Seiko · ref 6138-0040 · c. 1973–late 1970s
Seiko's Bullhead puts the crown and both pushers on top of the case at 12 o'clock, so it reads like a stopwatch on a car's dashboard. Omega had a bullhead out in 1969, and Seiko followed around 1973 with this 6138-0040, which Fratello's Michael Stockton calls one of the most popular vintage chronographs around. Inside is the 6138, Seiko's second automatic chronograph after the 6139. It keeps the column wheel and vertical clutch and adds a 12-hour counter and hand winding, which the 6139 never had. It's a big watch for its age, about 44mm across and much taller at the top than at the bottom. Seiko made two dials, black with blue and brown with gold, and the brown one also turns up with Seiko 5 and Speed-Timer text. The original fishbone bracelet is thin and wobbly, with lots of flex. Expect knocks on the tall case and put a clean-running movement ahead of a perfect case.
Aftermarket parts are plentiful, so frankenwatches built from mixed dials, hands and bezels are common. The tall case and tachymeter bezel are usually dented, and pushers on an unserviced one tend to stick.
Buying guide
We'd buy the brown Bullhead titled serviced and running at $790 delivered from Argentina, just under the band. There are about 77 for sale and most ask $800–1,425 delivered, with Japan-listed and boxed ones going up to $2,700. Mixed dials, hands and bezels are common, so match the dial to black with blue or brown with gold, ask for a video of the chronograph running past a minute and resetting, and read the case back for 6138-0040 and a serial starting with 3 through 9. eBay's watch search doesn't show seller feedback, so check it and the return policy on the item page.
$497.00est. delivered
The lowest fixed price on a complete Bullhead, $497 delivered, about $300 under the band. The title doesn't say it runs, so ask for a video of the chronograph starting, stopping and resetting before you buy.
Seiko Bullhead Speed-Timer 6138-0040 JDM 1976 Brown Dial 6138B
$790.00delivered
Titled serviced and running at $790 delivered, just under the band. A service matters most on a 6138, since sticking pushers and a tired chronograph are the usual faults, so ask what was done.
Vintage Seiko 6138-0040 "Bullhead" Chronograph Automatic — Serviced & Running
$912.70est. delivered
Titled working and shipping from the US for $913 delivered, low in the band. Ask whether both pushers press and return cleanly.
Seiko Bullhead Chronograph Vintage Automatic 6138 -0040 - Working Condition
$790.00delivered
It's the cheapest one here titled serviced, so it should need the least work. Ask when the service was done and for a video of both counters returning to zero.
Vintage Seiko 6138-0040 "Bullhead" Chronograph Automatic — Serviced & Running
$1,007.00est. delivered
The brown dial with Speed-Timer text is one of the factory variants collectors look for, and this one asks $1,007 delivered, mid-band. Check the dial is brown with gold accents and the case back reads 6138-0040.
SEIKO 6138-0040 BROWN BULLHEAD SPEED-TIMER AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH JDM
$295.00delivered
Titled to restore, so plan on a service and maybe parts. At $295 it's about $500 under the band. Check the photos for the blue accents a factory black dial should have.
SEIKO 6138-0040 Automatic Chronograph Watch Mens BULLHEAD Blak Dial To Restore
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 5, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$497.00est. delivered
$485.00 + $12.00 shipping
Buy It Now$485.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Good buy
Brown dial, titled 1976 with a 6138B. No running claim.
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Serviced$790.00delivered
$790.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$790.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Brown, titled serviced and running. Ships from Argentina.
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Used$912.70est. delivered
$900.00 + $12.70 shipping
Buy It Now$900.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled working condition. Ships from the US.
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Used$1,007.00est. delivered
$995.00 + $12.00 shipping
Buy It Now$995.00
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Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Brown dial with Speed-Timer text, a factory variant. Titled JDM.
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Used$295.00delivered
$295.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$295.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Black dial, titled to restore. Priced as a project.
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Used$1,006.00est. delivered
$980.00 + $26.00 shipping
Buy It Now$980.00
Our take
Titled working, on its original bracelet. Ships from Argentina.
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Used$1,090.00est. delivered
$950.00 + $140.00 shipping
Buy It Now$950.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Speed-Timer from Japan with $140 shipping, and import fees are possible.
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Used$2,735.00est. delivered
$2,700.00 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$2,700.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
About $1,310 over the band, with no reason given in the title. Ships from Japan.
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Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 5, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchA fresh strap, a set of spring bars and a spring-bar tool are the cheap part of making an old Seiko 6138-0040 Bullhead wearable again. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search straps & tools ↗Amazon search
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