"I love the smell of napalm in the morning."

That delightfully morose soundbite isn't the only memorable takeaway from the Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now. For dive watch enthusiasts, the film holds another: Martin Sheen's use of a Seiko 6105-8110 on screen in his portrayal of Captain Willard. 

While Hollywood's prominent use of timepieces in film is well documented (and generally done for paid product placement), there are only a few films that really ‘got it right’ in regards to the watches used on screen. The reason Apocalypse Now stands out as a winner? Because the Seiko 6105 truly was a common choice of GIs during the conflict, and in a way started an entire trend for budget-priced oversized steel tool watches when they returned stateside.

As a diver's tool, the 6105 is a worthy instrument in all regards. Developed by Seiko in the late 1960s, the large case boasted 150 meters of water resistance, a bi-directional bezel for use in dive timing and copious swathes of luminescent material for visibility in low light and underwater. Used extensively in the field by soldiers and frogmen, the 6105 developed a reputation as a no-nonsense timepiece for use in the field, a reputation that has lasted to this day and undoubtedly inspired countless diving watches (including more than a few homage reissues from Seiko!) in the subsequent decades.

This example, a Reference 6105-8110 is the same reference seen in the film, and features all the hallmarks we love about vintage Seiko divers  — a 44mm asymmetrical stainless steel case with a Hardlex crystal, signed screw-down crown and a bidirectional timing bezel. Its luminous matte black dial features applied hour indices, a stick handset, ‘stoplight’ seconds hand and a framed date window at 3 o’clock.

Coming to us from the grandson of its original owner, this is an extremely honest example, featuring an very strong case with visible engravings on the caseback. Its untouched dial shows patina throughout, and has been spared the poorly executed refinish/relume jobs many others have been subjected to.

Complete awesomeness.

Fresh off a full service and sympathetically fitted with a replacement crystal, this wonderful nearly fifty year old vintage Seiko survivor is set to provide many more years of reliable use in jungle battlefields - tropical or concrete alike.

Check it out in the flesh before we decide to keep it for ourselves!