(VIDEO) My Watch: Collecting Seiko, Military, and Vintage Tool Watches with Jon Gaffney

February 27, 2018

If you’re a regular reader of Worn & Wound, Jon Gaffney (@JonGaffney) is no stranger. Jon is a long-standing contributor to the site, often field testing and covering watches that can take a knock or two. Jon’s written for numerous other publications as well, among them Gear Patrol, Valet Mag, Huckberry, ITS Tactical, and he’s currently the Director of Marketing and Sales for Iron & Air magazine.Today, Jon sits down with us in the second installment of My Watch, our series that looks at collectors and their watches. Jon leads an active life—whether he’s out ice swimming or touring the US while living out of a built-out sprinter van—and his watches reflect that lifestyle. His collection consists largely of military watches and tool watches inspired by military watches. And Jon’s not afraid to use them. Enjoy!

Click here for our last installment of My Watch with WatchRecon creator, Sammy Sy.

Hamilton GG-W-113

A mil-watch staple, the GG-W-133 was one of Jon’s first serious watch purchases. The GG-W-133 does not feature “H3” or the radioactive symbol on the dial, a detail specified because this watch was designed for pilots who wanted the cleanest possible dial. Though it doesn’t get too much wrist time these days (the watch is a bit small for Jon’s wrist), he has no plans to sell it.

Read more about some of these vintage military watches here and here.

Stowa Marine Original

Based on a German deck pocket watch, the Stowa Marine was a watch Jon wore regularly for nearly two years. Large and legible, the Marine Original also comes equipped with a beautifully decorated Unitas caliber.

Click here for our review.

Seiko ref. 6105-8000 Diver

An iconic dive watch from an iconic brand, the 6105-8000 is a must-have for any serious Seiko collector. The next generation of the watch, the ref. 6105-8110, was worn by Martin Sheen’s Captain Willard in Apocalypse Now, though the 6105-8000 would have technically been the period-correct watch for the film.

MK II Paradive

This is the second version of MK II’s homage to the Benrus Type I. Jon traded his first Seiko 6105 (not the one featured above) for this watch which was at the time very hard to get. Today, it’s his go-to piece for adventuring, and it’s seen many miles on Jon’s wrist. This one is staying in Jon’s collection for the long haul.

Click here to read Jon’s take on the Paradive.

Scubapro 500 Diver

One of Jon’s funkier pieces, the Scubapro 500 is a quirky vintage diver and an example of more restrained ‘70s design, though it’s still very much of its era. This one draws a lot of attention when Jon wears it, especially when it’s on a bright-orange nylon band.

Read Jon’s coverage of the Scubapro 500 here.

Seiko Navigator Timer ref. 6117-8000

And finally, there’s the Seiko ref. 6117-8000, a relatively recent addition to Jon’s growing collection. This one is basically a sock drawer find, and the condition on it is near-mint. It’s quickly become Jon’s go-to travel watch, and it’s another piece that Jon imagines never parting with. In fact, he’s currently on the hunt for a few more examples to gift his brother and father.

Learn more about the Seiko Navigator Timer ref. 6117-8000 here.

Images from this post:

Affordable Vintage: 60’s Seiko Sportsmatic

Affordable Vintage: Seiko SUS 4S15 “Military”

Author Ilya Ryvin

Ilya is Worn & Wound's Managing Editor and Video Producer. He believes that when it comes to watches, quality, simplicity and functionality are king. This may very well explain his love for German and military-inspired watches. In addition to watches, Ilya brings an encyclopedic knowledge of leather, denim and all things related to menswear.

ryvini

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