Vintage Seiko Laurel World Time 6M15-7040

I got this somewhat rare and unusual model from Seiko. It is both a Laurel and a World Time model. It is a quartz that also has a lot of features including alarm and chronograph.

Dial showing 2 sub registers - one for the watch settings and another for 24-hour reading. There is also the date display.

Side view showing the buttons and crown as well as the lug assembly for the straps. This one came with a customized strap instead of the original one but the assembly makes it easier for replacements later.

Close up of the dial from an angle to show the texture of the surface. I'm not sure if this qualifies as linen but it certainly is some type of fabric design.

The other side view showing a couple more buttons. These are usually for the alarm settings and should be similar to other alarm chronographs I have.

Signed crown, and buttons

Close up of the case back - I had to take the photo from a certain angle and lighting in order to capture the worn out etching that probably was caused by an over-polishing of the metal. The etching says 'Laurel' in the middle. Under it is 'Seiko'. Then it states 'water resistant 10 bar'. The 4th line states the model '6M15 - 7040'. Finally there is the serial number at the bottom after some space from the model number. The serial number indicates the watch to have been made in October 1994, making this a 26-year old watch (turning 27 later this year).

Close-up of the sub-dial showing the features and settings for the watch

Wrist shot the first time I wore the watch

 

This was more an impulse buy for me so this won't likely be a keeper despite its features. I am posting this on the last day of February as it might be heading to another owner on the first week of March 2021.

[Note: The watch is now with another as I decided to unload it. It was a nice one but couldn't get any wrist time.]

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Vintage Alba Digital Quartz Watch - Y749-5090

I had wanted to feature my first watch but somehow couldn't find the original one which my mother kept in my old room at our home in Cainta. The last time I saw it, it was in my mini shelf where I kept my old CDs that I had collected while living in Yokohama in the 1990s. The watch had survived the floods of Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) and I remember it being repaired as the buttons were stuck so you couldn't adjust the time or use its other features. My brother promised to look for it.

Luckily, I found this piece from a seller in Turkey. I snapped it up and despite the current pandemic situation, it was shipped immediately and I got it within 4 days (via UPS). The watch itself was cheap but this has a lot of sentimental value to it. Earlier, I found another one of the same model but upon inquiring was told by the seller (politely) that he wasn't shipping to the Philippines.

This Alba chronograph has many features that I would have to get reacquainted to and familiarize with. All seem to be functioning and I didn't have problems setting the watch.

Side view showing the buttons used to adjust the time and date (right in the photo), and set the alarm and use the chronograph (left)

The button on the left is for the light (when you need to check the time in the dark). The one on the right is for selecting the mode.

The watch came with the original bracelet and luckily, too, it fit well with my wrist.

Close-up showing all the different features of this digital watch

An even closer look to see the condition of the watch body.

Case back showing the serial and model numbers. The serial number is read the same as Seiko watches (i.e., Alba is a subsidiary of Seiko). This watch was manufactured in May 1981 making this watch a newer version of the watch I got likely for Christmas of 1980.

Close-up of the model number on the case back

The obligatory wrist shot.

I remember this was water resistant enough that I could use it while taking a bath or washing things. I don't recall though if I tried using it for swimming (PE class mostly). I eventually outgrew this watch and Tatay got me a Seiko analogue quartz watch. That was in high school and I recall that Seiko to be so thin that people were comparing it to the Swatch watches that were the in thing at the time but were more expensive than the cheap Seiko quartz watches. I didn't get my first Swatch until 2001, 13 years after I graduated from high school.

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On vending machines in Japan

"We miss traveling to Japan." is quite the understatement. I have lived there four time, counting my post grad studies in the 1990s and my stays as a Visiting Scientist in the 1990s and 2000s. I've lived in Tokyo, Yokohama and Saitama during those times and traveled around whenever I can. Among the conveniences of living in Japan are the various vending machines (or bendo as they are referred to by the Japanese) selling all kinds of things. The typical ones on campus sold coffee, tea, chocolate, juices, softdrinks and water. Coffee, tea and chocolate are usually available as hot beverages during cold seasons and cold beverages during warm/hot seasons. Other machines sell ice cream, beer, snacks, bread and other usual refreshments. But elsewhere like rail stations (plazas and platforms), these machines may sell transit cards, telephone cards (people even collected the different designs back in the day), toys, cigarettes, and other items you might find in convenience stores.

Harrison, A. (November 30, 2020) "Vending Machine Heaven," Weeds & Wildflowers, https://medium.com/weeds-wildflowers/vending-machine-heaven-317fe2de0f48 [Last accessed: 2/12/2021]

Here are a couple of photos of vending machines I took during a trip back in 2013:

Ice cream vending machine on an Enoshima Line station platform.

The latest models of vending machines look like giant TVs with their LED screens providing information on the items available from the machine. This was on a JR East Yokosuka Line platform.

