Some pics of my Seikos

[JohnnyE]

Its been a while since I registered (tut tut) so I thought I'd come back and share some pics of my current Seikos. Since becoming all WIS last year, I'd initially become drawn in by the desire for a Speedy or a SMP - but soon realised that I hadnt the budget for one yet. Instead, I spent the same amount in £100 increments on various watches I didnt really need! Now, I've settled the collection on these Japanese lovelies... and am currently focused on setting some ££s aside for a O&W Cobra.

Anyway... to the Seikos and some images. I'll split the posts to make things easier....

First, is my 1st watch that I bought myself from 1989. Tis a 7T32 Alarm Chrono. It died many years ago and I got it back to life a few months back, courtesy of Steve at Ryte Time. The original bracelet was shot, so for now, its on a Rios leather strap.



The Rios is great quality, with a signed buckle


With todays trend for big uns, the 80's 7T32 seems so light, so slim


And the wrist shot.....

[JohnnyE]

Continuing the Seiko Alarm Chrono love in... is a more modern 7T62 in Titanium. This was an eBay find - one of those auctions with an utterly rubbish pic and 1 bid! The seller said it was unworn, boxed and with the original receipt, so I took a chance. This was my 1st 7T62. Its more simple (pusher wise) than a 7T32 but I prefer the functions of the 32. The 62 needs its alarm resetting EVERY time you activate it, the 32 remembers the alarm time. I guess it depends on your intended use. The 62 is in turn better as a countdown alarm - as you start to set the alarm from the current time, so its easy to set it for a 5 min countdown as such. Anyway... some pics.

Lovely domed Hardlex crystal. Deepens the face and gives a 3D effect


Light enough to sit on top of a marigold!


And on the wrist... very very comfy. Light and rounded at the bracelet ends

[JohnnyE]

Next up, we'll go back to the 7T32 again. And I do like this one.... it was the "Monster" bracelet that caught my eye. Its in fact the bracelet that you'll find on the Neo/Lite Monsters - without the divers extension and with simple push pin links. This one was bought NOS from the USA and is 10 years old. Sold from a collection of over 120 Seikos!

Experimented with some smoked glass for these pics :wink:

Its as heavy as a Monster - I'd expected lighter, so the weight is in the case then, not the caliber


The crowns are faked up in size with solid collars. The crown itself pulls with the end piece if you get what I mean


Recognise that bracelet? Yup. Monstarrrr!


And the chunk on the wrist.

[JohnnyE]

And finally (for my Seikos anyway) something special. I'm born in March 1971 and after a serious hunt, I found a NOS Seiko EL-370 Electronic from that very birth MONTH! The serial starts 13****, so this little beaut came into the world at the same time as me! Bought direct from a vintage NOS specialist in Tokyo and immediately serviced by a UK specialist - this truly is NOS. Never had a battery in till I got it. It sweeps beautifully - a hybrid of the mechanical and the electric years. This ones a sneak preview folks... its tucked away in the wardrobe by my wife till my 40th! :lol:

Ahhh... the warmth of vintage acrylic crystals


And a macro shot of the dial. Its spotless. Any marks are reflections or dust


Heres the guts. Minty fresh! :D


And a lovely, fine bracelet (beads of rice??)


The original tag and manual is there too - and smells old!


But adjustment is limited to the clasp only. Fits me fine though... so who cares!


Heres that lovely sweep... from a battery watch!! Theres a balance wheel in there!


And finally on the wrist. Note the recessed crown


Hope you enjoyed my pics folks. I love my Seikos and these ones... they're for keeps :wink:

[Aeminium]

nice seikos. 8)

[Daddelvirks]

Cool bunch 8)
The last one is a very interesting piece.
Thanks for posting.

Daddel.

[JohnnyE]

Thanks!

The last one kind of slips into that small gap in time I guess - when quartz was about to take over. Its strange, hearing the tick tick tick of a mechanical watch but knowing that its battery powered.

It will always stay with me - not only is it NOS from '71 but being my birth month, I doubt I'll ever find such a match again.

[Ryan1984]

Nice set of watches here dude :D

Ryan

[Robertf]

That last one is fantastic, and the mesh looks superb on it, a real period piece.

[JohnnyE]

That last one is fantastic, and the mesh looks superb on it, a real period piece.

The mesh is amazingly comfortable - I'd thought it was "beads of rice" - but its finer than that. They have an amazing stock of NOS stuff (CTI Watch, Tokyo).

[Karl]

nice collection and great pics. That EL 370 is cool 8)

[dutchgray]

Nice little bunch of Seiko, the electronic is so amazingly cool and beautiful. :D

[Jim:]

That last one's a beauty! Well done.

