Reproduction of the Original SEIKO World Time in 1967

Model No. 6217-7000

In 1967 the original Olympic Torch World Time was again manufactured by SEIKO

The 1967 Olympic Torch (Re)production

The original Olympic Torch version of the 6217-7000 was produced from March 1964 through November of the same year. In December, a Dolphin version was manufactured. Then in 1965 and 1966 no other 6217-7000's were produced. As 1967 came around, we oddly see new production examples of that original Olympic Torch model, across various months throughout the year.

It has been speculated that these 1967 versions were perhaps intended to be marketed and sold in celebration of the 1968 Olympic games to be held in Mexico City. However, we also know that the later 6117-601X model (3rd series) was produced in 1968 (the Olympics were held in Oct 1968), and in that model SEIKO replaced Chicago with Mexico City on the Bezel indicator for Central time. It seems more plausible that the 6117-601X was in fact the model made for the 1968 Olympic games.

Also note, this 1967 production run appears to be quite low, possibly as few as 6,195 total watches. Perhaps then these 1967 versions were a clearing of remnant and/or service inventory? Likely only SEIKO knows the answer to this mystery.

The new engraved case back for 1967. Note the smaller torch logo and the reshuffling of the other printed information

Other Details

Of the cataloged examples, 40% of them have a thin red GMT hand. And of those examples, they all also include the lumed minute and second hands, that appear to be lifted from the lumed 6217-7010 (which was also produced throughout 1967). None of the cataloged examples include a lumed dial. It appears all other details remained faithful to the original from 1964 (case, crown and dial).

Of note, there appear to be two versions of this watch. One has lumed hands and a red GMT, and is found in both dial colors. The other looks exactly like the 1964 version, including hour and minute hands without lume, with one difference. On the black dial variant without lume, the GMT hand is of the thin variety, whereas all of the black dial variants from 1964 used the tapered GMT style hand. Also of interest, the black dials in this subset appear to consistantly have the red hue 24-hour ring variation (as compared with the more copper/gold toned versions).

The data set is still too small to draw any firm conclusions. It is however seeming increasingly likely that the thin red GMT hands origin may well be in late 1967 production of the 6217-7000.