SEIKO PROFESSIONAL HI-BEAT DIVER 6159-7001

Among the many vintage Seiko divers watch icons, there are few that, at least from the broader watch community standpoint, require no introduction. There is the Willard and the 62MAS of course, but it can debated that the real Cup of the Carpenter is the 6159. True, it may not be the legitimate first Seiko diver offered by the brand, but is coveted because of it being regarded as the first Seiko diver to have been conceived with its own identity on display. The large angular case, iconic ‘stop light’ seconds hand and the crown at 4 o’clock are some examples of this Seiko identity. 

The example on hand had plenty of wabi-sabi, but had recently been through a professional case re-finishing with an exceptional result. Overall, the watch is now in excellent condition, striking a perfect balance of showing its age where it’s acceptable, and being well preserved where it counts. The gold text is still bold and standing out atop the pristine black dial. The handset is in great condition as well, rich in gold tone and retaining all of its original lume, as does the dial markers. The red in the seconds hand hasn’t waivered at all.

The movement was serviced in August of 2020 and is running very well at ±15 seconds per day and showing a 225 amplitude.