Seiko Seikomatic Weekdater 6206-8990 1964

The Seikomatic range has been introduced by Seiko in the early 60’s. It was the highest automatic range from the japanese manufacturer at that time.
In 1963, the first day & date Seikomatic Weekdater appeared based on the freshly developed Seikosha 400 33 jewels calibre. That was by the way, the first day & date Seiko.
One year later, Seiko adopted a new way of naming their models, following the calibre-case numbers scheme and widended the Seikomatic range.
That same year, the Seikomatic Weekdater 6206-8990 has been launched, in two close but distinct variations.

Presentation

What is striking with this vintage model is its size and the brightness of the dial which litteraly pops out from the wrist.
Both versions are similar, there is the classical and most common one with plain hands and standard bezel and the “sporty” one, with luminous dauphine hands and luminous spots on the bezel.

DSC_8803

DSC_8800

The dial & hands

The white dial is wide, with a light sunburst brushing. The hour markers are made of thin metal batons, the 12 o’clock one is doubled in width. The writings refer to the range, the model, the jewelling, the water tightness and at the very bottom to the movement reference (6206) and the dial reference (can be 8990T, 8890R, 8890TAD). What is noticeable is the absence of the Seiko logo and the presence of the early Seikomatic logo, representing a kind of spinning top. I didn’t come across a 8990 with a black dial yet, i’m not sure if it was available or not.
The hands are of Dauphine type, plain or filled with luminous matter.
Two windows are present, a standard positionned date at 3 o’clock with a chromed frame and a 6 o’clock day written in all letters. The day could be printed in English or more rarely in japanese Kanji, Saturday is in blue, Sunday in red.
Finally, the dial is surrounded by a white metal bezel on which is printed a minute scale, with luminous plots on the sporty version.

The case

The all stainless steel case wears the 8990 reference and is very similar, if not identical to the former J13080. The case back is pressed. The crown is small, positionned at 4 o’clock and is almost not visible. The 6206 movement can’t be hand wound, so it wasn’t necessary to have a big crown.
On the back we can find the elements found on most of the Seikomatics, the dolphin, the brand, the case material (SS), the references of the calibre and case and the water tightness and the serial number of the watch.
On the inner face of the back, once again the calibre and case references. The acrylic crystal is pressed on the case and held thanks to the outer bezel (which is pressed too).
The Weekdater 6206-8990 case was also available in gold plated version, with matching hands and hour markers.

The movement

This Seikomatic is fitted with the well known Seiko 6206 movement, found on many Seikomatics and on the rarer Business range. According to my experience, it is one of the most reliable and easy to service and maintain movements ever made by Seiko. I never had to give up a service on a 6206, they all start again after a good cleaning and relubing. Impressive.
As you can see on the picture, the movement is not only reliable but also nice looking with its golden colour. As I mentionned it earlier, it can’t be hand wound and when it stopped, you will have to shake the watch for ca 30 seconds to start to load the mainspring and then wear it.
The date has a quickset but not the day.

In conclusion

This Seikomatic Weekdater 6206-8990 is according to me, one of the most attractive vintage Seiko, especially in its sporty version. Its size, its design, its reliability make it an every day watch to enjoy.