Seiko Hoarder

It is strange and interesting how an ordinary object can become imbued with significance through the most casual, inadvertent association.

One such example is the 1968 Seiko 5 Sports 5126-8090 which, because it was worn by the star of an early 70s Japanese television program, has recently become known on the web in Japan as “the Kamen Rider watch”.



Before there was Power Rangers and Trasformers, there was Kamen Rider.

Kamen Rider (仮面ライダ) was a tokusatsu superhero television series that debuted on Japanese television on April 3, 1971, and ran until February 10, 1973.


If you look closely at this video, you can see the 5126-8090 on the protagonist's wrist.



Kamen Rider is set in a world plagued by Shocker, a mysterious world-wide terrorist organization formed by remaining members of the Nazis. To further its plans for world domination, Shocker recruits its agents through kidnapping, turning their victims into mutant cyborgs and, ultimately, brainwashing them. However, one victim named Takeshi Hongo escapes just before the final brainwashing.



With his sanity and moral conscience intact, Hongo renames himself Kamen Rider, and he and his band of motorcycle-riding superheros battle Shocker's minions.

Kamen Rider is widely viewed as one of the milestones in Japanese pop culture, greatly revolutionizing the Japanese superhero and action genres, effectively becoming the figurehead of classical superheroes and the idea of "poetic justice" in Japan. The cultural impact of the series in Japan even resulted in the naming two minor planets in honor of the series: 12408 Fujioka, after actor Hiroshi Fujioka (who played Kamen Rider), and 12796 Kamenrider, after the series itself.



The watch worn by Takeshi Hongo (played by actor Hiroshi Fujioka) was the Seiko 5 Sports 5126-8090. Apparently the watch was not intended as part of Hiroshi Fujioka’s costume or as product placement, but was simply the actor's personal watch which was inadvertently captured in many of the shots.





BEZEL
The most unique feature of the 5126-8090 is the silver, unnumbered dive bezel. Its blunt lines gives this watch a very modern, Bauhaus-like look, setting it apart from all other Seiko 70m sports diver series, as well as any other watch of the era that I have seen. Seiko had some much funkier designs for the Japanese market than they did for the rest of the world, and the Kamen Rider is a good illustration of this.


BRACELET







The Kamen Riders are rare, rare, rare. When one does come up they are either in the $600+ price range or beat to hell.



But maybe my ship has finally come in. I recently won one at a price I could afford, but it's a gamble. Right now I am waiting for this rough looking 5126-8090 to be delivered. Here is the seller's photo alongside the watch I aspire to make it into.




What secrets lay underneath that scratched crystal? Time will tell.



[IMG class=inlineimg]https://www.thewatchsite.com/images/smilies/grin.gif[/IMG]

__________________
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Epicurus




SEIKO REVIEWS:
Review: 6119-8120: Seiko’s 1st 70m "Sports” Diver?, 5126-8090 "The Kamen Rider", 5126-6030 “The Double Hurricane!”, 6138 UFO Chronograph, Seiko’s Rally Sports Divers, 6119-6050 “The Regatta Watch”, Poor Man's 62MAS: 7005-8050, “The Gene Kranz” 6119-8460, 6106-6430 UFO Sports Diver, Seiko’s New Rally Divers, 6106-7107 “Aztec Red” , The 7019 JDM Sports Diver Family, 6619-8230 “Simple Beauty”, Sporty Seikos of the Late 60s and early 70s, 7006-8030: Last of the 70m Sports Divers, REVIEW: Seiko’s 1968 Flagship Watch: The 6106-8120 Sport Diver

Steve855

Very interesting back story. I was watching that one on eBay recently but I lost interest once it passed the $50 mark. Of course I didn't know then that it was the Kamen Rider!!
I would say it went to the right person. Good luck with the restoration!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Grammarofdesign

Agreed ! Congratulations !

GuyJ

Yup. Cool watch actually, and another great thead of info. You need a haircut likeTakeshi Hongo or just get the full outfit and get a pic for wruw.

mwadner

thanks for this thread -super cool and informative.

__________________
There's what people want to hear, there's what people want to believe, there's everything else, then there's the truth …. (from "The International")

zeke441

That's awesome, thanks for the story and sharing.

__________________
"A man that wears a watch shows that being on time is important"
Pops - 1979 when he gave me my 1st real watch.

