Seiko 5 Sports Speed-Timer 6138-0030 Kakume - Champagne Yellow, Blue & Orange

Now that I have a Seiko 6138 UFO, Bullhead, and the grail 8010 variant, I needed to have one of the most popular 6138s, the 'Square Eyes' or 'Kakume' variant!

The Kakume, with the contrasting square subdials, is instantly recognisable, and was produced in huge numbers in both JDM and export versions, so they are plentiful on Ebay and elsewhere.

Do note that aftermarket dials abound, so you really have to be careful, especially with the blue dial variant. Here's a pictorial guide to help you differentiate the several correct original dial variants from the corresponding aftermarket ones.

Be sure to do proper homework, guys!

In recent years, there's even been a modern interpretation of the Kakume, the Brightz Ananta SAEH005!
But we're not into modern watches here, so the rest of this post will concentrate on the vintage Kakume, the 6138-0030.

It's commonly regarded that the Kakume came in two dial flavours, a more common blue dial variant, and a less common Champagne, or Orange, dial variant - see this commonly referenced Worn&Wound post.

Correct?

Not quite!

It seems there is debate out there that there's a 3rd dial variant that's not just an faded Orange/Champagne dial, but a distinct dial that's a paler Champagne Yellow, or Golden, variant!

See this SCWF post and this PhilippineWatchClub post for more info and see if you are convinced!

I, for one, am almost certain that the yellow variant is a 3rd variant, and not just a weathered orange variant.

As usual, I zoomed in and hunted specifically for the JDM variant that is marked 'Seiko 5 Sports Speed-Timer'. 

In addition, I specifically wanted one with the black 'arrow' style hands rather than another variant with silver hands - don't ask me which is original!!!

After hunting for some time, I found this rather honest specimen from Peru dating to Dec 1974 - it looked like the Yellow 3rd variant, and had the most hideous relume of the minute hand, but otherwise looked all correct and original, down to the bracelet, with a nice wabi-ed dial and worn bezel - just the way I like my vintage watches!

In the flesh, it's a nice watch with great wrist presence, with the yellow sunburst dial perhaps not as striking as the orange dial, but still distinctively and unmistakably 'Square Eyes'!

Would I buy an orange dial variant if I found one? Hell yes! But for now, this yellow Kakume does the trick for me, and is most definitely a keeper! =)

20 July 2016 addendum

I recently found an all correct Blue Seiko 5 Sports Speed-Timer Kakume!

It looked pretty beat up in the photos, but otherwise appeared all correct.

But in the flesh, it was stunning beyond description.

The gorgeous blue dial contrasted by the steel markers and the bright orange 'Speedtimer' script and the lemon yellow subdial and chrono hands....absolute perfection...so pretty that even the scratched up crystal cannot hide!

Interestingly, the scratched up crystal looks far worse in photos than in real life, where it's actually good enough not to need an immediate replacement.

And of course, as with so many of these 40 year old 6138 movements - they're still happily and accurately ticking away - no service required!

I've gonna wear it 'as is' for now, and it does seem that I'm not going to need that crystal replaced anytime soon! Yay!!!!

Here's a couple of photos of the pair of 'em Square Eyes!

Don't they look pretty? =P

Oct 2016 addendum

Finally I complete my JDM Speed-timer Kakume trilogy!

I finally found the Orange variant of the ole 'Square Eyes'!

This guy was cosmetically acceptable for a March 1974 watch, but internally it was a mess, requiring a long stint at the watchmaker to be sorted right.

But now that it's back, I have full confidence that the venerable Seiko 6138 movement will happily and reliably tick away for many years to come!

Looking at the Orange dial and the Champagne Yellow dial variants side by side, there is no way the yellow is just a orange dial that's faded with time.

Look at the photos and decide for yourself - I am 100% convinced that they are 2 separate, distinct variants.

So finally I have the Trilogy of JDM Speed-timer Kakume variants - I'm a happy camper, I am!!! =)

The grail JDM Speed-Timer 6138-8010

This next one's a little special.

For any Seiko 6138 collector, this guy needs no introduction - it's widely regarded as the rarest and most beautiful 6138 of all, and often quoted as the 'grail' of Seiko 6138s.

See this page for a comprehensive review of the various Seiko 6138 models.

Most 6138s were produced in large numbers, both for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) and for international export. The JDM ones were usually marked 'Speed-Timer', with or without the 'Seiko 5 Sports' moniker, whereas the export versions were simply marked 'Seiko Automatic Chronograph'.

Not the 6138-8010 - this particular model was only ever released as a JDM model in 1972/73, and was apparently never released internationally, thus contributing to it's scarcity.

My particular piece dates to January 1973, and came with an original 'Seiko 5 Sports' signed bracelet that I believe is incorrect for this model, which possibly explains the relatively bargain price that I picked it up for! =P

The other feature special about this model is the beautiful 'Cotes de Geneve' dial in metallic iridescent blue, with a contrasting strip down the middle. It's the only 6138 as far as I know with such a blue dial and definitely the only 6138 with such a 'Cotes de Geneve' contrasting dial.

In real life, the dial is awesome to look at cos it changes colour depending on the angle of view and light, but it is incredibly difficult to capture in photographs.

Here are some of my better attempts, but trust me, the dial looks waaay better in real life.

I especially love the way the blue dial contrasts with the silver hands, the white of the lume markers and the 'Seiko 5 Sports' print, and the orange of the chrono hand and the 'Speed-Timer' script!

Seiko certainly got the design of this one perfectly spot-on!

Come to think of it...most 6138s I've encountered do look way better then they appear in photos!

I may have started my vintage Seiko automatic chronograph journey with the slightly older 6139 models (the first automatic chronographs available for mass retail), but over the years I have fallen even more deeply in love with the only slightly later Seiko 6138 - a movement that has so much going for it - powers 2 sub-dials, ability to hand-wind the crown, available in various 70s era funky case shapes, and has s stellar reputation for being a fuss free, low maintenance, reliable, workhorse movement - what's not to like???