The Seiko Willard in Vietnam (6105-8119)

A vintage timepiece that played a role in the Vietnam War. In this video, we delve into the history and legacy of the Seiko Willard, from its creation in the 1960s to its widespread use by soldiers and civilians alike during the Vietnam war era. With its rugged design and reliable performance, the Seiko Willard remains a symbol of toughness and resilience.

[@andrews527]

Fun fact: Martin Sheen's right arm is shorter than the left. In Apocalypse Now, where he's often shown bare-armed, he stands with his left arm forward and his right elbow pulled back to hide the short arm. One of the reasons the Willard is on display in the film.

[@brandonlanois1734]

In fact his left arm is shorter than the right one. www.slashfilm.com/img/gallery/the-apocalypse-now-controversy-explained/l-intro-1646152467.jpg

[@Tubebafied]

“The horror…the horror.” *He whispered while applying peanut butter camouflage to his face*

[@elelz6409]

Fun fact: if you dont want to give Seiko 1000$+ bucks for a Willard with mineral glass, get a SteelDive SD1970 for 100$, it has a Seiko NH35A movement and sapphire glass, its also dive proof (tested)

[@rodrigomarciando]

$55 now

[@tomhill4003]

Yep! The Steel Dive is freaking amazing, and much better than the original 6105

[@christopherhoe8947]

Probably one of the best reviews on the Seiko 6105.. I love my Captain Williard even more now.

[@masudashizue777]

My Seiko 5, which I wore during high school, was purchased by my father in Vietnam during the Vietnam war. I also got many other souvenirs from the war, including tiger stripe uniforms and a wide-brimmed camp hat made out of parachute material.

[@FiremanFrach]

A really well-made homage (let's be real, I'm not spending the prices they're asking for a real 6105) is the Heimdallr Captain Willard. All of their watches are water/pressure tested. I love mine.

[@Felix_love_watches]

You have produced something truly amazing and informative , well worth the watch and subbed❤

[@squinkygordon1322]

Great review, thanks! I read somewhere that troops in Vietnam (after having their issued watches fail in the jungle conditions) had a saying about the 6105s... "Seiko they don't break-oh."

[@rede98disenowebfotografiay25]

Nobody noticed the great editing in this video? WTF, great job man. Keep doing like that.

[@Supercruze]

Well done segment. I service and restore vintage Seiko and recently restored a 6105-8110 Willard for a Marine Corporal who served two tours in Vietnam in the early 70s. He would look at the minutes tick by on the highly legible lumed dial while on night patrol. He now has the watch back on wrist along with all the memories that it endured during his service in Vietnam. These are iconic timepieces. A tool watch through and through.

[@anthonykleeman9686]

Excellent video review! So the small divot that you see on the case lug is a mark to show the watch was either repaired or serviced at some point by a Seiko approved service center. That a good sign, it shows that once upon a time the watch was correctly serviced by Seiko. I have seen 6105's with and without this mark.

[@kenamaro3942]

Killer watch... excellent video, educational and entertaining. Wstched twice in fact.

[@sdcoinshooter]

I had one of these, it is a bull of a beast. Reliable, tough, it was an amazing tool.

[@darrenfry4695]

Amazing show ,well appreciated. Cheers.

[@peterrussell8409]

beautiful watch, i own 3 similar condition to yours, i wear one every day

[@justmeeagainn]

Nice video. I'd never heard of a Seeko before. This watch bears a striking resemblance to a Seiko (Say-ko) Willard, a watch I'm a big fan of.

[@Andrew_Fraser]

Yeah yeah. I know. Not going to re-do the video now.

[@vladchan]

Then it started to rain and it didn’t stop for 6 months - Forrest Gump. It looks like GI watches had next to nothing water resistance and would be useless in Nam.

[@Hialeah1925]

Amazing video dude!

[@robinwilliams5961]

I’ve have a 6105 since 1976. I was in Vietnam 1966. I didn’t have a capt. willard then.

