Seiko Diver 'Baby Lady 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 6105-8110 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, and in a way started an entire trend for budget-priced oversized steel tool watches when they returned stateside. 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. Used extensively in the field 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 diving watches (including more than a few homage reissues from Seiko!) in the subsequent decades. This example, a 'Baby Lady Willard' is the smaller brother to the 'Captain Willard'. Measuring in at 35mm, this piece preserves the class and defining characteristics of the Willard, but allowing the diver to fit a wider range of wrists with this lovely compact configuration. Featuring a sharp case that remains in solid condition and a dial full of patinated character, this piece is beautiful— basically the stuff that vintage Seiko diver dreams are made of. This Seiko is set to provide many more years of reliable use in jungle battlefields — tropical or concrete alike. Snag this one before someone else figures out crazy good this piece is!