Grandfather's Sekonda - request for advice
Discussion
Following the death of my mother I have received my grandfather's Sekonda watch and I would like to see about the potential of getting it refurbished. It has been in a desk drawer since the early 1990s.
I know nothing about watches, but I am sure that it has no monetary value. However, it holds some memories for me.
A web search on "Sekonda 259258" doesn't bring forth anything meaningful, other than Sekonda being a Russian brand name rather than a manufacturer, so if anyone on here can point me in the direction of any information I would be glad to receive it.
Additionally, if anyone has a recommendation for a firm of repairers/refurbishers, then that too would be welcome.
I know nothing about watches, but I am sure that it has no monetary value. However, it holds some memories for me.
A web search on "Sekonda 259258" doesn't bring forth anything meaningful, other than Sekonda being a Russian brand name rather than a manufacturer, so if anyone on here can point me in the direction of any information I would be glad to receive it.
Additionally, if anyone has a recommendation for a firm of repairers/refurbishers, then that too would be welcome.
Your valuation is correct. It's monetary value is negligible, but that has no bearing on it's sentimental value.
Sekonda is actually a British brand, but they sourced watches from the USSR until the USSR broke up. Yours looks late 70's or early '80's going on the style. It is most likely gold coloured rather than plated.
If you plan to wear it regularly, you should probably get it serviced. Be aware that a service at £100ish will cost several times the watches (monetary) value. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the case, dial or hands, so I wouldn't have those touched. A new crystal will be in the region of £40.
If that's a bit too much, try a bit of polywatch, brasso, or even toothpaste on the crystal. You should be able to remove most of the scratches.
Contact RiggatheMighty or Variomatic on here about servicing, or go to the BHI website and find a member who takes repairs near you.
Sekonda is actually a British brand, but they sourced watches from the USSR until the USSR broke up. Yours looks late 70's or early '80's going on the style. It is most likely gold coloured rather than plated.
If you plan to wear it regularly, you should probably get it serviced. Be aware that a service at £100ish will cost several times the watches (monetary) value. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the case, dial or hands, so I wouldn't have those touched. A new crystal will be in the region of £40.
If that's a bit too much, try a bit of polywatch, brasso, or even toothpaste on the crystal. You should be able to remove most of the scratches.
Contact RiggatheMighty or Variomatic on here about servicing, or go to the BHI website and find a member who takes repairs near you.
Speak and I shall appear. 
Sekonda have made a lot of watches over the years, but this kind of older watch is certainly better quality than the modern variants.
They were never particularly designed to be a long time investment piece, but they can certainly be put into working order due to the amount of spares available.
This looks like a Sekonda glory watch with a calibre 2427. I could be wrong though as I can’t see whether it’s an auto or not.
They were a pretty good constructed watch and good for the time period.
If you would like me to take a look, feel free to drop me an email.
Sekonda have made a lot of watches over the years, but this kind of older watch is certainly better quality than the modern variants.
They were never particularly designed to be a long time investment piece, but they can certainly be put into working order due to the amount of spares available.
This looks like a Sekonda glory watch with a calibre 2427. I could be wrong though as I can’t see whether it’s an auto or not.
They were a pretty good constructed watch and good for the time period.
If you would like me to take a look, feel free to drop me an email.
Speak and I shall appear.
Sekonda have made a lot of watches over the years, but this kind of older watch is certainly better quality than the modern variants.
They were never particularly designed to be a long time investment piece, but they can certainly be put into working order due to the amount of spares available.
This looks like a Sekonda glory watch with a calibre 2427. I could be wrong though as I can’t see whether it’s an auto or not.
They were a pretty good constructed watch and good for the time period.
If you would like me to take a look, feel free to drop me an email.
Sekonda have made a lot of watches over the years, but this kind of older watch is certainly better quality than the modern variants.
They were never particularly designed to be a long time investment piece, but they can certainly be put into working order due to the amount of spares available.
This looks like a Sekonda glory watch with a calibre 2427. I could be wrong though as I can’t see whether it’s an auto or not.
They were a pretty good constructed watch and good for the time period.
If you would like me to take a look, feel free to drop me an email.
Very informative - thank you both 
My wife has dropped the watch in to a local jewellers, who are going to send it off to their affiliate for a quotation.
