Seiko - Sportsman Model Number:6602-7030 - No reserve price - 6602-7030 Product Number:6009348 - Men - 1966

Vintage Seiko Sportsman 6602-7030 Wristwatch, Mechanical, Hand-Wound, Analog, Calendar, Silver, Stainless Steel, Working Condition
This article explains the historical position of the "Sportsman" series （its role as Seiko's popular watch line）. The "Sportsman" series was a representative popular watch line developed by Seiko in the 1960s and played an important role in supporting the popularization of domestically produced wristwatches. Designed as a "practical watch for everyday use" rather than a luxury watch, it had a major influence on Seiko's later development of automatic watches and popular watches. Its origins date back to the 1960s, during the period of rapid economic growth. As Japanese society rapidly became more affluent and wristwatches began to become widely available in ordinary households, there was a demand for more affordable and practical watches, despite the availability of luxury models such as "Grand Seiko" and "King Seiko." The Sportsman, a popular hand-wound watch developed by Suwa Seikosha, was introduced to the market in the early 1960s. Designed as a "watch for everyday use by ordinary people," it combined stable performance with a low price. Its technical features include a streamlined design and the incorporation of an integrated movement plate, enhancing production efficiency. This shortened assembly time and lowered sales prices. To ensure durability, it featured the Diashock shock-resistant device and Diafix oil-retention mechanism. Despite being a popular model, it offers full-scale specifications and reliable quality for long-term use. Its wide variety of models included 15-jewel and 7-jewel models, calendars, and water resistance. Because it was a popular model, it was mass-produced, allowing for a wide range of dial designs and specifications to flourish. Historically, the "Sportsman," a representative popular model, was the series that laid the foundation for Seiko's popular watches, and its technology was passed down to the later "Sportmatic" and "Five" series. It promoted the popularization of Japanese-made watches. It became widely accepted as a watch suitable for everyday use by ordinary people, rather than as a luxury model. As a result, it greatly increased the reliability and popularity of Japanese-made watches. It is considered a "masterpiece of Japanese-made watches" and a particularly significant product in Seiko's history. The "Sportsman" series was born during the period of high economic growth and laid the foundation for Seiko's line of popular watches. Its streamlined design combined low price with stable performance, and its wide variety of variations made it popular as a watch that was closely related to the lives of ordinary people. It became the basis for later automatic popular watches such as the "Sportmatic Seiko Five," and is a series that symbolizes the popularization of domestically made wristwatches. The SEIKO Sportsman emphasizes simplicity while emphasizing durability and practicality, a practical, durable line for the masses beneath its high-end, technology-oriented models.
Movement Lineage and Features:
• Positioning: A mainstay for sportsmen. A basic hand-wound movement that prioritizes reliability.
• Design Features: Simple structure, easy maintenance, and generally non-hacking （no stop second hand）.
• Jewels:17jewels standard （balanced design for durability and reduced wear）.
• Functions: Non-calendar or date only. Day-date options are limited depending on the model.
• Trends in Design and Case Variations: Case: Mostly stainless steel or plated cases. The end of the reference number （7030） is a code indicating different case and dial designs, resulting in several appearance variations even within the same caliber.
• Dial: Matte to sunburst finish, bar indexes, luminous paint （depending on the model）.
•Water resistance rating: The term "Waterproof" or "Water Resistant" changed over time.
•Crystal: Domed acrylic is common, with an emphasis on practicality and ease of maintenance.
The 6602-7030 is a "good-quality hand-wound sportsman" that avoids excessive decoration and complicated functions, prioritizing robustness and everyday use. As a representative model of the later stages of the Sportsman series, it is characterized by its reliable manual winding and simple design. The 6602 movement is highly maintainable and can still be repaired and adjusted today, making it popular as a practical antique. Manufactured in 1966, it has vintage value as the "last popular mechanical model" amid the increasing shift to quartz.
■ Brand: Seiko Sportsman
■ Model Number:6602-7030
■ Product Number:6009348 Manufactured June 1966: Seiko serial numbers are six digits long, with the first two digits indicating the year and month of manufacture. The first number （6） indicates the six year of the 1960s, meaning the watch was manufactured in 1966. The next letter （6） is the month code. For Seiko, 1-9 represents January through September, O = October, N = November, and D = December. → "N" is November. Therefore, this watch was manufactured in October 1966.
■ Technical features of the 6602 movement:
Details of Movement:
• Seiko caliber 6602 is a hand winding watch movement.
• Sub-brands: Sea Horse
• Functions: Date Display （29 at 3 o'clock）
• Rate:18,000 bhp
• Number of jewels:17
• Development divisions (Nagano Prefecture, Japan)
Notes: A hand-winding version of the 6601 movement.
■Materials:
• Case: Stainless Steel
• Case Size:34mm excluding crown X 40mm including case lug Thickness: 11mm
• Dial Display: Matte to sunburst finish, pencil bar indexes and 3 hands display, analog
calendar date only
• Case Back: S Steel
• Total Weight:78.9gms
• Crystal: Domed Acrylic
• Waterproof: resistant for everyday life water dishing/showering but don't expect too much
from it: Even if it was labeled "Waterproof" at the time, it doesn't meet modern
waterproof standards. Avoid using it around water.
• Band: St Steel Band with 20cm wrist circumference measured by tape
■Condition: There are few scratches on the case, case back, and band due to long-term use and the Crystal: Domed Acrylic has few scratches visible to the naked eyes. The watch is in excellent condition overall. The watch works properly but needs to be wound at time of your convenience daily by manual to keep more accurate time. It was functioning normally at the time of listing, so it should continue to function without any issues. Please be sure you are satisfied with the condition before bidding, so please check the photos and product description and ask any questions you may have (please note, however, that we may not be able to answer questions close to the end of the auction