Brand new Seikos can be a great way to cut your teeth on mechanical watch collecting, but vintage ones prove equally so. Just like their modern iterations, they offer tons of value on the vintage market. There are few greater ways to get a mechanical automatic chronograph. In that respect, here are three vintage Seikos in pristine condition that you can pick up right now.

Seiko 7009-8009

What we like: This early-70s Seiko is a great example of all the interesting dial patterns the brand played around with decades ago. A funky tonneau case compliments that argyle dial, and the watch is powered by the workhorse 7000-series movement.
From the seller: The case is a polished tonneau with no bezel and cleanly beveled lugs. Serviced on February 28th, 2018.

Seiko 6139-6015

What we like: The 61349 doesn’t get the same kind of recognition as the El Primero for being one of the first automatic chornographs ever made, and as such you can get them for a song. Even pristine examples like this 6139 from 1971 (very early into the model’s run). The metallic blue dial is gorgeous, as are the red accents, and the 39mm case is pretty much the perfect size for any modern wearer.
From the seller: The unpolished case is classic Seiko with opposing half moon lugs that appear to be joined only by the wide, beveled bezel. This is completely original aside from a replacement crystal. Serviced on March 1st, 2018.

Seiko 5645-7010

What we like: Grand Seikos, especially older ones, are considerably underrated compared to their Swiss counterparts, but the brand excelled at design, finishing and movement development. This 5645-7010 is emblematic of those early GS watches, adopting designer Taro Tanaka’s “Grammar of Design” language and featuring a high-beat movement. It’s certainly a unique alternative to a vintage Rolex DateJust or Omega Seamaster.
From the seller: The 5645-7010 example presented here is in great condition, with only minor signs of wear and tear on the case and a near-flawless case back medallion. The dial is near-perfect, with just very minor marks visible to the naked eye when examined very closely. On a timegrapher in the dial-up position, the watch is running at around -4 seconds per day.