I thought I would post a review of my first watch, which I got when I was eleven - kind of a sentimental review - and yes it was a Seiko. And no, I didn't keep this watch all these years, I actually lost it in the sea after about a year of use, and I happened upon the exact same watch a few months ago on the bay, in very good condition considering its age.
There's nothing special about this watch. It's a Seiko 5 based on the ubiquitous 21 jewels 6119 movement, a reliable workhorse of an automatic movement. The crown is recessed and at 4 o'clock. The time is adjusted by pulling the crown, the day and date by pressing it (if the crown is pressed slightly the date changes, if pressed deeper, both day and date advance). The crystal is acrylic and scratches easily, but this one is in good shape.
It's a relatively light watch at 51.5g (with the bracelet adjusted to my medium size wrist) and it balanced well on my wrist. Case diameter is 38mm. The integral case (the watch opens through the crystal) is made of stainless steel, and the bracelet is folded stainless steel, as with most Seiko 5.
[img]
The watch was manufactured in July 1972. It is 38 years old, and I doubt it has ever been serviced. It's working fine, though.
[img]http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6902/backpp.jpg
Both the dial and the case back sport the Suwa symbol. We know exactly when and where it was manufactured!
I couldn't wear it immediately after I received it, the bracelet was missing a few links and I wanted to keep the original bracelet - I wanted exactly the same watch I had worn so many years ago! ???
So I waited for a donor watch.
[img]
The donor watch was manufactured in 1973, the dial outer ring is a very deep blue, almost black, and the seconds hand is orange instead of yellow. The donor watch was missing the crystal retaining ring, and was in much worse condition overall. But it had enough spare bracelet links, and it could provide other internal parts if needed.
Am I sure this is the same watch I wore so many years ago ? Yes - the dial is quite unique, and I remember the recessed crown at 4 o'clock.
[img]
This humble Seiko 5 is important because it is really because of this watch that I became a wristwatch user and nowadays a Seiko collector. I am happy to have it back on my wrist, and I am not going swimming with it again - ever, promised! :))
[img]http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/1713/wristshot3pp.jpg
Andrew
There's nothing special about this watch. It's a Seiko 5 based on the ubiquitous 21 jewels 6119 movement, a reliable workhorse of an automatic movement. The crown is recessed and at 4 o'clock. The time is adjusted by pulling the crown, the day and date by pressing it (if the crown is pressed slightly the date changes, if pressed deeper, both day and date advance). The crystal is acrylic and scratches easily, but this one is in good shape.
It's a relatively light watch at 51.5g (with the bracelet adjusted to my medium size wrist) and it balanced well on my wrist. Case diameter is 38mm. The integral case (the watch opens through the crystal) is made of stainless steel, and the bracelet is folded stainless steel, as with most Seiko 5.
[img]
The watch was manufactured in July 1972. It is 38 years old, and I doubt it has ever been serviced. It's working fine, though.
[img]http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6902/backpp.jpg
Both the dial and the case back sport the Suwa symbol. We know exactly when and where it was manufactured!
I couldn't wear it immediately after I received it, the bracelet was missing a few links and I wanted to keep the original bracelet - I wanted exactly the same watch I had worn so many years ago! ???
So I waited for a donor watch.
[img]
The donor watch was manufactured in 1973, the dial outer ring is a very deep blue, almost black, and the seconds hand is orange instead of yellow. The donor watch was missing the crystal retaining ring, and was in much worse condition overall. But it had enough spare bracelet links, and it could provide other internal parts if needed.
Am I sure this is the same watch I wore so many years ago ? Yes - the dial is quite unique, and I remember the recessed crown at 4 o'clock.
[img]
This humble Seiko 5 is important because it is really because of this watch that I became a wristwatch user and nowadays a Seiko collector. I am happy to have it back on my wrist, and I am not going swimming with it again - ever, promised! :))
[img]http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/1713/wristshot3pp.jpg
Andrew
