Refurbed my dads 1980 Seiko Pepsi Diver today.

[ecain63]

My dad bought a Seiko 7548-700b Diver in 1980 and after some serious abuse its been sat in the spice drawer in his house since the early 90's. Today it got the full works and a conversion:

How it looked (actually it was worse):


Stripped it down:


Junked the original glass and the pepsi bezel:


New glass fitted. Full mark / dent removal and polish. Fresh battery, seals and movement check over. Treated to a new leather strap to match the more unassuming look (tomorrow i need to tighten the crown on to the shaft as its a bit loose): Only thing ive noticed is that this watch seems to prefer French day markers. English appears for a couple of hours and then its Froggie. Dunno why!






Eddie

[cst]

Good job, looks much better!

Are you giving it back to him?

[ecain63]

Yeah, posting it back today. The aim is to get him to share the wear between this and his Seamaster.

[Zigster]

Re the language issue for the day, are you sure it is not just how you are setting the day? My SKX007 alternates between English and Japanese - when I set the day I just have to make sure I set it to English. When it first switches to the new day, it spends a couple of hours on Japanese before switching back to English. Not a problem as I rarely need to know the day of the week at 2am!

So setting the day rotates through Mon, *!@$ (can't do Japanese characters but let's assume that is Japanese for Monday), Tue ,@&^$, Wed, ...

[michael gould]

where's the bezel ?

[ecain63]

Zigster said:

Re the language issue for the day, are you sure it is not just how you are setting the day? My SKX007 alternates between English and Japanese - when I set the day I just have to make sure I set it to English. When it first switches to the new day, it spends a couple of hours on Japanese before switching back to English. Not a problem as I rarely need to know the day of the week at 2am!

So setting the day rotates through Mon, *!@$ (can't do Japanese characters but let's assume that is Japanese for Monday), Tue ,@&^$, Wed, ...

Its ok, i sorted it this morning. Its an optional setting so easy enough to switch.

[ecain63]

michael gould said:

where's the bezel ?

Its in the bin. Dad decided it looked better without the pepsi colours.

[daveparry]

I have owned several Seiko divers watches and never ever associated any of them with Pepsi! ?????

[ApexJimi]

daveparry said:

I have owned several Seiko divers watches and never ever associated any of them with Pepsi! ?????

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I love the red/blue bezel. Should have fitted a like for like replacement. IMHO.

[FarQue]

Good work OP, but needs the Pepsi bezel back or at least a Coke bezel.

[benny.c]

As above, it needs a bezel insert. Any will do

[ecain63]

He might go for coke, or just black if he wants the sleek look. He should receive it tomorrow so I'll see what he says.

[michael gould]

ecain63 said:

michael gould said:

where's the bezel ?

Its in the bin. Dad decided it looked better without the pepsi colours.

It looks bloody awful without the bezel.....wrecks a nice vintage watch

[MiltonBaines]

You've done a good job restoring the watch but in some way it has lost it's charm. I'd have just replaced the crystal, had a light clean done, new strap and a service. All the dings, dents and the faded bezel give it character.

The restored watch now looks too new. My dad did the same with my grandads watch, it was over restored and lost it's charm and wasn't the watch I remembered from my childhood anymore.

But all just my opinion, am glad you and your dad like it.

[ecain63]

Ok, update time:

Decided to refit the watch with a new Pepsi insert:

http://s251.beta.photobucket.com/user/niacuk/media...
http://s251.beta.photobucket.com/user/niacuk/media...

[1878]

ecain63 said:

Ok, update time:

Decided to refit the watch with a new Pepsi insert:

http://s251.beta.photobucket.com/user/niacuk/media...
http://s251.beta.photobucket.com/user/niacuk/media...

Much better!

[LukeBird]

Very nice work Eddie.
I have my dad's old (identical!) Seiko in my possession as well that will get some work done at some point.
It's bruised and battered from his time diving in the Middle East in the 80s.

[ooral]

Really nice work, I bet your dad is very pleased!

[Hugo a Gogo]

leather strap on a diver just looks wrong to me