1 13

Seiko “Square Eyes” Kakume 6138-0030

Seiko “Square Eyes” Kakume 6138-0030

£950.00 GBP
£950.00 GBP
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Model: Seiko “Square Eyes” Kakume 6138-0030

Year: September 1975

Features:

The Origin. You can’t talk about the 6138 calibre without talking about the 6139 first. In the late ‘60s, an intense and very public race to produce the world’s first automatic chronograph was reaching its conclusion. 

The Race. Zenith drew first blood with an announcement of a working automatic chronograph prototype in January 1969. Three months later, the Chronomatic Group - comprising of Breitling, Heuer, Büren and Dubois-Dépraz - muddied Zenith’s celebrations by presenting 100 of their ready-for-market Calibre 11 chronographs at the Basel Watch Fair. 

Delivery of the Calibre 11 chronographs did not begin until the summer, but that was good enough to bring scrutiny to Zenith’s claims of outright winning. According to the Chronomatic Group, it wasn’t about being first, it was about being first to market.

The Controversy. Zenith showed its prototype off in January 1969, but it wouldn’t deliver a finished watch until October. Seiko, by contrast, started mass production of their 6139 calibre in October 1968, an entire year prior - so it isn’t a huge leap to assume Seiko’s prototype, while not publicly announced, must have been completed months and months before Zenith’s.

The Update. The 6138 on offer today features the second iteration of Seiko’s automatic chronograph. Introduced just under a year later, the 6138 featured dual registers to track both the chronograph’s minutes and hours - a significant functional advantage over the earlier minutes-only layout of the 6139.

The Design. The two subdials give the watch face a pareidolic quality - earning it the long-standing Kakume, or Square Eyes, nickname. More importantly, they bring an undeniable balance to the dial layout - letting Seiko explore more adventurous designs like the UFO, Calculator, Panda, and Bullhead.

Specifications:

Condition: In very good condition overall. Just serviced. All original and extremely well preserved. Minor signs of wear on the case, and the hands have been tarnished over time. 

Scope: No box or papers

Movement: 6138 Automatic Chronograph

Dimensions:

  • Case Width: 42.0mm
  • Lug to Lug: 45.0mm
  • Case Thickness: 14.5mm
  • Strap Width: 20.0mm
  • Bracelet Length: Fits up to a 7.4 inch wrist
View full details

FAQs

Do you ship globally?

Absolutely - our watches are regularly shipped all over the world. Shipping typically takes:

  • 4-9 business days to reach North America
  • 4-12 business days to reach Europe
  • 4-12 business days to reach Asia and Oceania.

All of our packages are securely shipped, fully insured, and trackable door-to-door.

Do I have to pay customs or taxes?

It depends on so many factors, including but not limited to; the cost of the watch, the type of watch you've bought (vintage, new, or modified), and the import and tax laws of your country. If you're unsure we recommend checking the import laws that relate to your country before ordering.

Are your watches water resistant?

All of our watch mods are tested by our own pressure depth testing equipment, and are guaranteed to resistant water up to 50m of depth. Seiko Originals have varied levels of depth resistance, which will be stated in the description of each watch.

Can I modify an existing design?

We welcome all ideas! Get in touch via the Contact Us page and we can let you know the possibility and cost of any potential alterations.

What is your returns policy?

Due to the hand-made nature of the Seiko Mods, we offer a 7 day returns period after the watch has been received. The returner must bear the cost of the returns, and the watch must be returned in the same condition as it arrived. We do not offer returns on any bespoke or custom-made watches.

Due to the vintage nature of the Seiko Originals, returns are considered on a case-by-case basis, as vintage items typically have a no returns policy.

See more...