The Seiko 6139-7100 series automatic chronograph - like this full-serviced 1975 Seiko 6139-7100 "Bobby Deerfield" here, on a vintage stainless-steel bracelet - serves as an excellent example of Seiko placement of their movements into multiple highly unique cases, leading to a plethora of out of the ordinary shapes and sizes.
Al Pacino wore one of these 6139s in the 1977 American romantic drama "Bobby Deerfield" - directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Pacino and Marthe Keller, it was based on Erich Maria Remarque's 1961 novel "Heaven Has No Favorites," about a famous American race car driver (Pacino) on the European Formula One racing circuit who falls in love with an enigmatic Swiss woman who is terminally ill.
From the film description, "Deerfield is a calculating, control-obsessed loner who has become used to winning the checkered flag on the track. But when he witnesses a fiery crash that kills a teammate and seriously wounds a competitor, he becomes unsettled by the spectre of death. During a visit to the survivor, Deerfield's world is further set askew when he meets Lillian Morelli, a quirky, impulsive woman racing against time." Pacino was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
But back to the legendary Seiko 6139 - 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 at the same time, beating the Swiss at their own game – the Seiko Ref. 6139.
During the early months of 1969, Seiko put the final touches on its revolutionary 6139 chronograph - in fact, the Japanese company first began putting the 6139 in automatic chronographs as early as January of the same year.
Seiko published its first advertisement for their new automatic 6139 chronograph in February 1969, easily beating the Swiss - however, the company was concentrating 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're certain). We possess 6139 dials dating back to October 1968, indicating Seiko beat all other rivals to produce the world's first automatic chronograph. Period.
This Seiko 6139 comes on a leather-backed canvas strap bracelet, and with nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.
1975 Seiko 6139-7100 "Bobby Deerfield" Automatic Chronograph
DIAL: Seiko-signed white dial, with matching minute, hour, and black chronograph hands – lume shines. Day/date complication – with Farsi/English variants – at 3 o’clock position works as designed.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 40.5mm x 49mm, recessed crown; case sits high, at an atypical 17.5mm.
CRYSTAL: Hardlex crystal, with no cracks or deep scratches.
BAND: This 6139 Deerfield comes on vintage generic stainless-steel bracelet, which will fit up to an apporx. eight inch wrist; it also comes with a light blue, red, and white nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 17-jewel 6139B automatic movement, manufactured in December 1975. We have performed a full service on this Seiko Deerfield.
CROWN: Recessed unsigned stainless-steel crown.
CHRONOGRAPH PUSHERS: Chronograph pushers depress with a satisfying click, no stick, and reset as designed to zero with no issue.