All posts by Eric

Seiko Automatic Diver 7002-7009 (Movement from Singapore, Cased in Hong Kong)

Seiko Diver 7002-7009
Seiko Diver 7002-7009

Where Did They Come From?


The time before the ever popular 7S26-based SKX007/009 we see in the stores nowadays, there was the 7002 automatic diver that took the world or affordable divers.  The production was between 1988 and 1995, many different versions of 7002 divers had been sold worldwide.

Though they all looks pretty much the same to most people, the differences among them were mostly where they were made and assembled. The origin didn't make any of them better than others, it's just how often you see them floating around nowadays, that is, the state of scarcity.

The one shown here is one of the many variations.  Movement made in Singapore, with the mark 'Singapore' shown on the rotor, the dial from Japan, and assembled in Hong Kong.  This is clearly marked at the bottom part of the dial.  Ones from the other origin will have different markings, and with the help of some enthusiasts on the internet, they had well documented the ways to decode the origin from the dial.

Seiko Digi-Ana H357-5000

Seiko Digi-Ana H357-5000
Seiko Digi-Ana H357-5000

Shaken,
not Stirred.

James Bond had been wearing a wide range of watches over the long series of movies in all his missions.  Among them, Seiko is one of the brands featured in some of the '70s and '80s productions.

The H357 is one that had appeared in 'For Your Eyes Only', with the digital display showing message from headquarter to James.  From the official poster, you see the actual model appeared in the movie, with the H357 movement.  The one I have here is the other dressy one, with a black dial. The movement is identical though, just a different case and dial are used.

This came mentioned with faulty buttons, but a running module. Opened up, found rusting all around the pushers and the push plates. Carefully scrapped away the rust and cleaned off the buttons that were filled with human remain, it came back to life!

For your eyes only
For your eyes only Seiko
James Bond H357

Seiko 5 Sports 6119-8140

Seiko Sports 6119-8140
Seiko Sports 6119-8140

Seiko Early Sports Watch

This 6119 just turns 50 in 2018.  This is a good example of showing how they change the look on the sports watch from the traditional design to a more 'sports-looking' design.

Belongs to the same era where Seiko brought out their first automatic chronograph, 6139.  The 6119 isn't a chronograph as you see, and it's not as chunky as 6139 as well.  Also note, on the dial it's written on it 'WATERPROOF' instead of what we see today on most watches water-resistant.  This was something to do with the US regulations back in the early '70s on watches.  We'll talk about that later.

This 6119 just came back from a complete overhauling on the movement, and now it runs smooth and accurate after checking on a timegrapher.

Seiko Osaka Expo 1970 6119-8090

Seiko Osaka Expo '70 6119-8090
Seiko Osaka Expo '70 6119-8090
Seiko Osaka Expo 1

World Expo 1970


What we have here is the Osaka Expo '70 watch, a watch that believed to be officially made for the executives responsible for the event by Seiko.

Made in April 1969, with the popular automatic caliber of the time, the 6119. Pairing with it, is the Copper Medal made for the Expo, which makes the package even more appealing.

Dial and body is a bit aged, showing it was in fact being worn as daily instead of stored. Came with it is also a full sized original bracelet, which I believe this might belonged to a non-Japanese, where they usually have smaller wrists. Very happy to have this added to my collection, and it's gonna stay with me.

Osaka Expo Medal
Osaka Banpaku Park Expo
Seiko Clock Tower Osaka Expo

Seiko Calculator Watch C153-5011

Seiko Calculator C153-5011

Calculator On The Wrist

Digital ➕➖✖️➗ Saturday!

In the mid seventies, pocket sized calculators had hit the market for just a few years and gained some popularity.  Brands like Casio, Texas Instruments, Sharp, Panasonic etc. were selling those calcs like hotcakes.  In a different category, Pulsar (before being acquired by Seiko) and HP also had their own inventions, have a calculator built inside a watch, with an LED display.  However, they were very very pricey.

Then in 1976, Seiko came out their first calculator watch, C153, with the use of LCD as the display. The chunky and robust watch case is a signature of their early digital watches, mounted with a 22mm wide solid link bracelet, this legendary calculator watch is no featherweight. It's history, a must have for any vintage digital lover. Mine is from 1977 and came with the original Z-clasp version for the bracelet, an important member of my 'Seiko's First' collection.

Seiko C153 advertisement 1
Seiko Calculator C153-5011

【數碼計算星期六】

1977年,精工推出他們第一隻內置計算機功能的跳字表。當時價值昂貴,非當時一般人會選購。隨後十幾年也有後數款續型號推出,至九十年代初,計算機手錶已消失於產品目錄。大有可能是此類手錶已被另一大牌子卡西歐以低廉價錢及一樣可靠的品質,奪去市場。41年前尖端科技,已成今天歷史收藏及發展見證。此乃77年10月,產於日本。

Seiko C153 advertisement 2
Seiko C153 Advertisement 3

Seiko Bracelet Clasp – Gotta Get It Right!

