The Seiko 6139 "Pogue" automatic chronograph – a historical movement in its own right, like this 1971 Seiko 6139-6002 Aussie Pogue here, on its original Stelux presidential bracelet – was one of the first automatic chronographs created and ranks with Zenith’s El Primero and Heuer’s Calibre 11.
 
Back in the 1970’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 a feat debated who won, but in the background of this skirmish, Seiko quietly created one theirs at the same time – the Seiko Ref. 6139.
 
During 1969, Seiko put the final touches on its 6139 - although the company officially began selling these in May 1969, the 6139 had already begun appearing in automatic chronographs as early as January of the same year.
 
Seiko published the first advertisement for their new automatic 6139 chronograph in February 1969, easily beating the Swiss - however, the Japanese company was concentrating that year on the release of the world's first quartz watch, the Astron, which would completely disrupt the watch world as it was known at the time, again much to the chagrin of the Swiss watch industry.  We have 6139 dials dating back to October 1968, indicating Seiko beat all other rivals to produce the world's first automatic chronograph.  Period. 
 
The seldom seen "Aussie Pogue" earned its sobriquet due to the fact it was only sold in Australia area, and easily differentiated from other 6139 Pogue's by its use of the black tachymeter chapter ring (usually only seen on the Pogue's brethern, the so called blue-dialed "Cevert" 6139).  
 
Although most Aussie Pogue's feature several unique characteristics (aside from the most obvious, the aforementioned black chapter ring), like "Chronograph Automatic" and "Water 70 Resist" dials, the Aussie was produced through at least 1976.  All featured English and Roman languages on their day wheels.  Although the Aussie Pogue is seen more than the ever-elusive "True Pogue," the Aussie is certainly more rare than other more common Pogues.

We all know Omega was the first watch on the moon, mostly because Omega won’t let us forget (ever!).  However, it was the more humble and less publicized Seiko 6139 "Colonel Pogue," named after U.S. NASA astronaut Colonel William Pogue who wore his on the 1973 Skylab 4 mission - despite not obtaining NASA authorization – to time shuttle engine burns due to his familiarity with the watch and trust in its capabilities…trusting the lives of himself and fellow astronauts to the reliability of his Seiko. 
 
This Aussie Pogue comes on its original stainless-steel Stelux bracelet, and with nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.