Early 1960s Seikos
Discussion
Hi all, I only have a few Swiss watches at present, and I know zip about Seiko watches. I am pondering buying a Seiko Crown or a Seikomatic from the early 1960s. Something smallish with a pale face on a leather strap.
I'd be grateful for thoughts from Seiko fans about these types of watch. Do you find them to be reliable and so on? The prices seem sensible - a few hundred quid might get one in decent nick.
My dad had quite a cool 1970s Seiko that a business contact gave him. He gave it to me when I started working, and I left it on the seat of a London commuter train one very hot day in the late 1980s, like a doofus. Oh well, at least I still have my dad's late 1950s Oyster Air King Perpetual, although it is a bit knackered.
Thanks for any thoughts on Seikos.
I'd be grateful for thoughts from Seiko fans about these types of watch. Do you find them to be reliable and so on? The prices seem sensible - a few hundred quid might get one in decent nick.
My dad had quite a cool 1970s Seiko that a business contact gave him. He gave it to me when I started working, and I left it on the seat of a London commuter train one very hot day in the late 1980s, like a doofus. Oh well, at least I still have my dad's late 1950s Oyster Air King Perpetual, although it is a bit knackered.
Thanks for any thoughts on Seikos.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th October 09:31
Hi BV,
Welcome to another expensive habit.
Seiko are one of the worlds finest watchmakers, although they are usually only known for their low end stuff.
In the 60's their tech was up there with the world leaders, Goldfeather was the thinnest. Lord Marvel (Grand Seiko predecessor) beat at 36000bpm. Grand Seiko came into being somewhere in the late 60's.
Don't worry about the strap. Lots of stuff will come with a bracelet, just get an aftermarket strap of your choice and swap it. A decent strap can be had from £20.
Size wise, most 60's watches were smaller than today's dinner plate wristwear. So you're bang on with the era if you want something a bit smaller.
Can I recommend an ebay seller? Saitama_jp seems to specialise in JDM Seikos and Citizens from the era you're considering. I have bought from this vendor, the watch was in good, original un-fettled condition.
A second seller reed0702 also has JDM watches from that era, but Reed's watches look to be titivated and priced a bit higher. They all don't look original and it pays to be wary of sellers piecing together watches from parts. I don't know for certain that's what Reed0702 is doing, but I'm wary.
Buying a watch from this era you should expect to have to get it serviced. It should cost roughly £100. If the watch arrives and keeps good time, then you've saved £100, happy days. But you should expect to shell out.
Lastly, second hand watches have become a minefield in the last few years. The online market places are stuffed full of professional vendors buying crap, titivating, frankenwatching redailling and reselling. There are more bad watches than good on ebay and they have crazy pricing.
When you find something you like, feel free to pm me, or post here for advice. I should be able to help you avoid the majority of the lemons & I'm sure others will chip in.
Welcome to another expensive habit.
Seiko are one of the worlds finest watchmakers, although they are usually only known for their low end stuff.
In the 60's their tech was up there with the world leaders, Goldfeather was the thinnest. Lord Marvel (Grand Seiko predecessor) beat at 36000bpm. Grand Seiko came into being somewhere in the late 60's.
Don't worry about the strap. Lots of stuff will come with a bracelet, just get an aftermarket strap of your choice and swap it. A decent strap can be had from £20.
Size wise, most 60's watches were smaller than today's dinner plate wristwear. So you're bang on with the era if you want something a bit smaller.
Can I recommend an ebay seller? Saitama_jp seems to specialise in JDM Seikos and Citizens from the era you're considering. I have bought from this vendor, the watch was in good, original un-fettled condition.
A second seller reed0702 also has JDM watches from that era, but Reed's watches look to be titivated and priced a bit higher. They all don't look original and it pays to be wary of sellers piecing together watches from parts. I don't know for certain that's what Reed0702 is doing, but I'm wary.
Buying a watch from this era you should expect to have to get it serviced. It should cost roughly £100. If the watch arrives and keeps good time, then you've saved £100, happy days. But you should expect to shell out.
Lastly, second hand watches have become a minefield in the last few years. The online market places are stuffed full of professional vendors buying crap, titivating, frankenwatching redailling and reselling. There are more bad watches than good on ebay and they have crazy pricing.
When you find something you like, feel free to pm me, or post here for advice. I should be able to help you avoid the majority of the lemons & I'm sure others will chip in.
