The 7000 series launched in 1970 is known as the ‘home plate’ thanks to its hour markers that resemble a baseball home plate. The 7100 series from the following year was equally quirky and came with a new and more sophisticated mechanism: the manually wound Valjoux 234.
The example offered for sale by Lodge & Thomas (15% buyer’s premium) in Truro on February 10-11 is model no 7159 – the Big Block – and was on the market for the first time since it was purchased new in 1979 at Mappin & Webb for £184 plus £32 for the bracelet.
Sold together with the original paperwork, purchase receipt and box, it was estimated at £8000-12,000 and took £8800. A similar example was offered by Bonhams in London in February 2021 sold at £8500.
From much the same era, but a different price bracket, is the Seiko Pepsi Pogue. The Ref 6139 or Pogue is a watch that many Seiko collectors covet because of the watch’s good looks and space heritage.
Alongside the official NASA issue Omega Speedster on his right wrist, Col William Pogue chose to wear a yellow-dial 6139 on the left arm during a Skylab 4 mission in 1973. Several variations on the ‘Pogue’ theme exist, with this example known as the Pepsi for its blue and red tachymeter bezel. It sold online for £420.
