The History Of The Seiko 6105-8110 "Captain Willard"
By James Mulvale.
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If you ask anyone to name the most iconic Seiko watch of all time, there’s a good chance they’ll say the 6105-8110, otherwise known as the "Captain Willard". It’s a watch that’s come to define the values that make Seiko’s dive watches so well regarded by watch enthusiasts today. Those values are durability, readability, and accuracy, all wrapped up in a design that’s distinctly Seiko’s own creation.
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The Specifications of the 6105-8110
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Despite its fame, the watch is Seiko’s second diver, following on from the 62MAS launched in 1965. It was produced from 1968-1977, and there were two distinct versions of the 6105. The first generation of 6105 was produced from 1968-1970 and featured a symmetrical case with an offset crown at 4 o’clock. These first 6105s have the full model number 6105-8000 or 6105-8009 for the US Market. This first version has recently been re-created by Seiko, and you can view the new version here.
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However, it’s the second version of the 6105 that we’re looking at today, and these have the serial number 6105-8110 (or 8119). In its day the watch must surely have looked strikingly unusual. The steel case is 44mm wide, which was exceptionally large for a dive watch of the period. Furthermore, the crown is positioned at 4 o’clock and is protected by some large crown guards, which was also an unusual design choice for the time. Interestingly, the crown isn’t your usual screw-down crown. Instead, it has more of a “bayonet” system, where you push down and twist it to lock it. To illustrate this, the crown is signed with the word “lock” and an arrow showing the correct direction to turn it.
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The striking look of the Willard was combined with solid specifications. The 6105-8110 was water-resistant to 150m, with a bidirectional rotating bezel, and large lume-filled markers. The crystal was Seiko’s proprietary Hardlex mineral crystal, which was another unusual touch at a time when the majority of watches used acrylic crystals.
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The watch used Seiko’s calibre 6105B, which features 17 jewels, a beat rate of 21,600 BPH, and a 46-hour power reserve. Whilst the movement can’t be hand wound, it does hack and has a quick set date feature.
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1975 Catalogue Scan Credit: Plus9Time.
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The “Willard’s” Claim To Fame
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For those who don’t know, the Willard got its name from the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, where it was worn by the protagonist Captain Benjamin Willard, played by Martin Sheen. The watch was chosen for Sheen’s character because of its popularity amongst servicemen in the real world.
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Martin Sheen on set with the Seiko 6105 on his Wrist. Credit: Bigbluekyle The Watch Site.
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Whilst U.S. servicemen in Vietnam were issued field watches made by American brands such as Hamilton and Benrus, these did not have a particularly high water resistance, which could prove problematic in the country’s humid conditions. Because of this, some servicemen would purchase watches for themselves from PXs at military bases. One such watch was the Seiko 6105-8110, which with its 150m of water resistance was perfect for the jungles of Vietnam.
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Danang Air Base PX. Credit: Watchuseek user: JamesA
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There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence of the Seiko 6105-8110 being worn by U.S. servicemen, but virtually nothing to confirm just how many were used. All we do know is that these watches, whilst not terribly expensive, were still not cheap. Seiko catalogues from the period show that the 6105-8110 retailed for $95, which was a substantial amount at the time. Researching military pay charts shows that the monthly salary for enlisted personnel in 1970 ranged from $133 to $903, depending on rank and length of service. Therefore anyone buying a 6105-8110 was making a significant purchase.
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Though Willards were undoubtedly worn in the field in Vietnam, I think it’s fair to say that the watch owes much of its fame to Apocalypse Now. The film undoubtedly helped make the 6105-8110 synonymous with the Vietnam War, which in turn cemented its reputation as a tough-as-nails military watch - a sure-fire way to grab the attention of watch collectors.
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Naomi Uemura And The 6105
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Naomi Uemura: Credit Daily Telegraph.
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Though the 6105 is best-known for its use in the Vietnam war, a thorough exploration of its history wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Naomi Uemura. Uemura was a Japanese adventurer who undertook several expeditions over the course of his career. He was a university student when he undertook his first mountain climb, and by the time he was 29 he had successfully climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. What’s more, in 1970 he became the first Japanese mountaineer to reach the summit of Mount Everest and just three months after that he reached the top of Denali in Alaska. With this achievement, he became the first person in the world to reach the tallest peaks on all five continents.
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The reason for telling you about Uemura and his achievements is that during his 12,000km solo dog-sled run from Greenland to Alaska, the watch he chose to wear was the 6105-8110. His choice wasn’t influenced by any sponsorship or ambassador deal. Uemura simply needed a tough, reliable watch and the 6105 is the watch he chose.
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Unfortunately, in 1984 Uemura would disappear whilst descending Denali, having successfully summited it in winter. It was a sad end for one of the world’s greatest adventurers and a genuine Seiko ambassador.
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The 6105-8110 Today
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Today the 6105-8110 holds a rightful place as one of the best and most desirable watches Seiko has ever made. However, as it’s nearly 50 years since production of the model ended, it is becoming increasingly tricky to find an original 6105 in good condition. Plus, like all vintage watches, prices are steadily rising as supply drops and demand increases.
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It’s therefore fortunate that Waecce has a lovely example of the 6105-8110 available for sale, and you can read all about it here.
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