Sweet vintage Seiko diver, Ricky. Congrats. (n/t)

Thanks Bro. Yannis!  (n/t)

Good get! Hopefully, Santa bringing an 007...
and now I'm considering what comes next. An 009 is out there, but I may go another direction. Your price looks great, and I would've jumped on that one too. Awesome! Congrats...

Hard to go wrong..
..with an !

(Man! Been a while since I used that icon. )

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jpm
..I would've jumped on that one too. Awesome! Congrats...

You will be very satisfied, they wear and run great!  (n/t)

my friend. I hope you're right.. I certainly DO have high hopes and expectations for this one.  (n/t)

Great way to bring the year to a close with an excellent find! Quality for that price is tough to match!  (n/t)

Bro. Michael! And if..
..it doesn't arrive this year (and, again, I expect it won't), I reckon 'tis a great way to start the New Year.

Sheesh. It's about time.

See? I expected that!
Thanks for not pointing out that the "hole in the collection" was more like "A gaping chasm you could drive a tractor-trailer through".

Every collection needs a Seiko diver, IMHO.
I suppose the plastic strap will go pretty quickly in favor of your favored NATO?

That is a hell of a deal. You must've been biding your time, just waiting for the right one to pull the trigger on.

I couldn't agree more.

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Smaug
I suppose the plastic strap will go pretty quickly in favor of your favored NATO?

Short-term, almost certainly.

Long-term.. well, I just may go Hole Hog and splurge on a Super Oyster bracelet for it.

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Smaug
That is a hell of a deal.

Until the last ~ 12 hours of the auction the price was so low that, frankly, it was pinging my "too good to be true radar".

Not that I'm complaining!

nice score!
hard to believe ya didn't have this or something similar, not to mention that great price. wear it in good health

Re: ..hard to believe ya didn't have this or something similar, not to mention that great price.
Isn't it though?

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Cleans Up
wear it in good health

sir!

Not bad of a deal! Congrats! (n/t)

Thanks mate!  (n/t)

Looks like a "can't go wrong" call.  (n/t)

{fingers crossed} I do believe it'd take..
..some really bad luck for this deal to go south, though.

Thanks pardner!

Looks good, RL!  (n/t)

Bro. Marc! (n/t)

Lots of value at that price! Helps that it is also a very cool looker!  (n/t)

TY JT! Over-used a term as it is, I think "classic" fits.  (n/t)

Congrats Ricky... nice buy  (n/t)

Thanks Paul! Eagerly awaiting this one.. (n/t)

Good for you!  (n/t)

Bobbymike! (n/t)

This 6309-729A is original but
pretty beat up

Except for the BEZEL, right?
Every other example I've turned up has a Pepsi bezel.

It's a looker, though!

Be Careful Ricky, them 6309's are addictive  (n/t)

, just talk to the man, get the solid end-links, >>
>> make sure you get enough links for your wrist, and open your wallet.

The thing will feel like a very solid $600.00 diver when you are done. You don't get to enjoy too many nice bracelets because of your ample wrists, so here is an opportunity to communicate with the man and get yourself a very solid setup.

Re: You don't get to enjoy too many nice bracelets because of your ample wrists..
You know, while I can see why you'd think so, in truth bracelets are not much of a problem and, in fact, me collection is quite bracelet-heavy.

See, for all but obscure and/or out-of-production vintage pieces, I can simply order up an extra bracelet link or three.

The real problem is branded leather straps. There I'm usually SOL as few marques offer an XL leather option.

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Dave Murphy
..make sure you get enough links for your wrist..

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Dave Murphy
..and open your wallet.

Are you and Smaug in on this?

Honestly, I'm not that tight.

I do spar with the Inner Scotsman constantly, I admit. But I know how to take 'im down in a flash, when need be.

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Dave Murphy
The thing will feel like a very solid $600.00 diver when you are done..

A powerful recommendation, that!

Doc, I'll almost certainly go this route. Just want to get the watch in hand and evaluate it, before I go any further. "Doin' me homework in advance", ye might say.

Congrats, the pepsi is in a class of its own.  (n/t)

Oh, fer cryin' out loud, loosen up yer purse strings
Look at it this way, you got such a good deal on the watch, you can afford to spend a few bucks on the proper bracelet.

Nice photos YES!!!! And sweet divers for sure.
I have a Will Jean bracelet on one of my 6309's and love it. He offers a discount to PMWF members...can't remember how much you just give him your screen name. He was great to work with. I also bought the one with the 4hole adjustment on the clasp...which is a few bucks more...so you could opt out of that to save a few bucks.

Bro. Mark. Good info there!