Seiko bracelet clasp
Seiko bracelet clasp

Why would it matter to have original clasp?


Some people really don't care about the clasp, that's a fact.  As long as it works, a typical person won't spend much attention to it.  Maybe when the watch was new, they might care if it's scratched.  But very soon, they will just forget about it.

After checking the collection on hand, I found a number of the vintage I have, don't have the correct clasp, that is, not the original Seiko clasps them. When acquiring vintage, sometimes they don't come with the original bracelets or leather bands. Finding the original is particularly difficult as usually they are no longer available new.  And they are usually tossed with the broken watch by the user.  So aftermarket bracelets are sometimes unavoidable.

One way to solve the situation, is to find suitable original clasps and transplant it to the current bracelet.  There I picked up a lot of used/broken original bracelets, take off all the clasps, restore the finish the best I can with some techniques, and mount them on to the bracelets.  It works pretty smooth and you see from the photo, not only there are some un-branded clasps, there you see some fake clasps, marked with 'SEIKO JAPAN'.  

Now they all look good now and most importantly, politically correct.  Haha!

 

Seiko JDM Quartz Driver (Transitional Model) 6458-6020

Seiko 6458-6020
Seiko 6458-6020

The Last First Generation 6458


With the success achieved by their first generation mid-sized quartz diver, the 6458.  Along with the bigger brother 7548, both models comes to their end of their model life.

However, before coming out with the new models, Seiko had put them in certain 'public testing'.  With a new design at the case infrastructure and crystal mounting, by using the same movement inside, a semi-new baby is borne.  The new 6458-6020, with a new rating of 200m down the water, crowned as a professional model now.  A subtle change of model to the market, and it didn't last long on the shelf.

In less than a year selling in the store, Seiko introduced a new model with new movement, the 7C43.  Yet, this time they advertised it with a new case design, which in fact was the same design quietly used on the final 6458's.

The limited circulation of this transitional model in the market, made it a Seiko collector's item, and a very reliable professional diver for daily use, even after three decades of usage.

 

Seiko King Quartz (Brown Dial) 5856-7020

Seiko King Quartz 5856-7020

Dial that makes the difference


This is another classic quartz watch by Seiko.  It has a 5856 movement inside that has an accuracy rating of +/-10 seconds per month.

It was made by their Daini factory in 1978, with a dial which is less seen in the used market, a brown dial.  If you look through the old JDM catalog, you will notice on the KQ series, other than some traditional dials, they did offer some colorful choices, light blue, green, purple, and the brown one you see here.

The came in a pretty scratched up and dented condition, without a bracelet.  After an unavoidable polish process and a serious clean up with the movement removed, it looks way better now.  And the best thing is, the movement still keep time with it's stated accuracy, after 40 years!

Seiko King Quartz 5856-7020

Seiko Hex Champagne 6139-7080

Seiko 6139-7080
Seiko 6139-7080

World's First Automatic Chronograph: 6139

The 6139 is one of the most well-known classic chrono caliber Seiko offers.  Introduced in the late sixties, this had been used in a series of their sports series, and was the world's first automatic chronograph.

There are only two timekeeping hands, for hours and minutes indication.  No seconds hand. However, while using the it as a chronograph, the long hands initially pointing at the 12 o'clock position, will start moving and works as second counter.  The smaller round dial at the 6 o'clock position works as minutes counter.  The two buttons on the right works as the start/stop and reset buttons.  For day and date quick setting, this can be done by the two stage pressing from the crown, a full pressing of the crown will quick set the day, and half press will set the date.

The variants of the 6139 had gained a lot in popularity over the years and almost every models are now collectible items.

Seiko Robot Face Digi-Ana H239-5020

Seiko Robot H239-5020
Seiko Robot H239-5020
Seiko Robot Advertisement 1

Seiko Robot Face

The Legendary Seiko Robot Face, H239-5020. Released in 1981 along with the other Digi-Ana, this is the most iconic one with the face looks like a robot.  And they advertise it as a music robot as well.

The most unique design of this watch is the front facing speaker mounted on the crystal.  It is in fact not a real speaker but a mock up. At the center of the speaker is a pipe, that leads to the buzzer inside.  So when the alarm goes off, the sound will come out from the pipe, so it works sort of like a speaker.  A very funny and unique design indeed.

The analog clock is electronically controlled by the crown next to it, unlike the traditional way of adjusting an analog movement.  Digital movement is typical with dual time capability, plus the alarm and stopwatch.

Seiko Robot Advertisement 2