[buddy13]

I am a bit worried, as I am located in Europe, and have heard that these watches would have to go back to Japan for servicing.

Is it true that no watchmakers outside of Seiko has access to these parts?

It means that I would not be able to send it to an independent, when service time comes?

Seems like all the watch makers nowadays are cornering their buyers, into having to send the watch to them at each service, with their in house movements its easy really, if you do not provide the consumables/parts.

Have you had to send your Seiko / GS to Japan? If so what are the servicing costs and service like? Have you done so through your local Seiko AD or shipped it out yourselves? I mean shipping to Japan and back would cost 200-300 Euros for shipping alone.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Grammarofdesign]

I recommend you reach out to Simon aka @Sir Alan who is in the UK and has serviced 8L35s before. He even made his own tool to remove the 8L35 rotor that has an unusual arrangement to secure the rotor to the autowinding bridge.

 

[buddy13]

I recommend you reach out to Simon aka @Sir Alan who is in the UK and has serviced 8L35s before. He even made his own tool to remove the 8L35 rotor that has an unusual arrangement to secure the rotor to the autowinding bridge.

Thanks for this. Yes, I know about this 3 pronged tool. Someone else in Australia also did something similar.

The issue is, if it as they say, that Seiko does not sell any parts to independents. What if it needs some parts replacement during service?

 

[Grammarofdesign]

Well an authorized Seiko Parts Dealer can special order the part by part number if it comes down to a watchmaker needing something. I would venture to day most of the times it just needs sorting and cleaning and lubrication.

Also why not walk it into a Prospex / Seiko Luxe AD and ask them to handle the repair via Japan? They might eat the freight costs.

 

[rileynp]

Well an authorized Seiko Parts Dealer can special order the part by part number if it comes down to a watchmaker needing something. I would venture to day most of the times it just needs sorting and cleaning and lubrication.

Also why not walk it into a Prospex / Seiko Luxe AD and ask them to handle the repair via Japan? They might eat the freight costs.

I’d challenge you on that, at least regarding Seiko USA. I’d like to service my SBDX011 at some point, but can’t really do a proper job (as defined by any modern watch manufacturer) without replacing the mainspring, at the very least. I’ve yet to see that part number published anywhere, and will definitely try to order one if you can provide the number.
Until then, owners of this level of watch need to accept that the factory service center is the only course of repair intended by Seiko. Usually a local market official service center would send it to Japan for you, Etienne, if they themselves are not authorized to service in-country.

 

[Grammarofdesign]

Well Noah of course you are right in that your mainspring might not be easily accessible but the OP has no idea right now what is wrong with it.

You can always use this table for parts for the 8L35 it's just partial but better than nothing:

 

[Grammarofdesign]

@buddy13 since you are in Europe the Euro Service Center (Netherlands) why not e-mail them at the country best for you using this guide:

Europe | Seiko Watch Corporation

Seiko is one of the few fully integrated watch manufactures. We design and develop our own movements using leading-edge technology.

www.seikowatches.com

Or just directly to them at www.seiko.nl

For an idea on pricing, here in the USA Seiko Service Center charges $318 for a complete 8L35 service. They say it does not include shipping but what they mean is not the US mail back to you or your cost to mail to them. It does include them mailing it to Japan and back if needed.

 

[rileynp]

Well Noah of course you are right in that your mainspring might not be easily accessible but the OP has no idea right now what is wrong with it.

You can always use this table for parts for the 8L35 it's just partial but better than nothing:
View attachment 503169

I think we should both acknowledge that the list you provided (and Seiko so helpfully has shared with their affiliate, with not tech guide to show where they are actually used in the movement) would be absolutely useless in realistic, common repair circumstances for any mechanical movement. If you can’t get all of the parts for a given movement, the repair parameters will necessarily be compromised, by definition.

Parts wear and parts break. They will need to be replaced to restore factory specifications. Know this going into any purchase, and understand where your watch can and cannot be repaired properly, and you’ll be OK. But expecting miracles to happen when even the most commonly replaced components are not available outside of Seiko themselves, is not realistic.

 

[Grammarofdesign]

I think we should both acknowledge that the list you provided (and Seiko so helpfully has shared with their affiliate, with not tech guide to show where they are actually used in the movement) would be absolutely useless in realistic, common repair circumstances for any mechanical movement. If you can’t get all of the parts for a given movement, the repair parameters will necessarily be compromised, by definition.

Parts wear and parts break. They will need to be replaced to restore factory specifications. Know this going into any purchase, and understand where your watch can and cannot be repaired properly, and you’ll be OK. But expecting miracles to happen when even the most commonly replaced components are not available outside of Seiko themselves, is not realistic.

Absolutely agree that the parts list is of small value without the tech sheet to show the part numbers in the schematic, but some are well described so that helps a lot, no ?

Plus once the watch is torn down if parts are shown to need replacing but what if all it needs is clean and lube then what's the worry? The OP hasn't even said what's indicating a need for a service. Maybe just needs to be cleaned and serviced and all the part might be good !

As long as we are acknowledging why not agree that if it's a listed part as shown from the Oceana screen grab/reformat pic then the big bad lion can be tamed with a special order? Ask any authorized Seiko parts dealer to do so (I think you are Noah, but if not, I am, so here to help).