Thank you Ricky. (n/t)

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Heey! I know that watch!  (n/t)

Thought it might look familiar to ye... BTW..
..yours is all original, right?

Original? Au contraire, it's smacked with aftermarket parts.
No, just kidding, it's all original.

Oooor is it?

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!
Now ye're just..

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Wycombe
Oooor is it?

..messin' with me!

It's not as easy to find photos of an original 6309-729A as you might expect.

I found precisely one that was specifically stated to all-original, another billed as NOS, and another where it was strongly implied that 'twas original.

They all three match perfectly, AFAICS, and yours makes four peas-in-the-pod.

So I'm cautiously confident that I know what OEM is s'posed to look like.

You see right trough me!
It sure is all original.

Slaínte!

Well worth the $...
Mine was $39 plus the end links (optional - I think the stock end links are fine!)

Is that all? SOLD! Even that..
..pesky Inner Scotsman won't be able to argue too much about that price.

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Les
Mine was $39 plus the end links (optional - I think the stock end links are fine!)

More info..
Poking around on eBay, I see that his prices have gone up, but only by a few bucks.

He has a lot of different options as far as end links (solid or stamped, fat springbars or standard), clasp (logo or no logo, 2 or 4 adjustment holes), and so on.

His Oyster II is a nice bracelet, just as nice as the Watchadoo (which I also own) and he is a very reliable seller. So pry open your sporran and order one!

Re: ..I see that his prices have gone up, but only by a few bucks.
Right. Been checking, too.. we probably crossed paths.

Anyway.. yeah, looks like it will run me between $70 and $80 with solid endlinks.

Still, not too bad. As long as the price of the bracelet doesn't exceed the price of the watch, I reckon I can veto yon Inner Scotsman.

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Les
He has a lot of different options as far as end links (solid or stamped, fat springbars or standard), clasp (logo or no logo, 2 or 4 adjustment holes), and so on.

You can say that again! Indeed, the choices are nearly overwhelming. I'm thinkin' I'll just eMail him and say "Hey Holmes! Hook me up with a bracelet to fit a 6309-729A!" Luckily his eMail address ain't hard to find...

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Les
His Oyster II is a nice bracelet, just as nice as the Watchadoo (which I also own) and he is a very reliable seller. So pry open your sporran and order one!

I love all of those Seikos equally... Though, I tend to love the modded more equally than non-modded  (n/t)

Clean the old blood off the pole-axe first, wouldn't want to infect the victim.........
with some previously acquired bacteria of unknown origin.

No worries there, mate. Inner Scotsmen are, as a breed, effectively immortal.
A bit o' poison on yon pole-axe would actually be beneficial as, otherwise, he might recover before I click the {Buy} button...

Did you say Immortal or Immoral?  (n/t)

 (n/t)

The one does NOT preclude the other.
And, indeed, the average Inner Scotsman is both!

Though, sneaky gits they are, they'll deny either.

Congrats Ricky! I vote it needs a OD green nato
Love the tracking info Merry Christmas Sir!

You got a spybot on my system?
'cause I'm workin' on a "NATO post" right now.

Not to kill the surprise but - Alas and alack! - Olive Drab ain't gonna happen, mate. I don't have a 22mm example, and I'm not quite willing to "understrap" to 20mm. Not unless I absolutely have to.

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jeremd676
Love the tracking info

Killer, innit? You can thank Doctor Murphy for that.

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jeremd676
Merry Christmas Sir!

And to you, O' Grand Exalted Poobah Of The !

Congrats Ricky. That thing looks great. (n/t)

nice find and worth the wait (n/t)

Ricky. A nice catch.

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Ricky Lee
If there's one minor disappointment..
..it's the cosmetic condition of the movement. Specifically, the rotor is missing a bit of it's plating , giving it a somewhat "mottled" look.

I thought sure you were going to say: "Not enough jewels."

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Ricky Lee
.is that the strap is an XL, and fits me with three notches to spare!

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Ricky Lee
And, while I'm not a big fan of resin straps in general, I find this one to be far less objectionable than most. Actually, it wears Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr8! Indeed, I'm digging the look enough that I feel no need to swap on a NATO straightaway, which is what I expected. The overall cosmetic condition is so good that I know I will have to eventually spring for a Super Oyster bracelet but, for now, I'm gonna enjoy it as is.

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Ricky Lee
Merry Christmas, me Brothers, and may 2011 be your best year ever!

Thanks Ricky, Merry Christmas to you as well. It is really nice that this arrived in time to make yours even more merry.

In all seriousness, that is a nice watch. I don't think you have a Seiko diver in your collection yet, but I think every WIS should have one, Poor Man or no. They're surprisingly high quality for the price, especially when bought used. Yet they are not cheap either.

