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Seiko Chronograph (Ref. 6139-6020) "Pulsations", 1970 — view 1 of 6
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Wristwatches · Wristwatch

Seiko Chronograph (Ref. 6139-6020) "Pulsations", 1970

DocumentedDocumented from a dealer's listing; attribution and date as stated by the dealer.
Maker / attribution
Seiko (maker)
Date
1970
Country of origin
Japan
Object type
Wristwatch
Stock no.
SKO61396020
Credit line
Dealer listing, Craft & Tailored (SKO61396020)
Catalogue title (original)
1970 Seiko Chronograph (Ref. 6139-6020) "Pulsations" (English)

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Record summary

Catalogued by Craft & Tailored (dealer), Los Angeles (stock number SKO61396020), this is a wristwatch by Seiko, made in Japan, dated 1970. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. The record is illustrated with 6 photographs.

Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.

Catalogue description

Dealer description — Craft & Tailored

In the 1960s and 1970s, Seiko produced a variety of affordable mechanical chronograph watches. This particular one is unofficially known as the 'Doctor's Watch', or the Seiko "Pulsations", which is a chronograph designed for doctors to measure resting heart rate with its inner rotating 'Base 10' numeric system bezel. Not only can the Pulsations be used to measure resting heart rate, but this watch would also make for a great output timer for a number of engineering or measurement needs. The "Pulsations" happens to share the same 6139 movement as the famed Seiko "Pogue", which was the first automatic chronograph that was available for purchase in May of 1969 exclusively to the Japanese market. This striking watch has a deep chocolate brown dial which contrasts handsomely with the bright red chronograph hand, red sub-seconds hand, and day wheel font. Stock # SKO61396020 Brand Seiko Style Chronograph Model 6139-6020 Serial 021XXX Size Men's Material SS Dial Brown Millimeters 40 Bracelet 2pc Handmade Leather Strap CASE & BRACELET This attractive square cushion case shows honest use and appears to have been lightly polished in the past, but retains full and even lugs. All original caseback engravings remain clear and visible. The black and silver inner "Base 10 Pulsations" bezel is in stunning condition with all markings fully intact. The case retains its original crown and pushers. Comes with a 2pc handmade leather strap. DIAL & HANDS The attractive chocolate brown dial is in excellent vintage condition with no signs of age. All lume plots are bright white and fully intact when inspected under U.V. light, showing no signs of age. The original cigarette-style hands have aged a shade darker than the dial, under U.V. light inspection the minute hand show minor lume loss, the hour hand remains fully intact. The red sub-dial sweep-seconds hand and chronograph hand contrast the dial perfectly and are in excellent condition. Both matching chocolate brown day and date wheels are in excellent condition. All sliver indices, day window, and date window are in excellent condition, showing very minimal signs of age. ACCESSORIES None. Watch is functioning and keeping time, previous service history is unknown.

Historical context

Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)

Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.

Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.

Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology

Atlas type guide

Chronographs and split-seconds watches

A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.

Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.

What to look for

  • Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
  • Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
  • Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
  • Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).

Dating clues

  • Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
  • Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
  • Automatic chronographs: from 1969.

General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.

Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph

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