. It’s no wonder Japanese collectors rechristened the 6105 the ‘Uemura’.

Given their military background, vintage 6105 timepieces tend to be battered; some have been restored with aftermarket parts, so you must exercise due diligence when buying one. This said, you can pick up reliable vintage pieces for around £1000-1500 at auction. The example pictured sold for a bargain £536 at Fellows in 2014, so prices are on the up.