Do you have a long enough NATO that your dog could wear it as a collar and keep it wound for you while you wear other watches?

That is a great William Gibson quote in your siggy, by the way.

Oh, by the way, they do hack, but "manually". When you have the crown pulled out to position 2 for setting it apply just a bit of back pressure on it, and the seconds hand will stop or even go back a couple seconds. Several years ago, Reto used to post pix of several of his Seikos sync'd to the second, and it used to awe some folks who didn't know the trick.

Another tip, don't set the day or date on that if the hour hand is after 9 PM or before 3 AM. Set the time forward past 3, THEN set the date. If you mess that up, I think the watch will require mechanical alignment afterwards. You maybe already knew that, but maybe not too.

Who was the ebay seller?

Re: I thought sure you were going to say: "Not enough jewels."


Nah, 17 is plenty for me.

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Smaug
Good plan, as I've read those hard rubber Seiko straps are a BEAR to get off.

Not sure this is OEM Seiko. Maybe. It is branded Seiko on the back side, along with the 'wave logo' on the front. But plenty of aftermarket straps are branded such, too, soooo...

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Smaug
Do you have a long enough NATO that your dog could wear it as a collar..

After she ate the nice Substitute Mail Carrier? No way!

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Smaug
Oh, by the way, they do hack, but "manually". When you have the crown pulled out to position 2 for setting it apply just a bit of back pressure on it, and the seconds hand will stop or even go back a couple seconds.

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Smaug
Another tip, don't set the day or date on that if the hour hand is after 9 PM or before 3 AM. Set the time forward past 3..

I have heard that a time or two..

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Smaug
Who was the ebay seller?

Nice!  (n/t)

I appreciate that all the more..

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VoodooDance
pre-Neanderthal

..coming from a fellow Caveman.

 Great watch! Congrats. (n/t)

 (n/t)

Congrats Ricky I don't think that's a wayward watch though... (n/t)

You have a point! But..
..considering that it went for, near as I can figure, maybe 35 or 40% of it's True Market Value, perhaps I can be forgiven for thinking of it that way.

Good score Ricky  (n/t)

Bro. Adam! And..
..thanks for hosting it in your fine city, whilst it went through Customs.

Looks sharp.  (n/t)

mate.  (n/t)

Very Nice Ricky......welcome to the wonderful world of Seiko Auto Divers!!!! (n/t)

Go ahead! Say it! "What took you so long?!"

You know, I pride myself in my seiko collection....but I only own 1 running seiko diver...
the monster of course...I like you, have lusted after a diver of this calier for a while, but have heard of fakes, after market parts no no's, and gunked up movement issues....I have also heard on several occasions not to trust anything from the ;phillipines, which is mainly were these are readily available....Your experience has inspired me, and I may find myself getting a 6309 diver for new years...congrats on the new purchase...it looks to be a nice one...

Re: ..I have also heard on several occasions not to trust anything from the phillipines..
Right, same here. And this one did come from the Phillipines, of course.

As long as you stick with a certain select few sellers, you're OK. This dude, Jose Sotto (aka watchcooking) seems Safe As Houses. Indeed, my experience with him couldn't have been better!

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dano0
the monster of course...I like you, have lusted after a diver of this calier for a while, but have heard of fakes, after market parts no no's, and gunked up movement issues.. Your experience has inspired me, and I may find myself getting a 6309 diver for new years...congrats on the new purchase...it looks to be a nice one..

Jose Sotto has a good reputation as an honest seller.  (n/t)

Looks good, RL, worth the wait!  (n/t)

Bro. Marc.
I think so, too.

And the wait wasn't even very long!

I've owned so many variations of that watch (that case)
but, I have yet to buy any watch with a pepsi bezel. Maybe it's time?

Remember, I'm something of a Diver Dummy.

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greg honeycutt
..but, I have yet to buy any watch with a pepsi bezel.

Seriously?

Maybe I'm not alone...

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greg honeycutt
Maybe it's time?

RL. It's fun to see someone pleasantly surprised this time of year. Congrats!  (n/t)

Bro. Dan.
Makes me feel all Warm And Fuzzy, too.

Good girl! good dog! No teethmarks on the strapat all! >>
Enjoy, RL!

Who knew, Airtran has free wifi on flights during the holidays? I'm posting from 33000 feet.

No worries - after I "disciplined" her, she got a doggie treat.
No she ain't spolied! Not a bit!

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Dave Murphy
Who knew, Airtran has free wifi on flights during the holidays? I'm posting from 33000 feet.

Kewl!

But where ye headin'?

Do I need to prep..



..the "welcome wagon" again?