A Look at the Seiko Tensoku
1940s Seiko Tensoku WWII military pilot watch / Credit: Phillips
Seiko has a vast variety of different watches available for sale. Its catalogues, which I go through all the time, have things from vintage quartz GMT watches to colourful retro ladies’ watches. There are catalogues not only from Japan, but for markets all over the world, in multiple languages – with different variations of models. There is one area, however, that Seiko lacks in, and that is military watches.
While Seiko has ‘military-inspired timepieces’, apart from the famed ‘Laurel’, one would struggle to think of a model that was actually used in a military conflict, like the many Rolexes, Omegas, and other brands. Enter the Seiko ‘Tensoku’ or ‘Tensoku-Dokei’ (天測時計 in Japanese – which translates directly to ‘celestial clock’), a classic, sizable, big crown pilot watch from the WWII era – made by Seiko for Japanese pilots. The Seiko Tensokus were large timepieces, produced by Seikosha, that measured 48.5 mm in diameter and were originally powered by modified, manual winding 15-jewel pocket watch movements that were later downgraded to 9 jewels. They had radium paint on the dial at 3, 6, 9, and 12 o’clock, a bi-directional rotating bezel, and nickel-plated cases. Virtually all the hallmarks of a WWII pilot’s watch and very similar in style to Flieger watches!
Another Seiko Tensoku / Credit: Kyotoya Pawn Shop
The Seiko Tensokus were produced and issued in the 1940s and while unclear if they were actually worn by ‘Kamikazes’ during the war, the Seiko Tensoku did earn the nickname ‘Kamikaze watch’ – a reference to Japan’s Special Attack Units. These were pilots in the Japanese military that, in an effort to stave off the American’s victory towards the end of WWII, were tasked with the desperate offensive tactic of flying directly into enemy targets (warships), committing suicide. A final attempt at defending their country which resulted in the deaths of thousands of soldiers.
Ultimately, while also a symbol of dark times in Japanese history, the Seiko Tensoku is nonetheless an amazing representation of Japan’s war effort and the many Japanese pilots who flew over the Pacific never to return home. A real piece of history. In fact, the Seiko Tensoku is even rumoured to have been worn in the 1970 WII film, Tora! Tora! Tora!
By: Andres Ibarguen
Read more:
Maillard, Lorenzo. “WWII JAPANESE MILITARY WATCHES.” Europa Star, March 2019, https://www.europastar.com/the-watch-files/archives-heritage/1004090826-wwii-japanese-military-watches.html.
“Seikosha.” Phillips, November 2018, https://www.phillips.com/detail/seikosha/CH080218/196.
A vintage Seiko Chronograph 6139-6005, recently serviced, for sale on Toronto Vintage Watches.