Noted re the lack of any financial sense in any refurb, but as we are on a car forum then I am sure that "man maths" can be applied and understood by all...
If the "local" place comes back with anything problematic then I will take RiggaTheMighty up on his very kind offer of further assistance
My wife has dropped the watch in to a local jewellers, who are going to send it off to their affiliate for a quotation.
Noted re the lack of any financial sense in any refurb, but as we are on a car forum then I am sure that "man maths" can be applied and understood by all...
If the "local" place comes back with anything problematic then I will take RiggaTheMighty up on his very kind offer of further assistance
Some info I acquired from a Russian forum a good few years ago when I had a similar model: -
"From 1966 to 1992, Sekonda was the main export brand for the entire Soviet watch industry i.e. Sekonda are a brand, not a manufacturer. Automatic watches sold under the Sekonda name were made by Poljot and Slava. Your 27 jewel Sekonda is a rebadged Slava with a calibre 2427 movement featuring double mainsprings. In the post-Soviet era, the number of jewels was reduced on this movement, I guess to save money. It makes little difference really. The 27 jewel versions are usually better, not because of the extra jewels, but because of better quality controls in Soviet times. However quality seems to have returned to former levels by the time the factory was kicked out of the old building. Apparently the ones being assembled now are OK, too."
Mine was the 27 jewelled version with the Slava twin barrel movement. I quite liked it but have no idea what happened to it or where it is now.
Picture of mine: -
"From 1966 to 1992, Sekonda was the main export brand for the entire Soviet watch industry i.e. Sekonda are a brand, not a manufacturer. Automatic watches sold under the Sekonda name were made by Poljot and Slava. Your 27 jewel Sekonda is a rebadged Slava with a calibre 2427 movement featuring double mainsprings. In the post-Soviet era, the number of jewels was reduced on this movement, I guess to save money. It makes little difference really. The 27 jewel versions are usually better, not because of the extra jewels, but because of better quality controls in Soviet times. However quality seems to have returned to former levels by the time the factory was kicked out of the old building. Apparently the ones being assembled now are OK, too."
Mine was the 27 jewelled version with the Slava twin barrel movement. I quite liked it but have no idea what happened to it or where it is now.
Picture of mine: -
Zoon said:
Would a quartz have 26 jewels? Genuine question as I have no idea
Good question. I wasn’t suggesting it was quartz, I just wasn’t sure if it was a manual. Normally the Sekonda watches that are in this case would say automatic on the dial. The answer is no in this case, A quartz watch from Russia of that kind of era would have 1 (if any) jewel.
Modern quartz can have upwards of 26 jewels, if they have complications and whatnot, but many quartz watches are Japanese movements, which still have 1 (if any) on the rotor, to allow freedom of movement for the impulse.
Even the new Swiss movements that the majority of prestige watch houses use today, only have 3 or 4 jewels, but they also use plastic wheels, so they are not long lasting.
DailyHack said:
Sekonda/Slava, here is my Slava 'glory', in all its glory, it's had a hard life, working great they are very well built - will be interested to find a place for servicing for my watches..
Wow! Love that dial patina. It has aged gracefully. Edited by DailyHack on Friday 4th January 09:11
It'll be manual wind on that one - as rigga says, no "Automatic" marking, and the 26 jewel count is wrong for the 2427 but right for the 2428 - essentially the same movement but without the auto work.
As for costs, few watches are really "worth" having serviced in a strict financial sense. Even on most prestige brands, if you add up the cost of regular service (especially manufacturers' "for the paperwork") and compare with the likely difference in resale value then service isn't a great investment.
On the other hand, if something is of good enough quality to repair reliably (which these are - basic but sturdy) then sentimental value trumps economics every time. And rightly so!
As for costs, few watches are really "worth" having serviced in a strict financial sense. Even on most prestige brands, if you add up the cost of regular service (especially manufacturers' "for the paperwork") and compare with the likely difference in resale value then service isn't a great investment.
On the other hand, if something is of good enough quality to repair reliably (which these are - basic but sturdy) then sentimental value trumps economics every time. And rightly so!
jingars said:
Nice to see some older Sekondas still in service.
