In January 1968, Seiko began production of a new World Timer model, the mid-1968 Seiko 6117-6019 GMT here. Not even produced for a full two years, through circa October 1969, the 6010/9 was intended for sale in the North American market, and the 6010 for JDM and the rest of the world – nothing, aside from the single digit at the end, differs between the two handsome GMTs.
Even during the present day, in the era of the smart phone, there exists a certain charisma to the GMT/Navigator watch that appeals to vintage watch aficionados. While it’s not always immediately obvious why particular complications find their way onto the mechanical wristwatch that might be viewed as indispensable, the air traveler, international corporate executive, news, finance, or communications personnel of the 1960’s understand the appeal of a 24-hour function.
A tightly refined version of it’s two predecessors, the 6117 here features a polished and finished aesthetic that’s difficult to improve upon, the 6117 is of similar movement pedigree to the famous Seiko 6105 diver, with the rather notable exception that the 6117 possess a date register and a third 24-hour GMT hand calibrated to the main hour hand, and an inner bezel.
Turning the crown when it is in its normal depressed position controls the GMT inner chapter ring; at half-extension, the crown controls the date register; and at full extension, it sets the time. The 6117’s independent GMT red time zone hand is used in coordination with the inner rotating bezel to tell time in another time zone of the wearer’s choice.
The wearer sets the inner bezel to the time they desire (ie: GMT is four hours ahead of the U.S.’s EDT/EST, so the inner bezel is set four hours ahead of this time), and the red hand moves along with the regular hour/minute hands. It’s important to note the red hand only makes a complete circle of the dial every 24 hours (the hour, minute, and separate time zone red hand all align at the 12 o’clock position when this occurs), so it moves more slowly than the hour hand.
This Seiko 6117 comes on a leather strap, nylon strap, hard plastic travel case, and springbar tool.
1968 Seiko 6117-6010 World Time GMT Automatic
DIAL: Stunning silver Seiko World Time-signed linen dial is stringingly full of color, texture, and finish. Unfaded red GMT hand; city names are bold and legible, with no fade. Date at 3 o’clock position works nicely. The dial has a lacquered finish and applied markers, and at its border a segmented 24 hour track in black for night, and blue for day. Matching hour and minute hands; inner GMT city chapter ring rotates as designed.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 38mm x 45mm and features tapered lugs, an oversized but well integrated crown, and matching caseback.
CRYSTAL: Original domed Seiko 6117 acrylic crystal, crack and scratch free.
BAND: This Seiko 6117 on a brown leather strap; it also comes with a premium black, blue, and red nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 17-jewel 6117 automatic movement, manufactured in August 1968.
CROWN: Unsigned stainless-steel crown.