Seiko 5 Sports Speed Timer 6139-7060 Chronograph
Mads van Appeldoorn
September 19, 2025
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The Seiko 6139 line has always fascinated collectors, not least because of its many subtle variations. While models like the 6139-7020 or 6139-8040 were straightforward JDM releases – identical except for their dials – the watch we are looking at today, the 6139-7060, presents a more complex story.
Here, Seiko offered both JDM and non-JDM versions, multiple dials, and different handsets. In total, there appear to have been five distinct variations. Intriguingly, only one of them was officially intended for the global market, while the other four remained exclusive to Japan. And, as so often with Seiko, the Japanese collectors enjoyed the more attractive dial options, while the rest of the world mostly had to settle for plain black.
Models & Versions
A total of five distinct versions of the Seiko 6139-7060 are known today. Only one of them ever made it beyond Japan’s borders, while the other four were reserved exclusively for the domestic market. This division alone tells you much about Seiko’s philosophy at the time: export markets received the safer, more subdued option, whereas Japanese collectors were treated to a spectrum of bold and imaginative dials.
Catalog images of the many JDM variants proved impossible to track down, and I didn’t want to bore you with the single black dial export photo – so instead, here are a few shots of the watches in real life. I no longer have the black 7060 – it just felt a bit too boring for me – but I still have the picture I took along with my green one.
Dials + Hands
The sole export model carried a black dial with a striking blue sunrise gradient. It was elegant, versatile, and easier to digest for a global audience—yet compared to what was available in Japan, it almost feels restrained.
Inside Japan, however, Seiko offered a stunning range of variations. One of the most eye-catching paired a golden dial with a fiery red gradient, creating a festive look that radiates warmth and confidence. Another option combined a lush green center with a turquoise outer ring, an almost tropical execution that stood out against the conservative chronographs of the early 1970s. Collectors also know of a teal, petrol, or aquamarine version that changes character with the light; this dial was framed by a vivid yellow gradient, adding a dramatic sense of depth. Finally, there was a more understated yet equally sophisticated variant in brown-grey-beige, brought to life by a black-to-red gradient that gave the watch an unexpected punch of intensity.
Together, these five variants capture what makes the 6139-7060 so intriguing. The international market received the straightforward option, but Japan got the artistry. For collectors today, that very contrast is what makes the hunt worthwhile.
Bracelets
All versions of the Seiko 6139-7060 were originally delivered on the same bracelet: the XAA871, a 19 mm stainless-steel design made specifically for this case. Unlike many other Seiko chronographs of the era, where bracelet types varied depending on market or production year, the 7060 family kept things consistent.
The XAA871 has a distinctive look that balances the bold dial variations with a restrained, functional steel presence. Its slim 19 mm width emphasizes the watch’s sporty proportions, while the tapering links add both comfort and subtle elegance. For collectors today, finding a 6139-7060 on its correct XAA871 is more than a detail—it’s part of the watch’s original identity.
In our photos, the gold-red sunrise variant is shown with the original XAA871 bracelet, exactly as it left the factory. The teal version sits on a vintage Seiko bracelet, which, although not the factory issue, complements the watch perfectly in both style and proportion. The remaining models are paired with vintage leather straps—a departure from the original steel, but one that gives these colorful dials a different kind of charm and highlights their versatility.
Movements
All Seiko 6139-7060 watches are powered by the 6139 automatic chronograph movement—one of the most important calibers in watchmaking history. When Seiko launched the 7060, the earlier 6139A had already been phased out. That means every 7060 left the factory with the updated 6139B, the refined version of the movement.
The 6139B retained the groundbreaking architecture that had made the 6139 famous: an integrated automatic chronograph with both a column wheel and a vertical clutch, a combination that was years ahead of its Swiss competitors. The update mainly brought improvements in durability and ease of service, making the B-series movements more robust for long-term use.
In practical terms, the caliber offers a 30-minute chronograph register, quickset day-date, and a smooth, reliable automatic winding system. But beyond the specs, it carries the weight of Seiko’s ambition at the time—an everyday tool watch movement with the sophistication of a true pioneer.
Knowing that the 7060 only ever came with the 6139B makes it a particularly straightforward reference for collectors. There’s no ambiguity about early vs. late movement types, and the watch sits firmly in the more mature, refined phase of the 6139 story.
Check if I have one for sale.