Jim

[docrwm]

Nice Sekios, thanks for sharing. Here is my current Seiko Collection.

[JohnnyE]

Thats a lovely line up Robert. And again... my WIS'ism hits a problem. I have been determined to stop buying more Seikos in pursuit of something Swiss (O&W or maybe hold on for an Omega) - but on seeing your pic, I remembered how much I like those 009's with the Pepsi bezel. Oh dear :roll:

[si911t]

the last one is special.

nice pics

[Dr Phibes]

Just picked up my first Seiko monster and it wont be my last, pepsi also on my hit list

[JohnnyE]

Thanks for all the comments chaps - and I'm realising more and more what a wee gem I got in that electronic EL-370. I had a look there and the seller has another 2 - NOS condition both from 1971 on eBay.

(Had a look at the stickys - not sure on your policy on posting sales links, so here's just some item numbers)

Item 180531954583 - same EL-370 as mine but with a lovely vintage soft cream dial. Described as MINT and you can rest assured that it will be mint.
Item 180531955020 - grey dial, not quite mint. Different bracelet.

Some may argue that at £113 + P&P they are a bit over value... but if you go for the NOS ones you will not be disappointed. The seller describes these very accurately and I had a flawless transaction with them. The NOS examples are truly timewarp and have been well stored. I had mine serviced by Paul of http://electric-watches.co.uk/ and he said that the mechanism was clean and as new inside. Paul stripped, serviced and re-oiled the watch in a 24 hour turnaround and so comes highly recommended from me.

[JohnnyE]

Just picked up my first Seiko monster and it wont be my last, pepsi also on my hit list

Yeah... the Monster has been some hit world wide hasn't it? I had a Neo/Lite Monster there for a year or so but flipped it. It was the TiCN version - waffle dial, display back. A nice one. Another example of another £130 blown out of the Swiss budget :lol:

[JohnnyE]

Oh... and I picked that Monster over a black/orange because this is available as a "J" made in Japan model. I couldn't find any "J" model Monsters.

(I'll leave that can of worms right there and get my coat! :hiding: )

[dutchgray]

Thanks for all the comments chaps - and I'm realising more and more what a wee gem I got in that electronic EL-370. I had a look there and the seller has another 2 - NOS condition both from 1971 on eBay.

(Had a look at the stickys - not sure on your policy on posting sales links, so here's just some item numbers)

Item 180531954583 - same EL-370 as mine but with a lovely vintage soft cream dial. Described as MINT and you can rest assured that it will be mint.

Well that one is now on it's way to me :roll: I really was trying to save some money but just couldn't resist it.

[Bazzman]

Do love your electronic Johnny.

I received my SBPP007 Spirit today, lovely chrono.

You can't beat a Seiko for value. You finished polishing the car? :D

Cheers mate

[JohnnyE]

Well that one is now on it's way to me :roll: I really was trying to save some money but just couldn't resist it.

:bounce: BRILLIANT! You'll not regret it. They describe their condition very honestly - and being mint/mint, yours will be just as mine was. I'd recommend you send it to Paul for a service and oil. Paul said that the oils dry up - and he turned mine around in 24 hours. Very reasonable price for such expertise.

The CTI Watch tracking is excellent - you'll have this in a week or so. Cant wait to see your pics! :D

[andy tims]

Love the OP's 7T32

[JohnnyE]

Do love your electronic Johnny.

I received my SBPP007 Spirit today, lovely chrono.

You can't beat a Seiko for value. You finished polishing the car? :D

Cheers mate

I'm literally just in the house now! The car has been garaged whilst I did up the wee Rocco (it was a cat D repair) - so I had 6 months of dust to wash away. BTW - never did answer you on the other thread - Meguars clay kit is what you REALLY want to try. Get it in Halfords. Gets rid of the "badgers a$$" stippling on the paint and restored it to a glass finish. Its the biggest shocker I've had after nearly 20 years of cleaning cars :lol: It wipes away all the years of tree sap and crud - quite amazing. Click my www link on my profile if you fancy a gander at the Audi - some decent pics of the interior etc etc.

[JohnnyE]

Love the OP's 7T32

Which one Andy?... the '89 or the pseudo diver? I bought that older one with my 1st grant cheque in my 1st term at uni in 1989! Hee hee. Priorities huh? :lol:

[dutchgray]

Well that one is now on it's way to me :roll: I really was trying to save some money but just couldn't resist it.

