Vintage Seiko Chronograph John Player Special ref. 6138-8030 – Serviced, 1976, All original

Seiko’s automatic chronographs, especially those produced in the 70s, occupy a special place in people’s hearts. So special, in fact, that certain enthusiasts have built their entire collections around the fabled cal. 6139 – Seiko’s first self-winding chronograph movement – and its worthy successor, the cal. 6138. And why wouldn’t you?
The two movements power some of the brand’s most acclaimed watches, including the Pogue, the Kakume, the UFO, and the John Player Special. The latter is by far most popular among F1 aficionados, and it’s not at all hard to see why.
The dial incorporates the colors of the John Player & Sons cigarette brand, which are also the colors of one of the greatest F1 teams of all time – Team Lotus. Bear in mind, we’re talking about the team that catapulted Ayrton Senna to stardom; The team that introduced aerodynamic wings, side-pod radiators, the ground effect, and produced the last American F1 World Champion, the legendary Mario Andretti. And as if the history and movement weren’t enough already, the John Player Special features the same delightful design as the Kakume, which makies it all the more alluring.
The specific watch on offer here dates to circa 1976 and is among the better examples we’ve recently come across. Neither the case nor the dial has been refinished or otherwise tampered with, and all internal and external components are original. The cherry on top – it comes outfitted with its OEM bracelet – not in the best condition, but still original to the watch.
The cal. 6138 inside was just serviced in 05.2021 by our in-house watchmaker and is ticking per spec.