The Seiko 6139: The Automatic Chronograph That Went to Space
The year 1969 brought a race to build the first automatic chronograph. Swiss consortia and Zenith announced their movements, and in Japan Seiko put its own calibre 6139 into production the same year. It was robust, practical and affordable, and it has become one of the most collected vintage Japanese watches.
The movement
The 6139 is an automatic chronograph with a single 30-minute register. Technically it was advanced: it used a column wheel to control the chronograph and a vertical clutch to engage it smoothly, features associated with high-grade chronographs. Its two-register sibling, the 6138, followed in 1970.
The Pogue
In 1973 NASA astronaut William Pogue wore a Seiko 6139 with a golden-yellow dial on the Skylab 4 mission. Collectors now call that model the Pogue. The story gave the 6139 a place in space history alongside far more expensive watches.
The family
- 6139 Pogue: yellow dial, Pepsi-coloured tachymeter bezel.
- 6139 Helmet: a broad, helmet-shaped case.
- 6138 Bullhead: crown and pushers at the top of the case, like a stopwatch.
- 6138 Kakume: a squared case loved in Japan.
- Speedtimer: the name used on many Japanese-market versions.
What to check
- Dial and hands: original, unfaded and correct for the model; aftermarket dials are common.
- Bezel insert: original inserts fade; reproductions exist.
- Chronograph function: start, stop and reset should be crisp, and the hand should return exactly to zero.
- Serial: the first digits give year and month of manufacture, which should match the model's production.
- Service: ask when it was last serviced, and by a watchmaker who knows the calibre.
Questions collectors ask
Was the 6139 the first automatic chronograph?
It was one of the first three, and is often cited as the first in serial production in 1969. All three projects arrived within months of each other.
Are 6139s reliable?
Very, when serviced. Parts are becoming scarcer, so a well-maintained example matters.
Why are Japanese-market versions sought after?
Speedtimer dials and Japanese day wheels distinguish them from export models.