So who is a fan of Seiko's... (old ones)?

[EricMcN-II]

Greetings,

I have built up quite a collection of Seiko’s over the last number of years, I have put a stop to it as it got out of hand - who else is into old King Seiko’s, Grand Seiko and Seiko Superiors. I think the old watches are amazing and have not much interest in newer ones.

My ‘addiction’ was discussed at a Christmas do recently and I said I can bring in my hoard to show my colleagues as there are a few watch buffs in the office it seems. This is my Seiko lot, almost all of them have been fully overhauled at a considerable expense and all the braclets on the Quartz models are original with original buckles. I dont tend to wear them much, I do have probably half a dozen more watches too but this is the Seiko lot.

Material Seiko Model Case Code Year Type
HSS 9983 7000 1979 Superior Quartz
HGP 9983 7000 1979 Superior Quartz
SS 9983 8000 1978 Superior Quartz
Gcap 9983 8020 1978 Superior Quartz
SGP 4883 8100 1977 Superior Quartz
SS 4883 8001 1976 Superior Quartz
G-HGP 9943 8020 1981 Grand Quartz
G-SGP 4843 8100 1977 Grand Quartz
GCap 4843 8041 1976 Grand Quartz
SS 9587 8000 1988 Grand Seiko
SS 0853 8005 1976 King Quartz


SS 5626 7060 1971 King Seiko
SS 45 8010 1969 King Seiko
SS 5256 6000 1973 Vanac Special

[BrokenSkunk]

EricMcN-II said:

...
I have built up quite a collection of Seiko’s over the last number of years,
..

Pictures, we need pictures
I only have three Seikos, two vintage and a modern thing. It's a brand I need to learn much more about. Ive just posted an SOTC in the £200 thread if you're interested.

EricMcN-II said:

SS 5256 6000 1973 Vanac Special

Ssssshhh!
For god sake don't let this lot know about Vanacs. They'll want to buy them and that'll drive prices up and availability down before I've had a chance to fill that particular hole in my collection.

[EricMcN-II]

I will post up some photos, at this stage I am pretty much an expert on all things Daini and Suwa Seikosha - I just received two more watches in the post today after getting overhauled - The Vanac is uber cool, these were very expensive back in the day, I think they were priced more than a King Seiko Superio Chronometer - The Vanac is Hi beat and has the original braclet, like you said the prices of these are only going one way - I could probably double my money if I sold all mine

4883-8001 Seiko Superior Quartz
9587-8000 Grand Seiko Quartz

[EricMcN-II]

[EricMcN-II]

[EricMcN-II]

[EricMcN-II]

BrokenSkunk said:

EricMcN-II said:

...
I have built up quite a collection of Seiko’s over the last number of years,
..

Pictures, we need pictures
I only have three Seikos, two vintage and a modern thing. It's a brand I need to learn much more about. Ive just posted an SOTC in the £200 thread if you're interested

You have quite the selection of watches sir, I think you were playing it cool in the £200 thread lol - I love that accutron, a bit of everything

[minimalist]

Cool photos

[BrokenSkunk]

EricMcN-II said:

You have quite the selection of watches sir, I think you were playing it cool in the £200 thread lol - I love that accutron, a bit of everything

As do you. Thanks for posting the photos. I clearly need to spend much more time on Yahoo Auctions Japan. I'm quite jealous of nearly all of those.
I think there's probably space in my collection for a King Seiko, a Grand Seiko and a Vanac. There are just three problems:
* My watch boxes and safe are full to bursting.
* I also want a dogleg pie pan crosshair Connie with date in Stainless, a Speedsonic, a Tag Manhatten and a Senator, a Ventura (with a 500 , not a repro), and, and, and...
* The rate at which I can acquire watches is tempered by the threat of divorce!

Not sure why you think I was playing it cool though. "Cool" is not something I'm often accused of!

Edited by BrokenSkunk on Friday 20th December 10:46

[EricMcN-II]

BrokenSkunk said:

As do you. Thanks for posting the photos. I clearly need to spend much more time on Yahoo Auctions Japan. I'm quite jealous of nearly all of those.
I think there's probably space in my collection for a King Seiko, a Grand Seiko and a Vanac. There are just three problems:
* My watch boxes and safe are full to bursting.
* I also want a dogleg pie pan crosshair Connie with date in Stainless, a Speedsonic, a Tag Manhatten and a Senator, a Ventura (with a 500 , not a repro), and, and, and...
* The rate at which I can acquire watches is tempered by the threat of divorce!

Not sure why you think I was playing it cool though. "Cool" is not something I'm often accused of!

