Early 1960s Seikos

[anonymous-user]

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.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th October 09:31

[anonymous-user]

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.

[anonymous-user]

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...

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th October 12:10

[anonymous-user]

Cheers, good know how!

[anonymous-user]

I have never invested in anything and never shall. I buy stuff for fun.

[anonymous-user]

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.

[anonymous-user]

That is a good looking watch, seefarr. I like slender watches like that. I have thin wrists and smallish hands (not Donald Trump small).

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 6th October 17:41

[anonymous-user]

On a whim, I bought this 1990 "Dancing hands" watch for £100. I may give it as an Xmas gift to someone whom I think might like it.

[anonymous-user]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H5cKYU3laU

[anonymous-user]

How about this for about 250?

[anonymous-user]

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

[anonymous-user]

That is a good call, GC8, but having only had Swiss watches to date, I think I'm turning Japanese, yes I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.

[anonymous-user]

https://adventuresinamateurwatchfettling.com/

is well worth a look - the blog entries are primarily about restoring/repairing old Seikos but most of them have detailed history and information about each different model and the various ranges they come from.

[anonymous-user]

Cheers! I do admire nerdiness in all its forms. Keeping old machines alive is an important thing to do, in a World of disposable blah.

[anonymous-user]

Fun!

The one second from left is, I am fairly sure, one like the one that I lost that day in the 1980s.

[anonymous-user]

21st Century Man said:

Timely thread, I've been looking for a birth year watch and was thinking Grand Seiko First or similar.

1962 for me - I already have one watch and one car from that year. I would like a 1962 motorbike as well.

[anonymous-user]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

Breadvan72 said:

21st Century Man said:

Timely thread, I've been looking for a birth year watch and was thinking Grand Seiko First or similar.

1962 for me - I already have one watch and one car from that year. I would like a 1962 motorbike as well.

I'm a 63-er, so if you find a near-miss let me know! (Not a motorbike though; cars or watches only).

Decent looking 1962-63 Vauxhall FB 1500 on eBay right now, but better to wait for a VX 4/90?

[anonymous-user]

CharlesdeGaulle said:

I'm a 63-er, so if you find a near-miss let me know! (Not a motorbike though; cars or watches only).

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1239870

[anonymous-user]

I have been looking only at Japanese and UK sellers.

[anonymous-user]

I have not yet found the 1962 watch that I want, but I bought my wife this 80s/90s Seiko cocktail watch (mechanical) as a Christmas stocking filler, and also picked up a cheapo 1973 automatic, just for fun. Under 150 quid for the pair.