Rare item: Seiko Braille watch Ref. 6618-6000 (November 1965)

Mechanical hand-wound watch for the visually impaired – recently serviced – exceptionally well preserved

This rare Seiko blind watch (Ref. 6618-6000) is a piece of Japanese engineering from the 1960s. It was specially designed for visually impaired wearers and allows them to tell the time by feeling the hands and hour markers.

The massive stainless steel case features a hinged glass cover that opens upwards, allowing the time to be read by feeling the hands and raised indices – a highly innovative and socially significant technical solution at the time.

This example has been serviced by a Japanese watchmaker , is in excellent original condition , and shows only minimal signs of wear. Due to its preservation and technical originality, it is among the most sought-after variants of Seiko blind watches.

Technical data

• Brand: Seiko (セイコー)
• Reference: 6618-6000
• Movement: mechanical hand-wound movement, caliber 6618 – 17 jewels
• Serial number: 5Nxxxx → November 1965
• Origin: Japan (Made in Japan A)
• Case: Stainless steel, polished
• Diameter: approx. 31 mm (excluding crown)
• Lug-to-lug: approx. 37 mm
• Height: approx. 9.9 mm
• Lug width: 14 mm
• Bracelet: new, high-quality black leather strap
• Weight (including strap): approx. 34 g
• Dial: silver-grey with raised hour markers and textured surface
• Reading: tactile via hinged cover glass
• Function: Hour and minute display
• Condition: excellent / virtually unused, freshly serviced

Special features

• Hinged glass lid for tactile time tracking
• Raised hour markers and tactile hands
• Classic Seiko 6618 hand-wound movement with 17 jewels
• Overhauled and fully functional
• Very rare condition – hardly worn
• Extremely rare on the European market

background

As early as the 1960s, Seiko began developing inclusive timepieces for blind people – an early example of Japanese inclusion and engineering.
These models combined technical expertise with social commitment: the hinged lid allowed blind wearers to feel the time without damaging the delicate glass.

The Ref. 6618-6000 shown here is one of the more advanced variants with a hand-wound movement and a particularly robust case construction. It impressively demonstrates Seiko's pursuit of functional perfection – going beyond mere aesthetics.

The story of Seiko watches for the blind – precision with social responsibility

As early as the 1960s, Seiko was one of the first watch manufacturers worldwide to develop special wristwatches for visually impaired people. These so-called "Tactile Watches" or watches for the blind made it possible to tell the time by touch – an innovation that combined technology and inclusion in an exemplary way.

The characteristic feature of these models is a hinged glass cover , which, by gently opening it, allows the tactile hour markers and hands to be felt without damaging the glass. The first series, such as the 6602 and 6618 models , used classic mechanical hand-wound movements with 17 jewels and were manufactured exclusively in Japan.

While the caliber 6602 served as a robust base design, the 6618 series featured finer surface finishing and higher precision. Later models in the 6800 series from the 1970s combined this mechanics with a more modern case design and improved caseback closures.

Seiko's watches for the blind are today symbolic of the social progress ideals of post-war Japan : technical perfection, functional design, and empathy for the user. Due to their limited production numbers and exceptional concept, they are now considered rare collector's items , commemorating Seiko's pioneering role in accessible technology.

Warranty (used)
This is a used item. The limitation period for claims based on defects (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.

Notice
As this is a historical watch, water resistance cannot be guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.