Seiko’s H558-5000, or “Arnie” as it’s more commonly referred to, was the first diver’s watch to have an analog and digital display with a chronograph and an alarm. Introduced in 1982, it is a beast of a watch at nearly 46mm including the shroud, and so it seems fitting that it would eventually become synonymous with its biggest fan, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnie, with a fairly well documented collection of great watches already, rode out most of the 80’s with his favorite Seiko strapped to his wrist. It even saw significant screen time in the movies “Predator” and “Commando.” Considered by collectors to be a fringe member of the “Tuna” family of Seiko divers, an honest, fully working example can be a bit hard to come by today as they were often worn hard by those for whom it was designed. The shroud is rubber/plastic and can become brittle with age, and moisture intrusion or a dead battery left sitting can all but destroy the movement. However, for those willing to be patient, a great example is certainly worth waiting for. Only available in black as an export, the JDM market had an additional color way early on, and in true Seiko fashion, it was of course orange. The “Orange Arnie” even got its own reference number, and this 500A from May of ’82 is one of the earliest examples we’ve uncovered. The dial is near perfect in a textured matte pumpkin with royal blue accenting, and the hour plots have remained a clean, bright white. It’s framed by an equally clean depth meter and minute chapter, and the hour and minute hands sport a polished gold finish. The digital display is crisp, and all functions are operating correctly, including the alarm, hourly chime, and the incandescent backlight. The bezel rotates with a firm click in either direction, though the original black and gold insert shows moderate wear and fading. The original shroud is secured to the case with the original screws and collars, and I carefully reinforced the few very small cracks with epoxy resin to help prevent splitting. The crown and case back screw down tightly, and the case is crisp and unpolished. It’s completely original including the original “Hardlex” crystal that I carefully polished to remove most blemishes. We’ve paired it with a Seiko Z-22 curved vent strap for a fit and finish close to the original. As setting this watch is somewhat involved, I’ve added a link to setting instructions below. All of the electronic components were carefully disassembled and cleaned and the analog portion was cleaned and serviced. A new battery has been installed as well. A beautiful example of an historic JDM Seiko diver, it’s sure to be a highlight in any rotation.

Setting Instructions:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/620725/Seiko-H558.html

Seiko Curved Vent Z-22 Black Composite

Serviced- 11/24

Diameter- 46mm

Lugs- 22mm