Seiko Saviors

Reflex

Watch looks like it may be a decent one under that crystal - congratulations

koekoek

I didnt know the story behind these models. Cool! I believe it is one of the first sports diver models too, probably after the 6106-8100 the second one they built. I seen examples as early as March 1968.

This model is perhaps my favorite of all the Seiko sports divers. A cool design but not over the top and at 39mm a very good size too. I find it hard to imagine why a 62MAS or 6105 costs so much more. Or you can see it from the different side, that these models offer great value for money. I was really lucky to pick this one up locally for an absolute steal.

Seiko Hoarder

New crystal, new hands, new movement. So far so acceptable.



I think I'll go for reluming the indices and hands.

I saw a similar watch that had undergone this level of restoration. It didn't look toooooo bad, but a new dial would have been better.

__________________
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Epicurus




SEIKO REVIEWS:
Review: 6119-8120: Seiko’s 1st 70m "Sports” Diver?, 5126-8090 "The Kamen Rider", 5126-6030 “The Double Hurricane!”, 6138 UFO Chronograph, Seiko’s Rally Sports Divers, 6119-6050 “The Regatta Watch”, Poor Man's 62MAS: 7005-8050, “The Gene Kranz” 6119-8460, 6106-6430 UFO Sports Diver, Seiko’s New Rally Divers, 6106-7107 “Aztec Red” , The 7019 JDM Sports Diver Family, 6619-8230 “Simple Beauty”, Sporty Seikos of the Late 60s and early 70s, 7006-8030: Last of the 70m Sports Divers, REVIEW: Seiko’s 1968 Flagship Watch: The 6106-8120 Sport Diver

SeaCreechur

...or grow some of those Elvis sideburns..Thank you..Thank you very much
Just kidding. I really enjoy reading these threads. Something new to be learned everyday. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Michael

SAB

Thanks for the cool post. I want to be Takeshi Hongo when I grow up.

__________________

Seiko Hoarder

A restoration done by Guy.

__________________
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Epicurus




SEIKO REVIEWS:
Review: 6119-8120: Seiko’s 1st 70m "Sports” Diver?, 5126-8090 "The Kamen Rider", 5126-6030 “The Double Hurricane!”, 6138 UFO Chronograph, Seiko’s Rally Sports Divers, 6119-6050 “The Regatta Watch”, Poor Man's 62MAS: 7005-8050, “The Gene Kranz” 6119-8460, 6106-6430 UFO Sports Diver, Seiko’s New Rally Divers, 6106-7107 “Aztec Red” , The 7019 JDM Sports Diver Family, 6619-8230 “Simple Beauty”, Sporty Seikos of the Late 60s and early 70s, 7006-8030: Last of the 70m Sports Divers, REVIEW: Seiko’s 1968 Flagship Watch: The 6106-8120 Sport Diver

GuyJ

Relumed to kinda look as vintage (worn! ) as the dial. There was some interesting....dirt....around the plots. I thought it looked quite cool afterwards and I hope you can use it in something John?











The green lume was like rock....not like nice old Seiko lume that can come away quite easily. The plots were heavily corroded so I painted them silver and then layered the lume. I might actually redo this one...but I found a better set if handa and so will decide then. This also had some slight signs of wear but overall I think looks a lot better.



5126 needed a new mainspring and balance as the pivot was damaged. Also a new upper diashock. Love these movements, though.

Seiko Hoarder

I got a black one in last week;

Cleaned up the case, dial and bezel and changed the crystal and gaskets. I wish I had the original bracelet, but I think it looks good on the generic oyster. The machine needed NOTHING. But I'll still probably have it serviced sometime in the future.

I'll pose it with the silver one when it arrives from the UK.

Those 5126 movements are amazing creations.

__________________
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Epicurus




SEIKO REVIEWS:
Review: 6119-8120: Seiko’s 1st 70m "Sports” Diver?, 5126-8090 "The Kamen Rider", 5126-6030 “The Double Hurricane!”, 6138 UFO Chronograph, Seiko’s Rally Sports Divers, 6119-6050 “The Regatta Watch”, Poor Man's 62MAS: 7005-8050, “The Gene Kranz” 6119-8460, 6106-6430 UFO Sports Diver, Seiko’s New Rally Divers, 6106-7107 “Aztec Red” , The 7019 JDM Sports Diver Family, 6619-8230 “Simple Beauty”, Sporty Seikos of the Late 60s and early 70s, 7006-8030: Last of the 70m Sports Divers, REVIEW: Seiko’s 1968 Flagship Watch: The 6106-8120 Sport Diver

Seiko Hoarder

My white Kamen Rider just came back from Guy. In my opinion, the only thing that distinguishes his work from the original is that the original has flaws, his has none.