Many thanks for that very helpful reply - much appreciated.
I already have a mid 50s Breitling dress watch, my dad's 1957 Rolex, a 1962 Omega Seamaster 30, an early 1970s Breitling Transocean, a mid 90s Tag Heure Diving watch, and a modern Longines Conquest, so I have done a bit of watch foolery already, but I am all new to Japanese watches. I also have a slight yen for a LeCoultre Futurematic.
I have a friend who is obsessed with Hello Kitty, and I do mean obsessed. I bought her a year 2000 limited edition Hello Kitty watch. Casio, I think. She loves it.
I already have a mid 50s Breitling dress watch, my dad's 1957 Rolex, a 1962 Omega Seamaster 30, an early 1970s Breitling Transocean, a mid 90s Tag Heure Diving watch, and a modern Longines Conquest, so I have done a bit of watch foolery already, but I am all new to Japanese watches. I also have a slight yen for a LeCoultre Futurematic.
I have a friend who is obsessed with Hello Kitty, and I do mean obsessed. I bought her a year 2000 limited edition Hello Kitty watch. Casio, I think. She loves it.
I am thinking of this kind of thing-
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1960-JAPAN-SEIK...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEIKO-CROWN-Special-J14...
eBayer seller nonkun508 has sensible asking prices compared to some other sellers in Japan and the USA.
The Seiko that my dad gave me and which I later lost was I think a bit like this one. I would only buy one of these for sentimental reasons, as I am not a fan of that type of gold strap.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-King-Seiko-J14102...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1960-JAPAN-SEIK...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SEIKO-CROWN-Special-J14...
eBayer seller nonkun508 has sensible asking prices compared to some other sellers in Japan and the USA.
The Seiko that my dad gave me and which I later lost was I think a bit like this one. I would only buy one of these for sentimental reasons, as I am not a fan of that type of gold strap.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-King-Seiko-J14102...
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th October 12:10
Futurematic... Good choice! I have heavy want for one too. Casio's Hello Kitty, less so.
OK, here we go...
Case, gold plated with probable brassing showing in the second picture. Fairly heavy corrosion around the case back seal.
Crown, looks like a replacement.
Dial appears to be original
Movement, again nothing special. But it is shiny, beautiful, in complete contrast to the rest of the watch. It's almost as if it doesn't belong...
Hands, are they a different tone of gold to the dial battons? They look a bit off to me, but I'm seriously colour blind.
Caseback, polished, heavily.
Overall, I'd say this one may have been built from parts. Had it not been, I don't think it would be worth more than £200.
It has a bent lug. Not sure if it's gold plate or 9ct. 9ct would explain the high price. Usually if the watch is gold plate or rolled gold the caseback is stainless. Certainly there are no signs of brassing.
Breadvan72 said:
Dial is original, a few age spots & some discolouring at the edge 12 - 3. Case stainless steel unpolished, very light corrosion around the rear case seal. Crown seems original. Movement nice and clean, nothing special. I'd say that's in decent original condition throughout. The only thing a bit off is the price. £150 is more realistic. You'll pay VAT on import at 20%.Breadvan72 said:
Good God. $600? That's ummm entrepreneurial.OK, here we go...
Case, gold plated with probable brassing showing in the second picture. Fairly heavy corrosion around the case back seal.
Crown, looks like a replacement.
Dial appears to be original
Movement, again nothing special. But it is shiny, beautiful, in complete contrast to the rest of the watch. It's almost as if it doesn't belong...
Hands, are they a different tone of gold to the dial battons? They look a bit off to me, but I'm seriously colour blind.
Caseback, polished, heavily.
Overall, I'd say this one may have been built from parts. Had it not been, I don't think it would be worth more than £200.
Breadvan72 said:
The Seiko that my dad gave me and which I later lost was I think a bit like this one
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-King-Seiko-J14102...
This one looks alright, but the pics aren't high resolution and there's no movement pics.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Seiko-King-Seiko-J14102...
It has a bent lug. Not sure if it's gold plate or 9ct. 9ct would explain the high price. Usually if the watch is gold plate or rolled gold the caseback is stainless. Certainly there are no signs of brassing.
Just stuff you learn (the hard way) when collecting becomes a hobby.
Here to help. Until that is you start talking about watches as investments at which point you1 become an idiot and Ahm oot.