Edited by BrokenSkunk on Friday 20th December 10:46

A word of warning, when you go into King Seiko's there is never 'just one' and the old ones will need almost certainly need a service, which has a good chance of involving another spare watch for parts - tell me all about it - for me to get these watches in this condition is was not plain sailing - the KS 45 has history behind it, it’s a good way to spot the Seiko nuts

The Movement in these watches is astonishingly good.

[seefarr]

Old Seikos? I've got a few but none as nice as yours.

I've got a 1972 6119-7183 with the original bracelet. Both the day and date are quickset, so instead of pulling the crown to change them, you push in the crown lightly to advance the date, and push in harder to advance the day.



A 1973 King Seiko Vanac 5626-7140. It's also an absolute swine to get a decent picture of, so I've stolen the seller's pics. It's easily the nicest watch I own and more reliable than the modern Swiss stuff I have.





How's about a '76 Seiko 6319-5030 for £56 with the bracelet and more lovely faceted crystal action and a deep purple face:





And the watch that kicked off my love of old Seikos, a 6139-8020 on the steel rally bracelet. The watch came from Lima and the NOS bracelet from Saudi Arabia, so it's a truly International watch.



EDIT: just made a coffee and realised I forgot one - a mid 70s 30 second stopwatch that I use to time espresso shots. It's got a beautifully clicky action.

Edited by seefarr on Monday 23 December 10:59

[EricMcN-II]

Thanks for sharing, I love the last two - Seiko have a wild variety of watches - they were smoking some good stuff in Japan in the 60s and 70s.

The 56 movement you talked about is marvelous, easily one of the best movements in the world - the watch next to the KS45 is a KS5626-7060 - same movement as the Vanac but the latter is a 'special' so it’s more highly strung both are good for around +/- 3 or 4 seconds a day – there is a 6 digit code on the barrel bridge that is used for identification of the movement type

I think I remember someone on Quora calling out a Rolex from that era and comparing to one of these - the movements - it’s there in front of you.

[Fitz666]

First watch I remember that really got me into watches was my late Dad's Seiko Bell-Matic.

[AlexC1981]

I bought this one a few years ago, but I don't wear it as it does not keep good time and the bracelet is a bit floppy. Where would you have something like this serviced?

[

The crystal has a few knocks and scratches, bit it is certainly eye catching when the sun hits it the right way.

[Dermot O'Logical]

I have a few, but my interest lies in 1970's chronographs:

The 6139 Pogue which started my interest in watches:



And my 6138 chronos:

[Bob_Defly]

I have my Pogue



And more modern ones, my Slim Willard



And Seiko 5

[Watchthis]

Holee sheeittee, there are some nice watches in this thread

[Mr Squarekins]

Somewhere in my house I have one of these, but can't find it anywhere. Really annoying, had it since new.

[EricMcN-II]

AlexC1981 said:

I bought this one a few years ago, but I don't wear it as it does not keep good time and the bracelet is a bit floppy. Where would you have something like this serviced?

[

The crystal has a few knocks and scratches, bit it is certainly eye catching when the sun hits it the right way.

The Seiko go to bod for mechanical watches is Sir Alan on here - I was picky on who got to service my mechanical watches and this is the guy you need.

https://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/threads/seiko-disc...

[EricMcN-II]

nuyorican said:

I love Seikos. The only grown-up watch I ever owned was a Seiko. Given to me as a gift and sadly lost on holiday years ago.

Can someone advise as I know little about watches. I really like the Grand Seiko and have recently been mulling over the idea of getting one. Is it the same thing, just the 'premium line' as it were? And also, is it acceptable to buy an older second hand watch? Not sure if the difference in price would be worth it. But as I've not worn a watch for many years, I'm a bit worried about spending so much only to find I subsequently never wear it.

Grand Seiko’s are the premium brand like you said, there’s a whole world of GS watches out there and no there is nothing wrong with 'old' ones - the watches of mine pictured above with the black croc leather and KS buckle are 'only' King Seiko the one on the left is from 1969 and has an incredible 36000 beat movement, the only watch to ever use that from King Seiko - Grand Seiko have many 36000 beat watches there is nothing wrong with old ones - the one on the right is a KS56 with the movement also used on Grand Seiko watches in that period.

I was several years learning about these watches, its best to do research and see what you like - watches will last a very long time if you look after them - but they need to be treated with respect they are highly complex precision Japanese horology – and if you never wear it it’s not much of a big deal as long as you wind it up now and again to keep the movement going

Here is a 36000 beat GS from 1969 - AKA The crosshair

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335058091375