Seiko 5 expected service cost

[jimmy156]

My 4 year old seiko 5 seems to be losing a fair amount of time right now. (Extrapolating out the last six hours, it will lose 2 minutes a day) but looking on the seiko website a service is £84... the watch was only £50!

What should I expect to pay for a service from an independent jeweller or repairer?

It’s possible that because the watch has been off my wrist a lot more than usual, it just needs a good few days wear to fully wind it?!? Not sure if that logic is sound or not!

[CharlesdeGaulle]

I replaced my last one because the cost of a repair was considerably greater than replacement. Unfortunately, the new one gains a couple of minutes a week, whereas the last one was very accurate so I'm worse-off all round.

[Voldemort]

Go to the Youtube and search 'how to regulate a seiko 5'. Then, if you're feeling confident, go the Ebay and purchase a set of appropriate watch tools...

[thehawkswoops]

Sad to say but if accuracy is your thing, buy a quartz. I have a Seiko SOLAR and recommend them highly, even use it to set my other auto and hand wound watches to! RESULT

[jimmy156]

Thanks all,

I would rather not replace it as it was a gift from my wife, and I don't like to scrap things that can be fixed! Although I certainly won't be paying £80+ for it!

Fixing myself not an option, I am the most hamfisted hopelessly incompetent diy'er there is no way I wouldn't mess it up

I don't want total accuracy and I was perfectly happy with it being 10->20 seconds fast/slow per day. But 2 minutes a day is a bit much!

[Shaw Tarse]

1: Try wearing it & see if it fixes itself.
2: contact Variomatic

[ZesPak]

Out of curiosity, what model is it (I always like a nice Seiko 5)?

[Mr Pointy]

How much are you prepared to pay to have it looked at?

[marcosgt]

To be fair, Seiko 5s are Seiko's 'disposable' watches.

Some are very nice (I have one, modded into a Fifty Five Fathoms with a Yobokies dial and hands and a lumed bezel), but they only sell for £50 because they make millions at a go by machine.

If someone has to open it up and disassemble it, replace a part (I bet they just change the movement) and put it back together and check it works, it's going to cost more than the original purchase price.

M

[jimmy156]

Thanks, i will pop variomatic an email, he seems to have a very good rep around here!

Here is a photo i took of it a while ago, i can't remember the exact code!

2014-01-01 by jimmyb156, on Flickr

I guess i was imaging it would be £25 --> £50 to have it serviced, maybe thats not realistic!

I know what you mean about them being un-economical to repair. I just get attached to things!

[ZesPak]

Just stop. you had me at the picture. Where do I buy it?

[CharlesdeGaulle]

Voldemort said:

Go to the Youtube and search 'how to regulate a seiko 5'. Then, if you're feeling confident, go the Ebay and purchase a set of appropriate watch tools...

Bit of a resurrection, but my 5 gains around a minute a day. Is regulating it a DIY-by-a-biff job, or should I just get something more accurate?

[RiggaTheMighty]

Hello People,
I have only just discovered that there are non-motoring forums on here. lol

Saw this post and had to reply as I love Seiko Watches.
AS someone has already mentioned, Seiko watches (particularly the 5 range) were designed as a throwaway watch.
Its unfortunate as some of them are lovely.
I buy and sell them all the time as they can be made to look like new with a little effort.
If anyone has a Seiko that they would like a service on, i would be happy to have a look.




Always happy to help.

ETA

Sorry, Not allowed.

Edited by Big Al. on Friday 9th February 15:59