Seiko's 6139 chronograph - like this full-serviced 1973 Seiko 6139-7002 automatic chronograph here - is a historical movement in its own right, the first automatic chronograph movement created, beating out the likes of Heuer's Calibre 11 and Zenith/Movado’s El Primero movements.
Back in the late 1960's, Heuer and Zenith had taken hold of the entire sports watch industry by racing to become the first to produce an automatic chronograph. It has been widely debated who won, but in the background of this skirmish Seiko quietly created their own, beating the Swiss at their own game – the Seiko 6139.
The 6139 was the first chronograph to have a vertical clutch, a feature considered by many to be one of the hallmarks of a superior automatic chronograph movement. The 6139 also features an automatic column wheel timing control, vertical coupling mechanism, and is an integrated chronograph – the first in the world – which means the entire 6139 movement was designed and built to be a chronograph, vice being an automatic movement with a mere timing module added.
With this movement, Seiko set the standard, which was followed by the Swiss watch industries 20 years later. The same movement configuration was adopted by Rolex when it made its own in-house movement for the Daytona in 2000, 30 years after Seiko released the caliber 6139 and 6138. This particular Seiko 6139, the 7002 variant, represents yet another variant of Seiko's famed 6139 automatic chronograph line.
This 6139 comes on a leather-backed canvas strap, and with nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.
1973 Seiko 6139-7002 Automatic Chronograph
DIAL: Black water resist-signed dial, with correct minute and hour hands. Day/date complications – with Kanji Japanese/English variants – at 3 o’clock position work nicely.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 41.5mm x 44mm; crown is recessed.
CRYSTAL: Correct flawless crystal, no scratches or cracks.
BAND: This 6139 comes on a beige leather-backed canvas strap; it also comes with a black nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 17-jewel 6139B automatic movement, manufactured in October 1973. We have performed a full service on this Seiko chronograph.
CROWN: Recessed unsigned stainless steel crown.
CHRONOGRAPH PUSHERS: Chronograph pushers depress with a satisfying click, with a reset to zero each time.