I was looking forward to traveling to Japan again later this year for a conference in Hiroshima. After the conference, I was planning to take the Shinkansen to Kyoto and then to Tokyo for a sort of sentimental visit. With the pandemic still affecting us, I guess that conference will be held online instead and I would have to shelve travel plans for now.

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Vintage Seiko 6117-6410 Navigator Timer

Part of my collection is this Navigator Timer. This is a relative of the World Timer models in terms of the caliber (6117) and the basic design principles and features.

The dial has a GMT hand and a day indicator. Unfortunately, the inner bezel is non-functional (not rotating).

Side view showing the crown at 4 o'clock

The watch has an original Seiko bracelet though it is not the original one for this model.

The other side view helping describe the condition of the watch

Close-up of the dial showing the hands and lumes in great condition as well as the correct dial number for this model.

Case back showing the correct model and serial numbers. The serial number indicates the watch to have been manufactured in October 1976; making this a 44-year old.

I was a bit worried when I opened the package to see the watch in the box but not secure inside the bubble wrap it was supposed to have been wrapped with. I gave it a shake and adjusted it and voila! Its running!

Recent wrist shot

This watch is powered by a Cal. 6117B movement that runs at 21,600 A/h with a potential power reserve of 46h. It is one of the more dependable vintage automatics that I have and has been keeping time despite not being serviced for some time now.

What eludes me so far is a 6217 World Timer, particularly the model released for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. That is rare and quite expensive but there should be one out there with the right price.

On basketball and my favorite teams

I have been a basketball fan for as long as I can remember. That should not be surprising as I am a Filipino and we're supposed to be fans of this game that was introduced during the American Period when the country became a commonwealth of the US. I also played the game when I was young; even winning a championship with childhood friends back in the 1980s. I also had my fair share of injuries from pick-up games. I must admit I wasn't good as a player but I knew my trivia and stats, which I enjoy reading about to this day.

My all-time favorite teams are the following (I won't comment in details on each.):

• NBA - 1980s Lakers (Pre-Showtime and Showtime Lakers with Magic, Kareem & Worthy at their peak), 1990s Bulls, 2010s Warriors, 2000s Lakers (the 3-peat Shaq & Kobe and the back-to-back Kobe & Co.) and the 2000s Spurs.
• PBA - early 1980s Toyota and late 1980s Ginebra (afterwards I stopped following the local league)
  

While I'm more of a Lakers fan, I don't have any of their paraphernalia. I have a couple of Warriors shirts though including one featuring three stars and an eight-rayed sun (symbols in the Philippine flag) that's an exclusive for Filipino nights (the bay area has a large Filipino community). I also have a Spurs shirt with Tim Duncan's name and number. It the only item I got for myself at the NBA Store (now closed) in Trinoma when they had a sale when Duncan retired from playing. I also got one for my brother. I used to have a Celtics shirt with Rondo's name and number that the wife got for me when she was in Boston the last time the Celtics won the championship. We sold it at our rummage sale (quick and good buy for the one who spotted it).

 

I won't mention Olympics and World Championship teams except maybe the first Dream Team back in 1992. That was a historic moment in the sport and the US Team was really loaded. I might not have agreed on the head coach and perhaps the hesitation to have an all-pro team but it is still the best assembled that competed in the Olympics or World Championships.

I was very happy to see the Lakers come up big during the previous season when the NBA decided to continue with a bubble in Florida. They are my sentimental favorites and the fact that LeBron James is playing for them is pretty special for a team that's always been in the limelight. After losing Kobe to retirement and his untimely demise last year, it seemed the franchise and its fan base needed something to cheer them up. The season was almost lost to the pandemic but somehow recovered thanks to strict rules that allowed teams to resume play.  They are favorites to repeat this year and perhaps they will barring any serious injuries to the main cast.

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Chocolate review: Auro 55% Dark Chocolate Arabica Coffee

The sampler box I got for the wife's birthday last January included several small bars of chocolates. There were 2 bars of this 55% dark chocolate laced with coffee that the Clairvoyant loved. Bagay daw sa breakfast but she said it somewhat gave her the post-lunch coffee fix she typically got from another mug of coffee.

Auro's 55% Dark Chocolate with Arabica Coffee comes in a 27g bar.

Details about the chocolate at the back of the pack

Information on ingredients, allergens and the expiration date are here. One important detail shown is the Halal certification for the chocolate.

Nutrition facts on the chocolate

We enjoyed this chocolate particularly because of the coffee component. We thought it blended well with the chocolate (not the nibs kind of coffee). We would have bought these in more quantities but it seems they only have the small bars that are included in their samplers for now. I would probably estimate that if these were available in 60g or 100g bars, they probably would price them at the 200 - 300 peso (4.2 to 6.25 USD) range. I think this is so good that I would be willing to buy these at those prices.

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My first Seiko mod - a Brian May Red Special mod

I have been thinking about getting a modded Seiko watch. The difference between a mod and a homage watch is that the latter is all original but with the design obviously based on or heavily influenced or inspired by the original. The Rolex President and Submariner models are just two of the more popular ones that have so many homages out there. The Omega Speedmaster is also popular for chronograph homages. Fakes are the ones that pretend to be the same models and are passed-off or marketed or sold as such. There is the element of consciousness here for the manufacturer to mass produce these knock-offs and sell them as originals. There are those though who will inform you about the watches being fakes as some people get a bit excited when they think they're getting a great deal with the prices of these fakes.

