Seiko Watch Duotime GMT 5619-7000

SPECIFICATION

Reference : Seiko 5619-7000
Movement : 5619
Age : May 1972
Case Size : 37mm
Case Thickness : 10mm
Lug to Lug : 42mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : used Seiko watch
Box & Papers : No
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS TO MENTION

• In great pre-owned condition, with some wear from use
• Light scratches on case and bezel
• Fully serviced movement
• Navy blue dial
• The dial has some light marks and blemishes
• The lume in the GMT hand has some pantina
• Paired on an unworn blue leather strap

When we think of vintage Seiko GMT models, undoubtedly the 6117 World Time and Navigator Timer models are the first and potentially only that come to mind. But there is one other of the era.

The Seiko Duotime 5619-7000. This was a unique series of watches that Seiko produced from 1972 until 1974, and they are among the earliest pieces with an independent 12-hour hand. This lovely feature was well ahead of its time. 

The quick-setting hand that moves in one-hour increments, so knowing day or night in the other time zone is useful. To set the hand pull the crown out one click and turning it in one direction sends the orange hand around counterclockwise, turning the crown in the other direction changes the date. The second crown stop allows the time to be changed as normal. 

Aside from its quickset hand, the Seiko Duotime 5619-7000 still has a relatively special movement. The 56 is the base movement for Lordmatic, King and Grand Seiko models from the same period. The KS and GS, such as the 562x and 564x series, used higher-beat 28,800, but the Lordmatic shares the same beat as the Duotime. It runs at 21,600bph, hacks, and has a 46-hour power reserve.

Produced in two versions 5619-700x 'Duo-Time' and 701x, both models offered a silver, blue or White dial. The 5619-7000 that we have here presents a traditional Seiko case that strong adheres the Taro Tanaka's 'grammer of design'.

A BIT OF TRIVA

The creation of the first GMT watches resulted from a shift in society. Following WWII and the advent of commercial and intercontinental flights, mankind started to travel more frequently. This meant that people changed time zones more regularly, and pilots and travellers had to keep track of time at home and in their current location.

The creation of the first GMT watch is often credited to a small brand named Glycine. Its 1953 Airman watch was capable of tracking two 24-hour time zones at once, thanks to a 24-hour rotating bezel and a dial calibrated to display the time on a 24-hour basis. However, it was Rolex that popularised the concept of the GMT watch with its GMT-Master. Released in 1954 and conceived for Pan Am pilots.

The 5619 Duotime would be referred to as office GMT watch (also known as a caller GMT) which is intended for business use. Most office GMTs have a central indication of the standard time and an additional time zone hand. The one function that can be set independently is the 24-hour-based hand. In short, it’s a watch to use when you’re in your home country and want to display the time in another area of the world, whether to track the time in one of your offices abroad or to check the time of your relatives living in a different country.

OUR THOUGHTS

We love a unique Seiko, and we certainly a big fan of the 56 series movement, so the 5619-7000 Duotime is right up our street. Its everything you would want from a vintage Seiko and a little more. Perfect as a modern everyday wear and with a stunning navy blue dial and bright orange 12 hour hand that pops, its a real conversation starter. We have only seen a handful of these watches in the UK so if this is your style of watch you shouldn't hang around.