First of all, thanks for passing by !
I've posted here for a few months without doing a decent presentation. I'm Olivier, 41yo from France. I work in IT/Banking and you know what ? I love watches
After having modded several divers 100/200 for the fun of it, and for the feeling to wear my "own watch", I've felt confident enough (and equipped) to start "working" on vintage watches.
I like watches for a very long time, but for some reasons, I've never been able to invest in a watch more than I could invest in a bottle of whisky (another passion of mine ...) or in a Smartphone/Graphic Card/XStation360-3 ... damn Alcohogeek !
Why collecting Seiko ?- First because, even if technically most high-end swiss watches are master pieces, I feel like buying a $5000 brand new swiss watch will end with $1000 for the watch and $4000 for the brand. Seiko is for me "more watch for the money".
- Secondly, I could buy a $5000 Seiko and fell like having $4000 of high end technology at my wrist (and still $1000 for the Spring-Drive/GS logo) ... but it won't satisfied me after a few days/weeks.
Why vintages ?Regarding vintages, there's a personal investment ... First you have to search for a model you'd like, not just browse catalogs in a shop. Then you have to find this model, check if the price is correct, fight with others to get it. And then start the restoration phase. What parts need to be changed, what has to be cleaned, find the parts, dismantle, wonder how to achieve this or that. And only after all that, when you've been able to source and mount the band you can wear YOUR watch.
Not the same watch the guy before you also bought, but the one you spent time on, the one you're proud to wear because it has something of you in it, not just a reference to your credit card on the bill !
My humble collectionI've started collecting while searching for a Seiko that matches my month/year of birth. It happened to be a 04XXXXXX Bellmatic 4006-6001, champagne dial. I've partially cleaned it up before sending it to a watchmaker for complete service (the one on the photo is a placeholder ...). Then another came from 1970 too followed by a 1970 Navitimer and ... it looks like there's always a Seiko hidden behind the last you saw and another one hidden behind, etc, etc, ...
It looks like Seiko over the years/decades/centuries has been so prolific that it is an endless quest to try to have all the models you'd like to add in your collection.
Right now, I've planed to stick to the 1960/70 decades and try to find for each "interesting" movement at least a single model that pleases me. I don't want unwearable watches, too much scratched, too much dirt or even broken. I want to collect watches I'll have pleasure to wear, so exit "gold", exit roman numbers on dial (but welcome on date disks), exit exuberant diamond or acorn shaped crowns and under 37mm cases.
I'm not a 100% genuine fundamentalist, so if I can't restore a part or find a spare NOS I'll go after-market.
Enough talking, let me introduce my new 2012's watches:
Sportsmatic 15035 2451 - November 1963 (my oldest so far ...)
Seiko Chronograph "Time Sonar" 7015-6010 - 1976
Seikomatic "Weekdater" 6206-8990 - July 1965
And the 2011's members:
Seiko Bellmatic "Cushion" 4006-6002 - April 1970
Seiko Bellmatic "Fat Cushion" 4006-6001 - November 1970
Seiko "Navigator Timer" 6117-6419 - March 1970
Seiko Chronograph "White Helmet" 6139-7100 - November 1976
Seiko Chronograph "Panda" 6138-8020 - June 1977
Some group pictures ...
Have a nice sunday !
Olivier
