While it’s most widely recognized as the workhorse engine of the iconic “Turtle” diver, Seiko’s 6309 was employed to drive the hands of a wide variety of references for nearly a decade. From compact casuals to rugged field watches, it was a sturdy and robust movement that could be counted on. With so many styles available, there were bound to be a few that are now hard to come by, but no less intriguing. This JDM example from September of 1980 might just define intrigue. A clean, almost sterile layout, it features a flawless gradient brown dial that transitions from a dark espresso at 12, to a cafe au lait at 6 (a schedule I could get used to pretty easily). The mid line transition is dramatic, and draws the eye to center. It’s set with polished and stepped monument markers with white striping for even more contrast, and the hour and minute batons are finished in similar fashion. A shared day/date window at three features Kanji and English, and a polished “5” shield is positioned below the applied Seiko badge. The case sports simple, clean lines, and a polished bezel frames the dial and domed acrylic. It comes attached to the original five link bracelet in stainless steel, but we imagine quite a bit of fun could be had in sorting out some strap options for this one as well. Post service, it’s keeping time to within a few seconds per day, and the day and date can be independently quick set via the crown in the second position. It’s unpolished and completely original aside from a replacement crystal, and shows very little wear throughout. If you’re looking to add something interesting, and with JDM creds, to your roster, this is an easy pick up.

Serviced- 9/26

Diameter- 36mm

Lugs- 19mm