Vintage Seiko collecting - not a cheap hobby?

I agree on all points but.............there is still the occasional bargain about(even on the TF).

Spares are going up in price as they get scarcer thats for sure especially NOS.

Often better to pick up a "donor" but then the "donor" can be nice so you don't part it out so you have to look for another "donor" and so it goes on

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SEIKO-Autom...7U10oXazgnBGOqRWF4RGo%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Definitely an expensive hobby especially if you collect only original examples in mint/nos condition.

Ok,collecting Rolex or Omegas is still way more expensive though

I hate buying a donor as well then getting it and thinking that as you said its way too good to part out, so I keep it and then the hunt goes on to find other spares, expensive yes its getting that way, i keep promising the wife that i will sell some of my modded seikos when they are all finished, but the trouble is I mod them to my tastes and not on a commercial resale taste so selling the finished products will be hard but a*mustbif im to afford more spares etc

If one can do some work themselves it helps big time!

Doug

Finding parts will become more difficult as time goes on which will drive prices higher. Over the past year or so I have been on the hunt for 6139's and 6138's. I have owned a 6139-6015 which I purchased new in the 70's and have recently sent it out for a "complete overhaul" and it came back to me like new! Fantastic restoration. If I were to sell this watch I would have to expect a minimum of $600 to $700 which would be a very realistic price for a premium 6139. Things such as this will drive prices higher and higher. On the flip side I have just recently purchased a 6138-0049 from a local fellow (one owner) that has been sitting in the original Seiko box with all the paperwork for about 30 years after he received a Rolex from his wife. I bought it at a very reasonable price but will be sending it in for a complete overhaul which will add to the price in a big way. Yes, it can become costly!

its all relative. Collecting Patek Philippe is possibly more expensive.
aslo for those of you with a good collection already the increasing prices are good for those of us who don't not so good its all relative

Collecting Seikos must be cheap as I can afford it.

Seriously though for me its a trickle of cash going out over a period of time that I can afford. But when you take the time to total up how much its all worth, there comes the shock.

pollyc said:

Collecting Seikos must be cheap as I can afford it.

Seriously though for me its a trickle of cash going out over a period of time that I can afford. But when you take the time to total up how much its all worth, there comes the shock.

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Agree

IMO it is wise to "harvest" when ever the opportunity arises, check this 7A out, either repair or part out, if parting out look at the range of spares that you can harvest, CB, coils, plate, stem, hands, dial, C clips, bracelet links etc etc.

It is often all about spares

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261619061396?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

It's the fact that nice examples are hard to come by, the number of people willing to touch them are thin, parts are hard to find/only obtainable via scavenging, and that the majority are butchered in SE Asia which is wearing me thin...

It's gotten to the point where I'm weary of wearing my restored examples because I won't be able to find replacement parts if need be

For instance, everyone goes nuts over the 6309 704x, but no one bats an eye over the 729x... I haven't stumbled upon a single, all original one

Perhaps I should take a break and diversify (lots of 50s/60s Omegas and Hamiltons are catching my eye)

I'm lucky enough to be interested in models that don't seem to have the biggest following so I still find the occasional deal. It's still a much cheaper hobby than collecting most of the vintage Swiss brands, though.

It starts out as a relatively cheap hobby.......then you get hooked

Pick ups like this come in handy, you often end up with stuff you will never use but I wanted a Belle crystal and the 6105 stems always come in handy plus there might be something else i need in there.

All helps to keep the cost down

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321547470364?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Probably would help if I could DIY, but I'm always weary of breaking parts removing and installing them

It's as cheap or as expensive as you want to make it...you can have an awesome collection of watches you picked up under $50 each, or you can pay the same $50 for a part.
To me that's the beauty of this hobby, anyone can get in, it's up to you how far you take it.

Rob

GarageBoy said:

Probably would help if I could DIY, but I'm always weary of breaking parts removing and installing them

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Being able to restore your own watches is a definite plus and adds a whole new dimension to the hobby. Like with anything, you start off with a few tools and do the simple stuff.........then gradually work your way up as your knowledge and skills develop.

It's 'win-win', as you not only save money in the long run, but you also gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the watches too. Makes a watch feel a lot more personal as well.

ncb123 said:

It starts out as a relatively cheap hobby.......then you get hooked

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A wiser truth has never been spoken.

I started out wanting to collect only the professional divers (I've gotten pretty far) but have detoured into the sport diver world. Needless to say, it's gotten expensive due to quantity, but there is simply no other brand where one could amass such a great variety of creative pieces for so little money. Is service cheap vs the cost/value of the watch? No, but I buy pieces with "good bones" and the joy of getting one back that's ready for the next 20 years gives me joy. Collecting Seikos is my favorite diversion outside of my family so I consider that to be a cheap/worthwhile hobby.