In an effort to allow healthy competition to dictate innovations in both style and engineering, Seiko’s design and production teams were divided into two factions: the Suwa Division, and the Daini Division. This led to a high stakes game of “one-upmanship” that gave us some of the most memorable styles to have come out of the era. In particular, light divers had taken the market by storm, and Seiko implored each branch to bring their very best to satiate a market in demand. While there are plenty of sport divers from the Suwa lineup that made their way to the western market, many of the Daini designs remained available to Japan’s domestic market alone. We are constantly on the lookout for these hard to find JDM Daini divers, and we think it’s fairly easy to see why. This example from March of ‘70 has a look all its own, and pounds of vintage appeal. The case shape is a contoured tonneau with sloping beveled edges, rolling hooded lugs, and a wide inset bezel. The dial is a soft matte black with white print and a single touch of color with the baby blue “Sports” designation. The minute track is segmented in white blocks, and the hours are marked by long and lean luminous plots. They’ve developed a creamy patina that softens the contrast, and matches the hour and minute hands. The dial is framed by a glossy black “count up” inner bezel that can be rotated in either direction via the crown. The hands and day/date (Kanji/English) frame have oxidized over time to develop a brassy patina. The tapered sweep hand has faded from a bright orange to a matte gold that works well against the black backdrop. We’ve paired it with a black RAF NATO as it just seemed appropriate for this stealthy vintage diver. The 7019 behind the dial is keeping near perfect time post service with a healthy power reserve. JDM Sport Divers are a hot commodity for collectors, and this one is sure to be a conversation starter.

Clockwork Synergy Black Double Layer Two-Piece RAF NATO (clockworksynergy.com)

Serviced 10/11/18

Diameter- 41mm

Lugs- 19mm