:bounce: BRILLIANT! You'll not regret it. They describe their condition very honestly - and being mint/mint, yours will be just as mine was. I'd recommend you send it to Paul for a service and oil. Paul said that the oils dry up - and he turned mine around in 24 hours. Very reasonable price for such expertise.

The CTI Watch tracking is excellent - you'll have this in a week or so. Cant wait to see your pics! :D

I was indeed going to get in touch with Paul for a service but not until I have it, besides I will need to balance the books a little first, I got a near perfect 6139-8020 that I don't wear that should do.

[docrwm]

Thats a lovely line up Robert. And again... my WIS'ism hits a problem. I have been determined to stop buying more Seikos in pursuit of something Swiss (O&W or maybe hold on for an Omega) - but on seeing your pic, I remembered how much I like those 009's with the Pepsi bezel. Oh dear :roll:

It's a lovely watch for the money (paid $105 for it delivered as I recall) but the bracelet is not, so I put it on a Wm Jean for $40 and its much better.

Save up for the O&W, I have one and its a terrific watch.

[andy tims]

Love the OP's 7T32

Which one Andy?... the '89 or the pseudo diver? I bought that older one with my 1st grant cheque in my 1st term at uni in 1989! Hee hee. Priorities huh? :lol:

The 1989 Alarm Chrono - wise investment. Must have stopped you being late for lectures :wink:

[Marco-T]

That Seiko EL-370 is truly a great find :thumbright:

[JohnnyE]

It's a lovely watch for the money (paid $105 for it delivered as I recall) but the bracelet is not, so I put it on a Wm Jean for $40 and its much better.

Save up for the O&W, I have one and its a terrific watch.

That one is REALLY lovely. I'm liking the contrast of the brown strap too. The saving has begun. If I can hold on I'll aim for a SMP or speedy. If I cant bear to wait that long - an O&W is definitely on the cards.

[JohnnyE]

The 1989 Alarm Chrono - wise investment. Must have stopped you being late for lectures :wink:

I paid £99 for that watch in 1989. It was on an Oyster style bracelet which has given up and was binned many years ago. Steven Burrage had this one for 6 months there and in the end, the only remaining 7T32 parts are held on tightly be Seiko. He had to give them the watch to repair. Cost me pretty much what I paid in 1989 to get it back on form but it was worth it.

[bombing]

Nice Sekios, thanks for sharing. Here is my current Seiko Collection.

Hmmm, can you tell us more about the "gold" one? I love the dial :shock:

[dutchgray]

Well my Electronic is on its way :D Just had to pay the Customs charges on it :( should have it on Wednesday.

[docrwm]

It's a lovely watch for the money (paid $105 for it delivered as I recall) but the bracelet is not, so I put it on a Wm Jean for $40 and its much better.

Save up for the O&W, I have one and its a terrific watch.

That one is REALLY lovely. I'm liking the contrast of the brown strap too. The saving has begun. If I can hold on I'll aim for a SMP or speedy. If I cant bear to wait that long - an O&W is definitely on the cards.

The O&W cost me, used in good shape, $500. It is a solid performer and I think one of the better looking 7750s around. Had a Speedy and honestly like this one better but I understand the history and allure of the Speedy. Had to own one but was hugely disappointed with it and sold it off rather quickly. Either way, good luck with your pursuit.

[docrwm]

Nice Sekios, thanks for sharing. Here is my current Seiko Collection.

Hmmm, can you tell us more about the "gold" one? I love the dial :shock:

Sorry I missed the question at first. Happy to oblige.

It's a SEIKO Gyro marvel Cal.290. It is their 2nd attempt at an auto movement. The first being the 17 jewel Seiko movement 11A that beat at 18000 bph and was based on a A. Schild automatic ebauche that was first made in 1954/5 from the accounts I can find. It was made by the Daini Division of Seiko. It was replaced in the late 1957 - early 1958 with the 21 jewel version. According to 1958 price list these were the most expensive (18K models excluded) Seikos at that time. Citizen's first automatic was released in May 1958.

The Cal 290 was first made in 1959 by the Suwa Division of Seiko. It is Seiko's 2nd generation auto. The Cal 290 was developed as a less expensive alternative to the Cal 11A because it was very expensive at the time and therefore did not sell very well at all. In 1959 the 11A was 16000 Yen (the AGF case) and 6400 Yen (the EGP case). The Cal 290 is the first iteration of Seiko's famous magic lever system. Additionally this is first time a Japanese domestic watch used bearings in the rotor part. These systems became the foundation of the SEIKO automatic movements and were included in the Suwa 62 system. When you look closely at it you see the ancestor of the modern SEIKO automatic movement.?