The bedrock of Seiko’s storied history concerning diver’s watches was laid in 1962 with the release of the Seikomatic 50m Silver Wave. From that point to the present, Seiko has built a diving dynasty through relentless R&D, and vertically integrated manufacturing that allowed improvements to be honed on the fly. But even before the Silver Wave, hints of what was to come were evident in short lived references through which Seiko tied maritime monikers to existing platforms in an effort tout advances in water resistance. Seiko’s robust, hand-wound “Champion,” and flagship self-winding “Seikomatic” lines were ideal outlets for these purposed pieces, and resulted in two short lived references whose names did the heavy lifting from a marketing standpoint: the Champion “Flying Fish,” and Seikomatic “Blue Yacht.” Both have been longtime fixtures on our acquisitions list, so finally steering a “Blue Yacht” to the dock at HCV has been a fulfilling labor of love. This example from November of 1961 is an absolute stunner. On an otherwise unassuming mid-century casual, two details truly standout. The pale silver dial is set with polished applied markers with subtle detailing, but a closer look reveals a mesmerizing finish. Beneath a glossy lacquer top coat is a spiral sunburst pattern that shimmers with swirls of reflected light from every angle. In bold black script, the Blue Yacht name is inked beneath the lacquer above the six, along with the diashock protection and jewel count. The Seikomatic script and spinning top emblem are below the twelve. Denoting the SD or “Special Dial” is the eight pointed star just above the six o’clock marker. SD attributes included complex dial treatments and the use of precious metals (white gold) for the markers. The dial is framed by a raised white chapter with black minute hashes that adds a bit of contrast and depth. The hour and minute hands are long polished dauphines with crisp beveling that are tapered to a fine point. The stainless steel case is a 36mm classic round with leggy drilled and beveled lugs. The crown is recessed at four for a seamless finish, and a thin polished bezel surrounds the domed acrylic crystal. The case back is a snap-on style with detailed embossing of the Blue Yacht name beneath a regatta sailing yacht at center, and is surrounded by reference info in large print. As the embossing is fairly delicate and prone to wear, we’ve applied a static cling protector to preserve condition. The 17 jewel Seiko 603 that would go on to power the 50m Silver Wave the following year, is keeping excellent time post service. It’s unpolished and completely original aside from a replacement acrylic crystal. It comes attached to what I believe was an optional, unsigned original bracelet. A rolled five-link “railroad” design, it adds a period perfect fit and finish on the wrist. The first, and quite likely, the last example we’ll have the opportunity to offer, this “Blue Yacht” is a beautiful piece of Seiko history that’s a worthy highlight in any collection.

Original Rolled Five Link “Railroad” Bracelet in Stainless Steel

Serviced 5/22/23

Diameter- 36mm

Lugs- 18mm