Our OP here has not contacted SEIKO for fear of "200-300 Euro postage" which may be correct for all I know but there is no reason to be scared of sending an 8L35 watch for a full service to Seiko USA for $318 for goodness sake. Just take it to a Seiko Luxe or Prospex AD and hand it over to them and youse pays yours money if that's what it takes. I gave him the full service with new gasket price and spoon fed the Europe contact. Let's see how this plays out.

 

[rileynp]

Jon,
If you realistically look at the parts shown, you’ll see that they will be helpful in less than 5% of all standard repairs. Watchmakers are more often replacing train wheels, barrels and mainsprings, auto system wheels, and the like, not regulator parts or foot tubes for screws. There is no meat on those bones, it almost feels like a cruel joke to list what they do list. I struggle for an analogy, but maybe it’s like if a car company said to their dealers that they sold spare parts for their model A car, but only listed the little plastic grommets that hold the trim and carpet in place. Thanks, but I need an oil filter! Your wishful thinking that any modern watch just needs a cleaning is a bit like doing an car oil change without replacing the oil filter. May work OK afterwards, may not. But definitely not an ideal practice.
Personally, I don’t understand how a person providing service work could stand behind servicing an 8L35. Even with the hands of an angel that never make a mistake, and the luck of a saint that prohibits damage during the cleaning process, you are bound to come across worn pivots and the like, or even a broken/tired mainspring. What then, cross your fingers and ship it out the door? Repivot what is likely an $8 wheel? Substitute a “close enough” generic mainspring?
I think we both fundamentally agree that Seiko stands behind their higher-end products like 8L35-equipped watches, and have made it easy enough to receive service on them, through the factory. That Etienne wants an independent service provider to be able to carry out the same level of care just isn’t in Seiko’s service model currently, nor is it in most manufacturer’s practices.

 

[buddy13]

Thanks for your valid replies. Very insightful to read through them.

Yes, I have just found out that as you say, Seiko NL will be able to do the service on the 8L35. They will not require that I send it to Japan. Well it is only fair for us in EU, now that 8L35 powered watches are available new here. Even a plane ticket to NL through low cost airline should be easy to find.

You must understand that while you live in the US with many options that brings, I live on a miniscule island, cut out from any mainland, with only one Seiko AD. Though I do not want to take anything away from them, their knowledge and assistance is very limited, through my experience.

Noah, you are correct, it seems that every large watch manufacturer nowadays is not offering spares, in a move that will practically exclude all independents from working on said watch. As you say, I want the peace of mind that any parts that show wear are going to be replaced, and not hope that none will require replacement when I send it in.

The last Omega Service on my SMPc 2500D in Bienne resulted in many replaced parts, including some gears, escapement wheel and pallet fork for sure - from memory. Don't know if it's routine or because they were in fact worn out. It is now playing up again, and I am looking into sending it for it's second service next month (11 years - worn in rotation so am not very happy with it's reliability). It's starting and stopping, hard to start from stopped, not holding PR, acting erratically (but runs at +1-2 secs./day when it does run!). It is for some reason exhibiting the same 'stopping issue' as shown on the previous 2500C movement. It has tri level co-axial which should have solved that issue afaik.

It seems that the watch brands want to keep 'milking the cow' by forcing you to send your watch to them. I guess the same is being done in the car industry. I service my Triumph motorcycle diligently myself, but for the life of me cannot get that spanner (service required) icon to stop flashing without taking it to Triumph AD, who will not do it unless, he had in fact serviced it himself! So it's a vicious circle. At least, I can still find the consumables and spares required (for now).

My watch does not need service yet, but am just trying to put my mind at rest.

 

[buddy13]

@Grammarofdesign I need the below Seiko parts for my very well worn SBBN015 (7C46-0AC0). Can you confirm if they are correct and do you know of any sources where I can get them?

I have tried cousins, Ofrei, STS & a Japanese Prospex AD. None seem to have the majority. Thanks in advance.

Dual curved hardlex = 325W26HB0A
Shroud Screws (X3) = 8150 7109
Caseback gasket = 0C3060B0A
L-shape gasket = EZ3210B04
Bezel gasket = 0C3660B02
Bezel click spring = 8133 1949

 

[Grammarofdesign]

@Grammarofdesign I need the below Seiko parts for my very well worn SBBN015 (7C46-0AC0). Can you confirm if they are correct and do you know of any sources where I can get them?

I have tried cousins, Ofrei, STS & a Japanese Prospex AD. None seem to have the majority. Thanks in advance.

Dual curved hardlex = 325W26HB0A
Shroud Screws (X3) = 8150 7109
Caseback gasket = 0C3060B0A
L-shape gasket = EZ3210B04
Bezel gasket = 0C3660B02
Bezel click spring = 8133 1949

We do these sorts of communications by PM (or Conversations using this forum's tech speak).

PM Sent !

 

[georgelazenby]

I had my sbdx005 serviced in the UK at the seiko service centre. I was worried about parts availability too. The watch also needed gaskets, a new bezel spring.
The service centre charged £350 all in. The turnaround time was 5 weeks.