The afternoon sun was ferocious. I wiped the beads of sweat from my brow and took a moment to gather myself and take in my surroundings. The Mekong Delta was unforgiving but breathtaking. My shirt was wet, and I had lost all sense of time under the torture of the sun, so I glanced down at my wrist and saw my Seiko SPB151 “Willard”. I knew there and then that I had the perfect watch on my wrist for the journey ahead.

After years of research, studying, and planning, I finally found myself in Vietnam — a country that had always fascinated me from a young age. A nation that is mostly known, unfortunately, because of the cruel conflict that took place there only a short time ago (April 30 will mark 50 years). But I knew that there was much more to discover. I wanted to find out for myself what made this country so special, and why its people had simply refused to give in.

My journey would take me all the way from the capital, Hanoi in the north, to the bustling, modern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in the south. It’s safe to say that this incredible country and its wonderful people didn’t disappoint, nor did the watch on my wrist that I picked for this amazing expedition.

As most of you are likely aware, the Seiko SPB151 is a re-issue of the now-iconic 6105, which is nicknamed the Willard after on-screen legend Captain Willard, as it was the watch of choice in the Vietnam War masterpiece Apocalypse Now — an unforgettable cinematic journey into the heart of darkness, showing the true madness of war through haunting visuals and with a story that lingers long after the credits roll. So, when it came to picking a watch for my very own adventure, this Seiko was the only true option.

I must admit, as an enthusiast, I often have a sense of unease when going into a situation that might be tough on the watch that happens to be on my wrist. After all, as much as we talk about using them for their intended purpose and testing them to their limits, they are mostly fairly expensive, and it has taken me a long time to acquire the ones that I have — so willingly destroying them perhaps wouldn’t be the best idea. However, weirdly, I didn’t have this feeling during my trip with the Willard. The ever-changing and challenging scenery genuinely did test this watch to its limits, but it shrugged everything off and kept going — from the rain in the north, the waters and caves of Ha Long Bay, the Marble Mountains and the ocean in Da Nang, and the blistering heat in the jungle. I felt a constant sense of reassurance, and the legendary Seiko magic with the case design made the wearing experience a joy. This is perhaps the biggest compliment that I can give to this watch — they are designed to be tools that simply get the job done, and it did exactly that.

This watch is special, and here’s why… The enthusiast is rarely the customer that companies like Seiko make products for. It’s still a business, and the enthusiast community is a very narrow demographic in the grand scheme of things — especially for a manufacturer the size of Seiko — but Seiko brought this watch back for the enthusiasts anyway, and I am grateful for that. Wearing this one whilst exploring the beauty of Vietnam was quite literally a dream come true. If you are anything like me, you probably have what I like to call “watch bucket list” items that I want to complete. Maybe it’s piloting an aircraft with a Navitimer, or using a Submariner at sea. Mine was wearing a Willard whilst exploring Vietnam — and this one now has a big green tick right next to it.

A watch becomes more than just a way to tell time when it’s tied to meaningful memories. A watch starts to carry the weight of those experiences. Every scratch will tell a story, and this attachment makes it special. It’s not just about what the watch is, it’s about where it’s been with you.

Pros
Iconic
Memorable
Wearability

Cons
I still pine for a 6105
Bracelet weight
I stopped wearing my other Seikos

Quality
88

Style
95

Value
80

Wearability
95