I suggest you2 add Saitama_jp's and reed0702's watches to your ebay watch list. Even if you don't much like what they currently have, you'll be able to see how much they sell for at the end of the auction & you'll get a feel for some more sensible pricing.
1 Not you2 exclusively you2 understand. I mean anyone in general, it's not scorn reserved for you2.
2 Yes, you exclusively this time
Here to help. Until that is you start talking about watches as investments at which point you1 become an idiot and Ahm oot.
I suggest you2 add Saitama_jp's and reed0702's watches to your ebay watch list. Even if you don't much like what they currently have, you'll be able to see how much they sell for at the end of the auction & you'll get a feel for some more sensible pricing.
1 Not you2 exclusively you2 understand. I mean anyone in general, it's not scorn reserved for you2.
2 Yes, you exclusively this time
PS: the first Omega that I bought was a dog - all faked up and no good at all. I was more careful when I bought my Seamaster, and also found a very pleasant base model 60s or 70s Omega in a junk shop, which I got for fifty quid. I gave that to my nephew. I got lucky with the early 70s small Rolex that I bought for my Mum - found cheap in a back street jewellery shop, but later checked out by a proper Rolex dude who said that it was a good one.
Did someone say vintage ebay Seikos?! I bought an early 60s Goldfeather from Japan last year. A 2.95mm thick movement means its pretty slender! They even went to the trouble of bending the long hands to match the dome of the crystal. It's been reliable and keeps better time than my recent Swiss movement watches.
That is indeed an early one. The early ones had the hour markers cut into the dial & then plated.
The later models (I have one) have printed markers. Apparently the etching process was a ball ache, so they dropped it.
That's a really clean dial if original. If not original, you'll see it easiest at the edges of the hour markers. The paint should end in a nice crisp line.
The later models (I have one) have printed markers. Apparently the etching process was a ball ache, so they dropped it.
That's a really clean dial if original. If not original, you'll see it easiest at the edges of the hour markers. The paint should end in a nice crisp line.
I'm trying to buy a Grand Seiko automatic at the moment, or possibly a King Seiko. It is a minefield - the days when only Omega Constellations were frankened have long since passed.
The same is true of 'Pogue' chronographs too. I have bought rare and beautiful Omega Olympic rattrapantes and a brand new Heuer Monte Carlo for less than many of the nasty frankenPogues are being offered for sale for now.
The same is true of 'Pogue' chronographs too. I have bought rare and beautiful Omega Olympic rattrapantes and a brand new Heuer Monte Carlo for less than many of the nasty frankenPogues are being offered for sale for now.
I like the one posted above.
In the finest PH tradition of not answering the question posed and suggesting something wildly different than what you have said you want, here goes...
I achieved a similar look buying a new automatic watch from Orient. I think it's technically incorrect to call it a Seiko sub-brand, but it's part of the Seiko empire. It was around 200 quid and I bought it as a much cheaper alternative to a Longines, but the looks are very traditional I think.
It's obviously not a 60 year old watch, which I suspect is what you want, but as a 'similar' modern it might be worth considering.
Rubbish pic but it gives a idea. It probably doesn't look it here but it's a really nice quality watch and subtly coloured. I like it anyway.
ETA - posted and recommended because it looks very similar to the one you posted above.
In the finest PH tradition of not answering the question posed and suggesting something wildly different than what you have said you want, here goes...
I achieved a similar look buying a new automatic watch from Orient. I think it's technically incorrect to call it a Seiko sub-brand, but it's part of the Seiko empire. It was around 200 quid and I bought it as a much cheaper alternative to a Longines, but the looks are very traditional I think.
It's obviously not a 60 year old watch, which I suspect is what you want, but as a 'similar' modern it might be worth considering.
Rubbish pic but it gives a idea. It probably doesn't look it here but it's a really nice quality watch and subtly coloured. I like it anyway.
ETA - posted and recommended because it looks very similar to the one you posted above.
Edited by CharlesdeGaulle on Wednesday 7th October 09:07
CDG, I like that watch a lot, but I have a Longines Conquest Automatic (which I got for a STEAL in St Helier last month) as my modern classic watch. I want a 1962 watch if possible. My 1962 Omega Seamaster is in for a service, and anyway it has a blue face and black strap. I want something with a pale face to wear on a brown strap.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 13th October 06:24
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