Seiko’s rally divers – such as the 1969 Seiko 6106-7119 automatic diver here – were a popular series of 70 meter sport divers made by the Japanese manufacture in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Easily discernible, Seiko rally divers obtained their nickname from the distinctive checkered pattern on its bezel inserts, which resembled a checkered racing flag. The Seiko rally series began with the 6106 models, followed shortly thereafter by the 6119s, with a overlap in production between both.
The 6119 duplicated the aesthetic of the 6106 and was meant to improve the design on the 6106 – based on the popularity of the 6106 – and also came out with numerous new variants. Of note, the 6106 models were produced sans the “Seiko 5”-signed dial and only came in two colorway variants, unlike the plethora of variants the subsequent 6119 came in.
Seiko debuted its 6106 dive watches in 1967 as its first “Sport Diver.” Notably, the 6106 was Seiko's first dive watch...sport diver, that is. The Seiko 6106 series - just like its 6119 little brother subsequent - was a line of 70-meter diver watches; the line was aimed at “light” water sports that gained in widespread popularity during the late 1960’s and 1970’s (hence the 70-meter dive rating); however, these dive watches did not feature diving bezels.
As noted by Worn&Wound, Seiko’s marketing ads boasted about the 6106’s diving capability, that was “Proof," all the way down to a whopping 229 feet (!); other ads made the line seem like the choice for surfers. Granted this makes for some shallow diving, but not in the era these debuted. Regardless, it was a popular offering and affordable.
On to one of the best features of the 6106 – the dial. These dials, regardless of color, sparkle in the light and were finished better than many of the Swiss watches from the same period. Couple this with very little writing on the dial and raised applied hour indices, and you have a dial that’s purposeful and sparse.
Seiko made literally hundreds of Sports diver variations during this time period, with the Japanese manufactures’ Suwa and Dani factory seemingly in competition with one another to see which could devise the most compelling models.
This Seiko rally diver comes on a leather strap, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.
1969 Seiko 6106-7119 "Rally" Automatic Sport Diver
DIAL: Seiko-signed silver "Resist" starburst dial. Quick set day/date at 3 o’clock position works nicely. Correct baton hour and minute hands, with vibrant orange second hand.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 42mm x 46mm, with matching caseback.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal, with no belmishes or scratches.
BAND: Generic vintage stainless-steel bracelet, which will fit up to an approx. eight inch wrist. This rally diver also comes with a nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 6106 17-jewel automatic movement, manufactured in April 1969.
CROWN: Unsigned recessed stainless-steel crown.
BEZEL: Correct coin-dege bezel, with blue checkered rally bezel insert.