[@davidgarland2533]

It's still a Willard actually the movie was set in 1969 the watch Martin Sheen wore was not manufactured until 1970. The 6105-8110 or 8119 were sold in large numbers to the troops. Check the first number of you serial number to determine the year of manufacture second number is the month it may have been made before 1976 you definitely own a Willard in my opinion.

[@alwaysaiming8888]

Thank you for the awesome review, Andrew. Great watch

[@rexbarron4873]

Tough....you bet. Bought mine in Singers in '74 and it never been off my wrist for any amount of time, third Crystal, and second bezel (an argument with an angle grinder.) Keeps perfect time and is as cool now as was then. Serial number starts with 401.

[@kurts4867]

wow...best review of the Willard I've seen ( and I've watched dozens...). The current reissues still don't have "it" compared to the originals...The current re-issues lack the metal framing the date window which is a huge miss ....

[@darrenfry4695]

Totally agree

[@davebudd1429]

agree!

[@mattcameron9349]

Have a look at the Rdunae RX2. It is a closer homage to the 6105 and uses a domed crystal, metal frame around the date window, 'lock' stamped crown, chocolate-bar strap, etc...

[@tomhill4003]

I had a 1960s Rolex Explorer (which I sold). It was a fine watch, but the expensive maintenance was a real downer. The Seiko 6105 is a much better watch, even in homage form, This thing is a brute of a tool watch! Plus, it's much cheaper to maintain than it's swiss counterparts. Seiko has beat the Swiss at the game for sure.

[@clark3830]

I flew F-4C/Ds in Nam. I wore the 6105 because it was tougher than the USA issued watch. I gave my brother the black re=issue and I have the blue version now. Back then it was just a very good tool watch for the money. Now I wish I still kept it instead of trading it for some glitzy crap when i got home. Must have left my brains in the boonies. lol

[@Andrew_Fraser]

Love these kind of stories. Thanks for sharing.

[@mylesmooney7505]

I bought the olive green face , alway wanted one . This watch works perfectly for me & great time keeping , have a seiko turtle too & am getting a 62mass

[@davebudd1429]

LOVE this watch. Really great video.

[@aurellio33]

Great only just found this channel I agree with last comment most interesting 6105 video I've seen keep it up!

[@ronin7106]

Hi andrew, Just very curious. Are the handset polished? Are the indices polished or brushed? Thanks

[@IlmegliodiTiktok.italia]

New sub from italy! Amazing video 🇮🇹

[@smartcar8]

Great video for a watch fan. More watch videos please!

[@jameskim62]

I HAD ONE, MY FATHER PURCHASED 2 FOR MY BROTHER FROM VIETNAM .....

[@altal2993]

He didn't keep it up his ass did he? Just kidding :) your just sounded like a pulp fiction vibe for a minute

[@ry7300]

I love Seikos! My SKX007 is still going strong after decades.. ❤

[@Wasabi_Master]

Did the military PX store sell the Seiko 6105-8119 or the 6105-8110?

[@fredericksweet]

It had to with when you were deployed during the VW. My father bought both styles for grins since he wore the Rolex dive watch.

[@Andrese935]

Amazing video man!

[@HHIto]

Some of the re-issues, tribute 6105 cases, have the 8L35 movement, which is considered better (more accurate & robust) than the 7326, 4R & 6R movements.

[@nikolasotra4901]

Awesome review!

[@carldagroundskeeper]

Damn yours is in great shape! :O

[@gerryodonnell321]

The one weakness is the crown gasket - these are the achilles heel of this watch

[@davidcrandall4958]

The SRP 777 is the perfect successor to the willard ! It is a pure tool watch, No un necessary embellishments!

