I've seen near mint 6309s go for anywhere from $500-750. You're probably better off getting a clean one for $250 and having Ken or Jack restore it ($150-250 depending on what needs to be done). Many of the original parts from Seiko are no longer available (bezel inserts; straps) but there are suitable replacements out there. I've had 8 or 9 6306/09s and they're great watches (still have one and wear it often). 6105s are equally nice and have the applied indices but, as you note, are more expensive and harder to find in good condition (esp. the dial).
Need some advice...
...on a 6309-704x :
.
I'm seriously thinking about getting a vintage diver, and that cushion case would be outstanding, specially since I don't have anything like that in my box, and the prices that I've seen for this watch are affordable to me. The 6105-8119 looks a lot like the 6309 and is a rarer (and therefor more desirable) piece, but prices are pretty higher, so right now I think the 6309 would be a smart option. What I want to hear is your opinions about the following. Look at this pic (from a sale add at TZ - courtesy of jres11):
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As you can see, the watch is not pristine, with a scratched case, hands are not too good and the bezel has seen better days, but dial and lume look ok. Let's say I can find a watch in this condition, how hard would it be to make it pristine again? Would I be able to find a new bezel and hands? Can I get the case polished close to a factory look again? And of course, how much would I spend for a top notch restoration of a watch like this ?
I ask because I like my watches looking as best as possible. I would not like it to look moded, but look new, so of course I would want to use original parts or at least VERY good aftermarket parts. However, I don't even know if I can make the watch look BNIB with aftermarket parts... Since I don't consider myself a collector and I'm definitively not a purist, I would love to have a good-looking 6309 (pristine if possible) but I wouldn't be bothered if 100% of the parts are not factory parts, as long as they have quality.
And now about bracelet/straps. Lug to lug is 22 mm, right? Was the watch ever offered with anything else then rubber straps? Are the correct straps hard to find? I generally prefer a metal bracelet, but if it's totally wrong on the 6309 I'll settle for rubber.
And now the movement: is the 6309 hard to maintain, in terms of parts? I imagine you set the date by pulling the crown to the first stage out, but what about the day? Advancing the hands over midnight until the day changes and then retroceding the hands back to 11pm and going forward again to change one more day? What languages are on the day wheel?
What say you about all this? :
.I'm seriously thinking about getting a vintage diver, and that cushion case would be outstanding, specially since I don't have anything like that in my box, and the prices that I've seen for this watch are affordable to me. The 6105-8119 looks a lot like the 6309 and is a rarer (and therefor more desirable) piece, but prices are pretty higher, so right now I think the 6309 would be a smart option. What I want to hear is your opinions about the following. Look at this pic (from a sale add at TZ - courtesy of jres11):
As you can see, the watch is not pristine, with a scratched case, hands are not too good and the bezel has seen better days, but dial and lume look ok. Let's say I can find a watch in this condition, how hard would it be to make it pristine again? Would I be able to find a new bezel and hands? Can I get the case polished close to a factory look again? And of course, how much would I spend for a top notch restoration of a watch like this
?I ask because I like my watches looking as best as possible. I would not like it to look moded, but look new, so of course I would want to use original parts or at least VERY good aftermarket parts. However, I don't even know if I can make the watch look BNIB with aftermarket parts... Since I don't consider myself a collector and I'm definitively not a purist, I would love to have a good-looking 6309 (pristine if possible) but I wouldn't be bothered if 100% of the parts are not factory parts, as long as they have quality.
And now about bracelet/straps. Lug to lug is 22 mm, right? Was the watch ever offered with anything else then rubber straps? Are the correct straps hard to find? I generally prefer a metal bracelet, but if it's totally wrong on the 6309 I'll settle for rubber.
And now the movement: is the 6309 hard to maintain, in terms of parts? I imagine you set the date by pulling the crown to the first stage out, but what about the day? Advancing the hands over midnight until the day changes and then retroceding the hands back to 11pm and going forward again to change one more day? What languages are on the day wheel?
What say you about all this? :
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Look for one with as little discoloration of the indices as possible. Originally they were white but often age to off-white/cream or green-gray (the latter from moisture exposure, I think). I find they gray less attractive (it can be spotty looking). The "water resist" text has almost always faded to yellow, even in NOS examples which have been posted here, but several years ago a forumer found one new in box and the text was red (similar to the later 7002s). A good relume can cover any color change on the indices, and looks very good if done correctly, but I chose to leave the one I've kept alone, so it has only a brief glow (see below). Have you read through the buyers guide that Gabe put together a few years back? (http://www.thewatchsite.com/index.php/topic,153.0.html)
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