Hi Bob, and welcome to SCWF!
There's a very good chance that your watch will respond to a service / overhaul by a good independent watchmaker, especially if it's in basically running condition. A lot of power reserve can be lost by the lubricants used degrading over time, which ends up like treacle (or even varnish) instead of oil. Eventually it gets to the point where the mainspring simply isn't strong enough to run it for full time.
There will probably be some wear as well in a watch that age, and some parts should ideally be replaced if "like new" performance is to be restroed, which is why manufacturers often won't entertain servicing beyond a certain point. But that doesn't mean the watch can't be "brought back from the dead" to a more than reasonable standard for everyday use.
You'll probably be able to find a good local repairer if you hunt hard enough, but they can be quite hard to track down. I know there are also some very proficient repairers from over your side of the Pond here on the forums, hopefully some of them will make themselves known either on here or by PM
Meanwhile, it's good that you recognise the effect that time can have on the owner, as well as the watch. One of the most difficult subjects to tackle diplomatically in this business is the customer who simply isn't active enough anymore to keep an auto watch wound but insists that the fact he sits in one armchair all day can't have anything to do with his watch running down!
Topic: Seiko 5126-7000 (Read 353 times)