@DailyHack, do you by chance work in a nuclear power plant with a suspect safety record, and have you developed any super powers?
Seconded - love the look of the dial.
Ha! Not that I am aware of, it does get a few people asking me all sorts of questions about it.@DailyHack, do you by chance work in a nuclear power plant with a suspect safety record, and have you developed any super powers?
Seconded - love the look of the dial.
jingars said:
Just to conclude my own thread, the watch has been given a mechanical repair, service and a cosmetic clean at a price of £45.
I am pleased with how it has cleaned up. My thanks to those on here who have given me some info on what it actually is
Excellent news Jingars!I am pleased with how it has cleaned up. My thanks to those on here who have given me some info on what it actually is
I have similar story of a watch I inherited from my Uncle. It was his 21st birthday present from my grandparents. It wasn't going & had not ticked a beat for 20 years. The self winding rotor had come loose and the retaining screw was wedged in the balance. The crystal was scratched beyond repair and the strap was um, 'showing age'.
It needed a service, repair, new crystal and I put a nice Hirsh strap on it. Total cost about £140. The watch is a 60's Rotary, monetary value of about £30, but that's irrelevant.
I am a little concerned that you've managed to get that watch serviced and cleaned for £45. I don't know of anyone who can afford to do a full service that cheaply. A full service usually means a strip down, a visit to the ultrasonic cleaner and a rebuild / oiling. Can I ask where you took it?
mikeveal said:
I am a little concerned that you've managed to get that watch serviced and cleaned for £45. I don't know of anyone who can afford to do a full service that cheaply. A full service usually means a strip down, a visit to the ultrasonic cleaner and a rebuild / oiling. Can I ask where you took it?
My wife took it to a local jewellers, Salina Jewellers, who sent it off to an affiliate.All I can write is that it looks cleaner and shinier, it can now be wound, the hands move as expected and it seems to keep reasonably accurate time.
I have had no direct contact with or paperwork from the repairers, just a receipt from the jewellers. It may well be that the service was not as comprehensive as your description, but I am satisfied with the result - assuming that it keeps ticking
DailyHack said:
Sekonda/Slava, here is my Slava 'glory', in all its glory, it's had a hard life, working great they are very well built - will be interested to find a place for servicing for my watches..
Just to lower the tone a bit, I suspect you can get that sort of patina by doing this sort of thing...Edited by DailyHack on Friday 4th January 09:11
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6595017/W...
daveenty said:
Some info I acquired from a Russian forum a good few years ago when I had a similar model: -
"From 1966 to 1992, Sekonda was the main export brand for the entire Soviet watch industry i.e. Sekonda are a brand, not a manufacturer. Automatic watches sold under the Sekonda name were made by Poljot and Slava. Your 27 jewel Sekonda is a rebadged Slava with a calibre 2427 movement featuring double mainsprings. In the post-Soviet era, the number of jewels was reduced on this movement, I guess to save money. It makes little difference really. The 27 jewel versions are usually better, not because of the extra jewels, but because of better quality controls in Soviet times. However quality seems to have returned to former levels by the time the factory was kicked out of the old building. Apparently the ones being assembled now are OK, too."
Mine was the 27 jewelled version with the Slava twin barrel movement. I quite liked it but have no idea what happened to it or where it is now.
Picture of mine: -
I just popped on to this forum to get some info about my Sekonda and saw your picture. You wouldn't happen to know what the serial number was on your lost watch?"From 1966 to 1992, Sekonda was the main export brand for the entire Soviet watch industry i.e. Sekonda are a brand, not a manufacturer. Automatic watches sold under the Sekonda name were made by Poljot and Slava. Your 27 jewel Sekonda is a rebadged Slava with a calibre 2427 movement featuring double mainsprings. In the post-Soviet era, the number of jewels was reduced on this movement, I guess to save money. It makes little difference really. The 27 jewel versions are usually better, not because of the extra jewels, but because of better quality controls in Soviet times. However quality seems to have returned to former levels by the time the factory was kicked out of the old building. Apparently the ones being assembled now are OK, too."
Mine was the 27 jewelled version with the Slava twin barrel movement. I quite liked it but have no idea what happened to it or where it is now.
Picture of mine: -
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