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I've been a fan of budget Seiko mechanical watches from the 60's and 70's. Most of the time they run well, servicing isn't terribly expensive, and you can get t
by UmYeahNo 4y ago
I've been a fan of budget Seiko mechanical watches from the 60's and 70's. Most of the time they run well, servicing isn't terribly expensive, and you can get them for usually a few hundred dollars, maybe a grand for a really nice specimen. What's cool about them is you can decipher the serial number [0] to the month and year they were made, so they can commemorate an event, even if it happened a long time ago. But you do have to watch out for counterfeits. [1]
[0] https://retroseiko.com/seiko-serial.htm https://retroseiko.com/seiko-serial.htm
[1] https://www.watchesguild.com/articles/Fake-Seiko-Watch https://www.watchesguild.com/articles/Fake-Seiko-Watch
Edited to fix grammar
- jacquesm 4y agoI have one of these, a '5' and it still keeps time just fine after many years. It's a completely mechanical watch, no batteries to replace and no frills. It will likely outlive me.
- UmYeahNo 4y agoSeiko 5's are great, rock solid, last forever. My dad handed down his Seiko 5 to me, it was a 1982 model, that still runs like a champ. Take that Apple Watch we'll see if you're still running in 2062.
- smcl 4y agoI bought a new Seiko 5 that gradually started running faster to the extent that after a couple of years it's now couple of seconds fast every minute. So after a day or so it's pretty far off the actual time. I have an Apple Watch now which is very nice for doing sports or sneakily firing off messages during meetings, but when I got the Seiko I was determined that if it held firm I would use it as long as required. Maybe I should get it serviced, it could be a very easy fix but I felt really let down. So yeah, seems a little bit YMMV. The Apple Watch has its drawbacks and definitely has a finite lifespan with little hope of repair in the event of a failure, but it doesn't let me down in the one thing a watch is supposed to do.
- jacquesm 4y agoYou can just take it into a shop and have it regulated, won't take more than a few minutes and it will be good as new again.
- smcl 4y agoI'll give it a go
- adamomada 4y agoThis sounds a lot like the watch has been magnetized. First thing to try is degaussing it
- Nextgrid 4y agoIf you're into watches there are good channels on YouTube that explain watch repair such as the Watch Repair Channel or Wristwatch Revival.
- Nextgrid 4y ago> Take that Apple Watch we'll see if you're still running in 2062. To be fair, smart watches would likely last that long if it wasn't for planned obsolescence (via software "updates"), anti-repair practices (such as impossibility to disassemble them and source genuine parts) and vendor lock-in.
- aidenn0 4y agoI have a "5" that went through two bracelets before dying. At the time Seiko wanted a flat rate ($149 or $199?) to repair. I got a new kinetic for less than that, and I don't have to set the time weekly.
- ilamont 4y agoI am a fan of another Japanese watch brand, Citizen, particularly the Eco-Drive models. Solar powered, very durable, and they look great. Prices range from $100 for basic models to over $3000 for the Hakuto-R (there is some connection to the Japanese lunar mission, https://www.citizenwatch.com/us/en/product/CC4016-75E.html https://www.citizenwatch.com/us/en/product/CC4016-75E.html). Most Citizen watches are water resistant as well. I've had one model running continuously for 12 years. I love never having to charge it or change the battery.
- helij 4y agoAfter a search for a perfect watch buying and then selling anything from very cheap to very expensive I ended up with a solar G-Shock square with radio timekeeping. Indestructible, always on and always accurate. The perfect watch.
- Terry_Roll 4y agoI do love a G-Shock, had a few but I do break them, straps usually break but the casing gets scuffed and damaged from time to time, however they are the closest I've found to be indestructible which is why I keep getting them, havent found anything better.
- Nition 4y agoSeconding this. Eco-Drive is great. Keeps accurate time, never needs a battery change or winding. Prices are reasonable, and they come in lots of different styles.
- hiyer 4y agoEco-drive is awesome. I used to wear an Eco-drive for ~8 years and I never had to charge it or even adjust the time – I doubt it lost more than a minute or so in all that time. I have a couple of Seiko solar watches now. They're good too but the charging is not as good as the Eco-drive as they charge pretty poorly indoors or in cloudy weather. As an aside, the most expensive Eco-Drive is now the Eco-Drive One at ~$5400 (https://www.sakurawatches.com/citizen-eco-drive-one-limited-model-ar5044-03e https://www.sakurawatches.com/citizen-eco-drive-one-limited-...) - named so as it is only 1mm thick.