Seiko mods have a cult following out there with usually the old model divers being among the most popular base watches. There are a lot of parts out there for sale that can be used for modding watches but I think the best ones involve artists who make the dials themselves that define the watch. School alumni associations are among their best customers as modded watches have become popular souvenirs, even fundraisers. A very good example of this are the charter watches produced for the University of the Philippines that came in the 42mm (Seiko SKX007 base watch) and 38mm (Seiko SKX013 base watch).

U.P.'s charter watches

Here are a couple of photos of the Brian May Red Special mod I have:

Wrist shot the first time I wore the watch

Transparent case back that even attempted to reproduce the original. The movement is a Cal. 4R36A that runs at 21,600 beats per hour with a potential power reserve of 40h.

 

Many thanks to the "gifter" of this watch.

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Chocolate review: Auro Tupi 70% Dark Chocolate

It's nice to have more chocolate at home thanks to Auro's online store. They don't deliver yet outside Metro Manila so I had to have our chocolates delivered to my office in Quezon City. They were quick to process my order and I got them in time for the wife's birthday last January. Among the chocolates I ordered were what they termed as Limited Edition, Reserve Collection chocolates. These came in 60g rather than the 100g bars we usually bought.

Tupi is from single estate cacao

Details on the chocolate at the back of the pack

Nutrition information - beside the facts box are other info like the ingredients, allergen information, and storage conditions. Auro's contact information are also there.

The information on the taste elements reminded me of wine tasting. The location of the cacao sources is also provided along with the crops grown together with the cacao.

We believe the chocolate is excellent and certainly worth the 225 PHP (about 4.70 USD). It is supposed to be a limited edition so we don't know if they will make it a permanent product (for now). But its good to know that Auro has many to choose from and enjoy for those of us who love chocolates while at the same time would like Philippine chocolates to come out and compete with the best of them at the world stage.

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Godzilla sunrise

We were joking last year that perhaps the only thing lacking for 2020 was a monster like Godzilla revealing itself and wreaking more havoc to a world already reeling from a pandemic and environmental and man-made disasters. The wife and I were returning from one of our morning walks on the last day of 2020 when we chanced upon some interesting cloud formations as the sun rose to the east of our place. Lo and behold what I imagined to be the form of a biped dino complete with head, arms, torso and a tail curling from under it. There were even clouds above it that resembled claw marks like those in the Jurassic Park logo.

Curious figure among interesting cloud formations last December 31, 2020.

 

There's a saying that people see what they want to see. My imagination says Godzilla while others may have other ideas for the cloud formation in the photo.

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Vintage Seiko 7017-6040 Speed Timer

The collection of Seiko chronographs include this flyback Speed Timer. I'm told it is among the more desirable watches and a favorite among collectors. I got this one from one of my suking sellers in Japan.

The watch has day and date features. The day wheel is in English and Kanji. There is an inner bezel that rotates with the crown in the default position.

Side view showing the crown and chronograph buttons. The chronograph works well but the quick set for the day is usually stuck. I'll probably have this looked into soon.

 

Case back showing the correct model number and the serial number. The serial number indicates the watch to have been manufactured in July 1971; making this a (almost) 50-year old watch.

The other side view again showing the watch in great condition. The cushion case is popular and a feature of many watches during the time.

Close-up of the dial

An even closer look reveals the dial number, which is consistent with this model.

Wrist shot the first time I wore the watch last December. I transferred an old leather strap to this watch which came without strap or bracelet.

Recent wrist shot while I was going on errands.

 

The watch is powered by a Cal. 7017 automatic movement that runs at 21,600 beats per hour with a potential power reserve of 43h. The caliber was made in the early 1970s and is found in other very sought-after watches from that period. I have another 7017 I have to write about soon.

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Vintage Seiko 6139-6012 chronograph - blue dial

I've been slowly collecting Seiko chronographs the past few months as I was researching and discovering more about Seiko. It's quite interesting to find a lot about the different models and variations. This model that is from the same series that's popular because of the one worn by Bruce Lee came as a pleasant surprise for an acquisition. It is in great condition with all the original parts.

The watch has a sub dial, and day and date features.

Side view showing the crown and the chronograph buttons

The other side view - notice the thick crystal glass?

Close up of the dial, which is in great shape for a 44-year old watch. The dial number is also correct for this model.

The watch came with the original stainless steel bracelet.

Case back showing the correct watch model number and the serial number. The serial number shows the watch to have been made in July 1976, making this a 44-year old watch (turning 45 this 2021).

Wrist shot the first time I wore the watch

The watch is powered by a Cal. 6139 movement that runs at 21,600 A/h with a potential power reserve of 45h. This is the same movement used in the Seiko Pogues.

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