Seiko 'Grandfather Tuna'

Seiko's Tuna dive watches are known by the nicknames of "Baby Tuna," "Golden Tuna" and "Grandfather Tuna," but they could also be known as "big," "bigger," and "biggest." But rather than being big simply for the sake of it, the size of the Tunas has functionality at its heart.

Seiko had released its first dive watch in 1965, the Reference 6217 (or 62-MAS). The 62-MAS was water-resistant to 150 meters and had a rotating bezel, luminous hour markers, and a 17-jewel movement (Calibre 6127) with a beat rate of 18,000. It was an excellent effort, competitively-priced compared to Swiss divers, but for Seiko, it was only the beginning.

In 1968, a letter from a disgruntled professional diver in Hiroshima led to a seven year odyssey that resulted in the creation of the Tuna series of dive watches, the first ever designed specifically for saturation diving. 

A team of engineers led by Ikuo Tokunaga devised a circular, titanium one-piece or monocoque case with a special "L type" gasket, surrounded by a titanium shroud coated with ceramic. The crystal was held in place with a locking ring. This eliminated the need for a Helium Escape Valve, resulting in a watch that--released in 1975-looked entirely different from any dive watch that had been released. 

The Reference 6159-7010 was the first in a lineage of "Tuna" divers with hockeypuck aesthetics built for one purpose: never to fail. Packing 600M of water resistance, the overbuilt dive masterpiece inspired the full lineage of Tuna models which are today some of the most well-regarded in the history of dive watches. 

This Reference 6159-7010 "Grandfather Tuna" remains in truly clean condition with a beautifully patinaed tritium dial waiting for its next custodian. 

For over 140 years, Seiko has been cranking out innovative and impeccably engineered watches at every price point, from entry-level Seiko 5s to world-class haute horlogerie pieces under the Grand Seiko brand. Underpinning the company’s efforts has been the mass production of reliable and accurate movements paired with a wide array of case and dial configurations.

Founded in 1881 by clockmaker and businessman Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Japan as “K. Hattori,” Seiko began importing Western timepieces and selling them in the local market. In 1892, Hattori changed the name of the firm to Seikosha (“house of exquisite workmanship”), which was further altered to “Seiko” in 1924. Following the Second World War, during which Seiko produced watches for the Japanese military, the company began its streak of innovations based upon affordable, in-house movements and Japanese savoir faire. These included myriad dive watches such as the famed 6105 and the fan-favorite 6139 chronograph.

Later, in 1969, Seiko would go on to produce the Astron, the world’s first quartz watch. This technological innovation was followed by the Seiko Kinetic in the 1980s, which married quartz accuracy with automatic, self-powering functionality. Today, Seiko’s product offerings are vast, including dress watches, dive watches, chronographs and much more, all of which are powered by in-house movements comprising different types of technology.

Despite a move toward luxury positioning and pricing in the brand’s modern offerings, vintage Seiko classics can still be had at incredibly reasonable prices today, making them a favorite entry point into the vintage watch world for myriad collectors. From their availability in post exchanges on military bases around the world to their fame from films such as Apocalypse Now to their presence at six Olympic Games, Seiko watches are deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the contemporary collector.

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Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

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All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

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Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.