[dapellegrini]

Up to 416 watches cataloged.

Lots of articles up now. My favorite is the Reference Cities detail and breakdown - just got updated again today. You get a list off changes on all 6 bezels (not counting colors), then a google map showing the cities and changes - and a rarity index - see how common your bezel is in the series.

Reference Cities - Changes over the Years

A history of changes to the Cities Bezel on SEIKO World Time mechanical watches from 1964 through 1976

seikoworldtime.azurewebsites.net

Several other new articles up as well, including one for validating 7000's:

Authenticating The Seiko World Time 6217-7000

Tips on confirming the originality of your Seiko World Time 6217-7000

seikoworldtime.azurewebsites.net

If you have anything to add or see anything incorrect - please let me know!

 

[Nuclear1711]

I don't think I've ever posted on WUS before this, but I wanted to say thanks for your site! I've been using it thoroughly the last few days trying to track down a world timer for myself. Your site has been invaluable, thorough, and well organized thank you!

I also wanted to ask if you had any additional information on the 6117-6400 variants that have the black dials, grey 24h rings, and white city rings? I like the look best, but I can't find much information other than "it might be genuine".

Picture for clarity:

 

[dapellegrini]

Thank you for the positive feedback.

RE: the 6117-6400's with black dial and gray 24-hour ring (silver bezel), here is what I know so far:

• Examples run the entire production length - from 1969 through 1976
• 20% or so of the cataloged examples of black dials are of this variation
• All of these are 6400's - no 6409's.
• The details on the dials seem to be accurate (lume application, SEIKO logo, 24-hour ring font and text, etc)
• Dial codes are all 6400T, like the authentic black dial with orange/red 24 hour ring.
• And IMPORTANTLY: the position of WORLD TIME at both 6-o'clock and 12-o'clock correlates with the larger dataset of known authentic watches, with the 6-o'clock examples all dating before 1971

I am not aware of any sales literature or ad scans that show this setup, and no original owners have come forward (to me at least) to vouch for it. That said, I do believe it is likely an original configuration. I could explain away a well copied dial - but the way the dataset aligns with with the other versions - particularly the timing of the position switch of WORLD TIME on the dial - seems to strongly suggest it is authentic. And even though dials can be replicated with great precision these days - that doesn't seem to be the case with these watches. The documented aftermarket dials have pretty obvious tells, this dial does not. The lume is the correct shape, color and placement, the hands are the correct black dial version, the printing is crisp and clean, the Seiko logo correct etc.

On your example above - you should have a production date between 1972 and 1976 to match the dial and bezel. So the first digit of the serial number should be a 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

The second digit is the month, 0-9 is Jan-Sept, 0 is Oct, N is November and D is December. The digits after that are a production counter for that year/month.

Here's the data:

Data Explorer: Vintage Seiko World Time Watches
Filter, sort and compare image date from hundreds of sales listings
seikoworldtime.com

 

[Nuclear1711]

Thanks for your detailed response! The watch in the photo isn't mine, I just grabbed it off Google to help visualize what I was describing.
If all the dials are 6400's, would that then delineate these as JDM intended models also?

 

[dapellegrini]

Yes, I believe your assertion is correct. I am not 100% sure if the demarcation is JDM (6400) vs World (6409), or perhaps Asia/Pacific (6400) vs World (6409)...

 

[Nuclear1711]

Yes, I believe your assertion is correct. I am not 100% sure if the demarcation is JDM (6400) vs World (6409), or perhaps Asia/Pacific (6400) vs World (6409)...

Thanks so much! If I find any oddities in my search, I'll be sure to give back to your documentation the best I can!