Seiko Diver 'Captain Willard'

"I love the smell of napalm in the morning." That delightfully morose soundbite isn't the only memorable takeaway from the Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now. For dive watch enthusiasts, the film holds another: Martin Sheen's use of a Seiko 6105-8119 on screen in his portrayal of Captain Willard. While Hollywood's prominent use of timepieces in film is well documented (and generally done for paid product placement), there are only a few films that really "got it right" in regards to the watches used on screen. The reason Apocalypse Now stands out as a winner? Because the Seiko 6105 truly was a common choice of GIs during the conflict, in a way starting an entire trend for budget-priced, oversized steel tool watches that they would purchase when they returned stateside. As our founder James Lamdin said, "These were big, bold pieces meant for hard use on the wrists by people who knew how to use them." As a diver's tool, the 6105 is a worthy instrument in all regards: Developed by Seiko in the late 1960s, the large case boasted 150 meters of water resistance, a bi-directional bezel for use in dive timing, and copious swathes of luminescent material for visibility in low light and underwater. Utilized extensively by soldiers and frogmen, the 6105 developed a reputation as a no-nonsense timepiece for use in the field, a reputation that has lasted to this day and undoubtedly inspired countless dive watches — including more than a few homage reissues from Seiko itself! — in the subsequent decades. This example, a Reference 6105-8119, is the same reference seen in the film, and features all the hallmarks we love about vintage Seiko divers: a 44mm asymmetrical stainless steel case with a Hardlex crystal, a signed screw-down crown, a bidirectional timing bezel, and an engraved solid caseback with its serial number. Its luminous matte black dial features applied hour indices, a 'stick' handset, a ‘stoplight’ seconds hand, and a framed date window at 3 o’clock. Featuring a sharp case that remains in solid condition and a dial full of patinated character, this piece is unrestored and unmodified — basically the stuff that vintage Seiko diver dreams are made of. Paired to a blue vegan leather strap from Analog:Shift, this wonderful, nearly 50-year-old vintage Seiko is ready to provide many more years of reliable use in battlefields — tropical and concrete alike. Snag this one before someone else figures out how crazy good this piece is!