eBay Finds: Seiko 6309 Diver, Polerouter Look-A-Like from Radiant, and More

When it comes to shopping for vintage watches on eBay, it can be a gold mine, but it can also be a minefield. Our very own Christoph McNeill (you all might know him as Instagram’s @VintageDiver) wrote a must-read, common sense guide to buying vintage watches on eBay (check out Part 1 and Part 2). So if you’re looking for a vintage watch, but are still a little nervous diving head-first into those murky waters, then don’t worry—we’re here to help.  Today, we have another installment of eBay Finds, our series where we highlight some great vintage gems looking for a new home. Happy hunting!

Seiko Diver Ref. 6309-7040

Here is an honest example of a classic vintage Seiko Ref. 6309-7040. These don’t come up at auction all that often, and when they do they’re usually over-priced “buy it now” listings, so this one’s a pleasant surprise. This example looks to be all original and unpolished. It has a clean Suwa dial with beautiful hands and lume. The crystal has some scratches, as does the original bezel, but what’s a little patina on an original vintage tool watch, right? 

Check it out here

Radiant Automatic

Want the look of a Polerouter without breaking the bank? Then check out this vintage Radiant, which definitely takes its styling cues from classic Polerouters (just look at those twisted lugs and the metal hour track). Never heard of Radiant? Me neither, but the movement is an ETA 2454, the black crosshair dial has a nice patina, the crown is original and signed, and the watch even comes on a beads of rice bracelet, so brand recognition be damned! The “buy it now” price seems more than reasonable, and I think this one is a real bargain.

Check it out here

’70s Seiko Bell-Matic Ref. 4006-6027

Seiko made many Bell-Matic variants through the model’s run, and this one here is quintessential ’70’s  goodness with its chunky cushion case, blue bezel, and colorful dial. Add to all that the original big link bracelet, and you have one funky vintage piece! The Bell-Matics are really cool watches, and you can’t find a more affordable vintage alarm watch anywhere. 

Check it out here

NOS Endura Diver

I’m usually not a big fan of this type of chrome-plated, manual-wind diver. Sure, they look nice, but often the chrome cases don’t hold up well. However, this Endura looks to be NOS with an untarnished case, and comes complete with box, papers, and a tropic strap. The dial has great triangular lume markers, and that big-arrow hour hand looks sharp. These weren’t expensive watches back in the day, and as such the box and papers were rarely kept, so this is a scarce find.

Check it out here