[@Boogenhagen100]

crazy- I bought a seiko watch better or equal to the willard in the 90s, way before the " willard " became a thing. 🎉

[@johnmilner7603]

I just think the turtle case is too huge making the watch heavy. Also be careful buying the waffle band. It’s made from plastics and does eventually crack in two. I bought 2 that were barely used and they probably dried up and cracked. Maybe spraying silicone on the band once a month and wiping it down will make it last longer. It’s not a Nato slip through lug band so if it breaks when outdoors, good luck cause you might not feel the watch falling off your wrist. Luckily mine fell off inside the house and was caught in my sleeve.😂 IMO I wouldn’t buy another.

[@fredericksweet]

The Seiko was the NCO's Rolex.

[@itscomplicatedwatches]

I have a 6105-8110. Even a vid on it if you’re interested. Would be cool to compare ours!

[@parsifalwagner7047]

I do not believe you are correct my friend on this one. Rolex GMT minus the bezel.

[@brandonlanois1734]

The Urban Gentry talks slower therefore easier to understand and follow.

[@altal2993]

Who is Seeeeko? I think you might want to sense check the name of the brand you are reviewing lol Seeeko? Reilly?

[@johnsimons1748]

Andrew on the crown I see 6 banks of teeth which is correct but I count only 6 teeth per group which is different from the common 7-8 per group. A few collectors insist that some production runs included 6 teeth tho. Like yours.

[@Andrew_Fraser]

Nice eyes John. Yes it has 6 teeth and the outer teeth are quite a bit fatter. I know it's hard to say conclusively but I'd be pretty surprised if it wasn't original given the condition of the rest of the watch.

[@johnsimons1748]

@@Andrew_Fraser it is real. The big tell of fakes are the square corners of the date window, not rounded

[@Andrew_Fraser]

@@johnsimons1748Good to know. 🙏Appreciate the info.

[@DenaturedProtein]

No powerbank video? I'm surprised!

[@Andrew_Fraser]

Im trying out some new editing styles. Very bored of batteries right now.

[@DenaturedProtein]

@@Andrew_Fraser that's sad☹️ Your Videos about the Zendure, the Anker 737 & the Laptop Powerbank guide video are my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE.

[@whalesnamedshark]

What’s up with your sound mixing

[@Andrew_Fraser]

What do you mean?

[@rorschach8585]

Sea Ko?

[@matthewroxy3528]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👌

[@RoberttSmithh]

does your crown still seal water?

[@Andrew_Fraser]

It holds of splashes fine. but I wouldn't have the balls to go swimming with it without getting it pressure tested.

[@RoberttSmithh]

@@Andrew_Fraser still don’t understand why they went with the lock crown instead of the screwdown crown. I bet there’d be more pristine looking watches if they went for the screwdown crown

[@Andrew_Fraser]

@@RoberttSmithh Agreed. Its definitely the reason these are hard to come by in good shape. I wonder what the first Seiko with a screw down crown was as I don't believe the 62MAS had one either.

[@davidcoleman2796]

Interesting but I never liked them . I have a spb143. ( 62 MAS ) It's a better watch .

[@eddieg849]

I have a Seiko Pepsi bezel turtle PADI PROSPEX.

[@T.Q.]

Seeko? 😂

[@henryperez606]

Maybe that’s how they pronounce it in the UK

[@roadgent7921]

I wish people would stop raving on and on about the 6105 and how it goes together with the Vietnam war like some heaven made match. If the F91 had existed soldiers would have bought that. Vietnam war was totally evil anyway. 😮

[@beberforumer9715]

the f91 has its own war stories. it was the official watch of the al qaeda

[@lv4977]

I had one and treasured it but then my ex-girlfriend stole it. 💃😊

[@johnbailey7331]

Say ko…not see ko!

[@kenjkbs]

Please don’t call it “sicko”

[@binkyboobosh1]

Willard is a fictional character. I think it's right to call the little Hamilton the Vietnam war watch. Were these Seikos issued to troops?? I don't think they were. Not sure many troops wanted to buy an expensive Seiko watch to take into battle. It was a watch that sold throughout the Asian market but it's significance as a military watch are being a tad overrated...unless the Vietcong were wearing them.