While it's a bit of a bother sending a watch literally half way around the world to be relumed, no one else comes close. I do have someone closer to home, but his dial work just isn't in the same league as Guy's.



The hands I sent him were AM ones that didn't go with the dial, so Guy gifted me these, that while rough, are correct.

Thanks Guy

__________________
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Epicurus




SEIKO REVIEWS:
Review: 6119-8120: Seiko’s 1st 70m "Sports” Diver?, 5126-8090 "The Kamen Rider", 5126-6030 “The Double Hurricane!”, 6138 UFO Chronograph, Seiko’s Rally Sports Divers, 6119-6050 “The Regatta Watch”, Poor Man's 62MAS: 7005-8050, “The Gene Kranz” 6119-8460, 6106-6430 UFO Sports Diver, Seiko’s New Rally Divers, 6106-7107 “Aztec Red” , The 7019 JDM Sports Diver Family, 6619-8230 “Simple Beauty”, Sporty Seikos of the Late 60s and early 70s, 7006-8030: Last of the 70m Sports Divers, REVIEW: Seiko’s 1968 Flagship Watch: The 6106-8120 Sport Diver

Seiko Hoarder

__________________
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

Epicurus




SEIKO REVIEWS:
Review: 6119-8120: Seiko’s 1st 70m "Sports” Diver?, 5126-8090 "The Kamen Rider", 5126-6030 “The Double Hurricane!”, 6138 UFO Chronograph, Seiko’s Rally Sports Divers, 6119-6050 “The Regatta Watch”, Poor Man's 62MAS: 7005-8050, “The Gene Kranz” 6119-8460, 6106-6430 UFO Sports Diver, Seiko’s New Rally Divers, 6106-7107 “Aztec Red” , The 7019 JDM Sports Diver Family, 6619-8230 “Simple Beauty”, Sporty Seikos of the Late 60s and early 70s, 7006-8030: Last of the 70m Sports Divers, REVIEW: Seiko’s 1968 Flagship Watch: The 6106-8120 Sport Diver

GuyJ

Thanks, John.

Really liked working on both for you. I used a different mixture for that which didn't end up as smooth, but I felt it looked good and in keeping. The black dial one I hope can be used at some point.

Also these are the hands you sent me, the newer ones I thought we could use didn't have the correct profile so I believe they're the original hands, if only slightly worn.

Might be an idea to find the actual part numbers and see if Stefan has some or if they're available somewhere?

850champion

One possibility to explain the low prices is the tendency of many Seikonuts to associate anything with "Seiko 5" on the dial to lower-end varieties

If they only knew

__________________
"I like what a father said to his son when he gave him a watch that had been handed down through generations. He said "I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire, which will fit your individual needs no better than it did mine or my father's before me, I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you may forget it for a moment now and then and not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it." - Dale from The Walking Dead

tritto

Nice shout out to @seiko hoarder and his Kamem Rider research on Fratello today.
https://www.fratellowatches.com/tbt-...ider-ultraman/


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Seiko Hoarder

It's an honor to be mentioned by Michael Stockton. I admire his writing.

So many authors who write about watches are hacks who rely on stock phrases and clichés. Michael always manages to keep it fresh. You can tell that he has a genuine interest not only in watches, but in the craft of writing as well.

Seiko Shepherd

You put a lot of time and research into your writing as well. I always enjoy reading your threads. Your passion and focus shines through your above average 70m diver collection. Credit well deserved.

Ringo

Brilliant, thanks for posting

pipwatch

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273666052...84.m1555.l2649

2thvet

In lieu of the original bracelet, which AM or Seiko part number endlinks and oyster style bracelet works well with the 5126-8090?

What other bracelet combos have y'all used?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Qwerty01

I used to love Kamen Rider as a kid. Myabe I should go get one of these LoL
Thanks for the info OP