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As watch collector, a part of me lights up whenever I get the chance to meet another collector out of the blue. The feeling is unlike what you get from a watch meet, or when you're both outside the neighborhood haunt too - it's a mix of shared passion with that magical dash of serendipity that makes it oh so wonderful.

This is a Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Seiko 6306 Turtle — a rarer sibling to the more commonly seen 6309. It carries the “Third Diver” lineage before the 6309 era, with the hacking capability and refined movement that makes it highly prized among enthusiasts.

For many collectors, myself included, the journey into watches was never straightforward. It started with curiosity, a casual buy here and there, often with pieces that in hindsight we might call “junk”. But those early mistakes were the lessons.

You know you've made it when people around start giving you nicknames. While a little late to the game, the Seiko 'Cevert' is a worthy piece to add to any respectable collector's watch box. A less flashier option than the Pogue, but one cannot dispute the wrist presence that this watch gives.

A fan favourite, the 6138-8020 has a timeless dial that one can only grow to love more. The sloping tachymeter chapter ring guides the eye down into the printed minute markers. These guys are getting harder and harder to find in good condition, and word has it that the WWF might even change their logo to that of the Seiko Panda instead.