One of the major draws of Seiko’s automatic watch line during the 1960's - like this oddly large for the era 1968 Seiko 6619-8230 automatic sport diver here, on a vintage stainless-steel Japanese Maruman bracelet - were their amazingly simplistic dials and the handset from the famed first Seiko professional dive watch, the Seiko 6217-7000/1, aka the "62MAS."
And this one here, the steel-grey dial variant, is one of the best 6619's made, and was surprisingly large for the era, weighing in at about 38.5mm in width (most from the era were 36mm or smaller). The 6619 was produced in roughly the same era as the nearly identical 7625-8233 and 7005-8062, all three featured the same stunning steel-grey dial and were of similar size.
The sum of the 6119's features combine to form its single greatest aesthetic quality – symmetry. The nearly invisible hidden crowns coupled with the sparse dial give it a simple, clean symmetrical style hard to find in a watch of any era or price range. Everything is in balance.
Per Fratello’s resident Seiko guru, Michael Stockton, in his Fratello review of the 6619-8230, it is “…awfully wearable and it provides a bona fide alternative to a lot of [nylon strap]-clad, faux USA-made, silly quartz hipster pieces as well (rant much?)."
"I actually think that is one of Seiko’s best ever and I’ll now do my best to convince you. On the wrist, the Seiko Sportsmatic is a fantastic wear…So, as you can see, it dresses up and down and looks good with almost any color…much like a gray pair of trousers.”
“The size also takes away any complaints from those who think that most vintage non-sports watches are small as this Seiko definitely wears as large or larger than its 38mm. If you’re not a vintage watch person, but are simply reading our site and want a classically styled legitimate timepiece, this is your invitation to stop shopping for watches in the J.Crew catalog – this Seiko is far better than a pricey [nylon strap]-clad Timex.”
Seiko used the quite reliable Calibre 6619 automatic movement – introduced in 1963 – in many of its Sportsmatic models during the same time period in the late 1960s, and used the movement from the mid-to-late 1960's.
This sizable late 1960's Seiko 6619 comes on a vintage Japanese Maruman stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.
1968 Seiko 6619-8230 Automatic Sport Diver
DIAL: Seiko-signed dark steel gray dial, which subtlety changes color to black depending on angle (making it quite difficult to photograph); correct handset, to include "box" seconds hand . No imperfections present on dial. Although lume is long deceased, hands and chapter ring retain lume itself.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 38mm x 45.5mm, with matching waterproof-signed caseback.
CRYSTAL: Domed acrylic crystal, no deep scratches or cracks.
BAND: This Seiko 6619 comes on a vintage stainless-steel Japanese Maruman bracelet, which will fit up to an approx. 7.50 inch wrist; it also comes with a black and blue-ish-grey nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: 17-jewel 6619 automatic movement, manufactured in January 1968, which beats at 18,000 bph with a limited quickset date (must be wound back to 9 PM and forward to midnight again to advance the date manually).
CROWN: Recessed stainless-steel crown works as designed.