The Seiko 6139 is one of the first automatic chronographs ever made, and the first to go to space, on Colonel William Pogue’s wrist during Skylab 4. Its yellow ‘Pogue’ and black ‘Bruce Lee’ versions are among the most recognisable vintage Seikos.
Quick facts
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 6139A, automatic chronograph |
| Made | Production from October 1968 to about 1978 |
| Jewels | 21 (a 17-jewel version also exists) |
| Beat rate | 21,600 vph |
| Power reserve | 45 hours |
| Features | Vertical clutch, quickset day and date |
| Lug width | 19 mm (6139-6002) |
Case references
| Reference | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6139-6009 | 1969 to 1970 | Early ‘Pogue’ case |
| 6139-6005 | 1970 to 1978 | Later ‘Pogue’ case |
| 6139-6000, 6001, 6002 | 1969 onward | Other 600x ‘Pogue’ family references |
| 6139-6010 to 6019 | 1970s | ‘Bruce Lee’ family, often black dials |
What to check before you buy
- Serial against case. A 6139-6009 should date to 1969 or 1970. Any 6139 dated after 1979 does not add up.
- Dial colour. Yellow ‘Pogue’ dials are popular, so reprints and repaints exist. Look closely at the print and the dial code.
- Chronograph function. Start, stop and reset should be crisp, and the seconds hand should snap back to zero.
- Bezel insert. The Pepsi tachymeter insert fades with age. A suspiciously bright insert may be a replacement.
Need a strap? The 6139-6002 takes 19 mm: see the Strap Size Finder. See how the 6139A compares in the movement comparison.
Looking for one?
Garasi Opung, the Jakarta dealer behind this site, hand-checks every vintage Seiko before listing it. Browse the Etsy shop, the eBay store or garasiopung.com, and run any listing’s caseback through the Franken Checker before you buy, ours included.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Seiko 6139 the first automatic chronograph?
It was among the first in 1969. Production started in October 1968 and Japanese sales began in May 1969, around the same time as Zenith’s El Primero and the Heuer-Breitling Chronomatic group.
Which Seiko did Colonel Pogue wear in space?
He wore a yellow-dial 6139 on Skylab 4 in 1973. It is often listed as a 6139-6002, but Beyond the Dial’s research into the dial code suggests a 6139-6005 or 6009.
What lug width is the Seiko 6139 Pogue?
19 mm for the 6139-6002, according to the StrapsCo lug width chart. An odd size, so buy 19 mm straps specifically.