====== Seiko 61RW ======

{{wst>author|[[Foskett, Stephen|Stephen Foskett]] ([[https://grail-watch.com/|Grail Watch]])}}

**61RW** was a model of [[railway watch]] produced by [[Seiko]] from [[1972]] through [[1978]]. It replaced the famous [[Seiko Type 19]], which had been produced since [[1929]], and was replaced by the [[Seiko 75RW]].

===== Overview =====
Seiko had produced [[railway watch]]es since [[1929]], with the [[Seiko Type 19|Type 19]] becoming famous across Japan and seen in every railway cabin. It had been updated over the years, notably from 7 to 15 jewels and with [[hacking seconds]], but was outdated by the 1970s. The Type 19 was discontinued in November, [[1971]].

In [[1972]], Seiko began producing a railway watch using a hand-winding version of their [[automatic]] [[Seiko 6100|Cal. 6110A]], a 21-jewel [[central seconds]] movement used from mid-grade watches from Seiko to high-end [[King Seiko]] and [[Grand Seiko]] models. The dial used serif hour numerals 1-12, with "Seiko Precision 21 Jewels" printed above "Second Setting", indicating the [[hacking seconds]] feature. Sales of this model started in April, and it was offered to railway employees and the general public. But the the unfamiliarity of a center-seconds railway watch and the rising popularity of quartz watches slowed adoption.

A quartz model, [[Seiko 38RW]], was offered in [[1976]] but this was short-lived and remains rare. It was another quartz model, [[Seiko 75RW]], that replaced the mechanical 61RW after its introduction in March, [[1978]]. Production of the 61RW ended in [[1980]].


{{tag>Watch_models Seiko_models Pocket_watches Railway_watches Seiko_railway_watches}}