One of the best examples of “one-upmanship” between Seiko’s Suwa and Daini divisions is the “Rally” rivalry, and without question there is a clear winner in this race... vintage Seiko fans across the globe. No matter which models you prefer, it’s highly likely that one or all of them are at the very top of your “want” list. If there’s an edge to be given, it goes to Daini and the 5126 models, as many of the Suwa “Rally” divers were readily available in western markets, but as is often the case, the Daini models were built for the domestic market only. In addition to their JDM status, the 5126 “Rallies” were only produced for a couple of years, so there are far fewer of them available on the market. It goes without saying that almost any example is an opportunity, and this example from May of ‘69 wasn’t going to pass us by. This 8130 is housed in a beefy cushion case with beveled corners, and the factory circular brush finish is still quite crisp. It’s topped with a chunky coin edge bezel that rotates smoothly in either direction, and the silver and black checked insert shows little wear and no fading. Beneath it, a mirror polished chapter frames a silver sunburst dial with applied markers. Each has a creamy luminous plot that meets a black overlay cap at the minute track. A black “5” badge and baby blue “Sports” designation dress the dial along with a 70m Proof designation. The dial shows some spotting in the lacquer finish near the 4, 7, and 11 hour markers, but it does little to detract from the overall appearance. I have, however, taken this under consideration with pricing. The hour and minute hands are polished and striped to match the markers, and a blaze orange sweep counts the seconds. Behind the dial, Daini’s 23 jewel 5126 is a beautiful departure from Seiko tradition. Foregoing  the “magic” pawl lever in the autowind mechanism, the design is much closer to something Swiss, utilizing reverser wheels to transfer the rotor’s movements to the mainspring. Pressing the crown quicksets the date, and the day is semi-quickset. Post service, it winds and sets smoothly, and is keeping near perfect time. We’ve paired it with a light gray Paratrooper strap with a black stripe to complement the dial and bezel, and offer a custom fit on the wrist. A rare JDM gem sure to be a favorite on any roster. 

CNS Light Gray Paratrooper w/ Black Stripe w/ Stainless Steel Hardware (cheapestnatostraps.com)

Serviced 12/26/19

Diameter- 40.5mm

Lugs- 20mm