Inexpensive, relative to what watches can cost.


I have a Seiko Orange Monster that I bought in 2012. It was always a tad slow, losing 4-5 minutes a month. Not enough to fret over. A few years ago it got worse and worse, losing that or more a day. I researched how to adjust it and did, slowly over the course of two or more months. (you know, because they closer you get it, the longer it takes to show) I was happy.

Eventually I took it off and didn't wear in for a month or two. When I did wear it, it was suddenly fast. Very fast, gaining five or ten minutes an hour. Recent efforts haven't proved successful.

I could have it repaired, but I can't see spending $100-$175 or whatever to fix a $225 watch. I like it, but it has so sentimental value, so a brand new one (were I so inclined) would be just as good.

Is that the morm, spend 3/4 of the watches value every 5-7 years to get it serviced? Seems to me you quickly end up with the woodsman's axe.

Just wondering on the forums consensus, opinions, advice.



The old woodsman's axe; "I've owned that axe for 50 years. Sure it's had three new heads and twelve handles, but it's the best axe I've ever owned."

I would purchase something more reliable.

My rule of thumb for something like that is >50% of original cost, and there has been a significant change in technology or new gadget that I prefer then replace.

--K

I spent $140 to have my Seiko Orange Knight repaired and refurbished. It cost my $225 new. I like the watch and I don't see any other watches for less than $1,000 I like better, so it was worth it to me.

Could it have been magnetized? Try degaussing it first. That should be very inexpensive.

A simple regulation of the movement shouldn't be expensive, but the fact that the error is now different that it was before indicates something is broken.

The long and short of it is that it is hard to economically repair a watch in that price range. You can get a new one for $400, maybe less.

I recently went through this with a $500, 20 year old Movado. Hit $400 on repairs - polish watch and band, replace out of production gold dot in band, disassemble, clean, reassemble, front/back seals, and new sapphire. Even though it has sentimental value I decided against the woodsman's watch. I can replace it with new for $700 or repair/restore for $400. Got the battery replaced and left the rest, they said don't wear it in the rain and it should work. Hasn't lost any time yet.

He also cautioned me that the newer Movado watches use cheaper movements than the old ones which means I can't get as thin of one anymore. I hate it when something gets popular and they change it to make it cheaper and easier to produce then flood the market with crap.

quote:

I could have it repaired, but I can't see spending $100-$175 or whatever to fix a $225 watch.

What it cost originally really shouldn't be a factor. The issue is the cost to repair/clean etc... I have a Seiko diver that I bought a decade ago. When it stopped running I just stuck it in a box and forgot about it. I recently found it, dropped it at the local watch shop for a good cleaning and tune up for a cost of $125.00. Was it worth $125....yes, it was to me. I couldn't buy a watch for $125 that I like nearly as much. I have been wearing it quite a bit since and am glad I got her running again.

I feel better about that $125 spent on a relatively cheap watch than I do about the $500 it cost to have my Hublot serviced.

Sell it to stickman. He'll have it repaired and then show it off, making all us Seiko-junkies just a little bit envious.

The Orange Monster is assume and I would say it's worth a little trouble if it's otherwise in good shape. Put your watch next to a compass and see if it changes the direction the compass is pointing. That will show you if it has been magnetized. If not consider purchasing a new movement for about $50 and have a watchmaker replace it for about the same.

I have and wear daily, a watch that was made in the early 90’s for Pussers (a rum company). It has nautical flags on the dial for numbers (Spelling BN PUSSERS RUM) and is sentimental to me. My father and sister each got one on a trip to the Caribbean (St. John), and I was given mine a couple years later. Turns out, they stopped making/selling them - mine was one of three left in stock. I’ve had it for 25 years now, and will keep it going as long as possible.

Over the years, as with any daily worn watch, it has take a beating. I’ve replaced the crystal twice, and put a new movement in it about a year ago (water apparently got in when the first crystal replacement was done causing some rust in the movement).

I’ve certainly put more money into it over the years than it cost, and more than its worth according to the few I’ve seen come up on EBay. But I can’t get a new one, I love it, and frequently get nice comments on it as it is an unusual design. I’ll continue to maintain it as one as possible. If your watch has that kind of sentimental value to you, then the price of a repair really doesn’t matter.

Mechanical watches need periodic servicing every7-10yrs or so. Just part of the deal. You can buy another watch but you're still going to have to service it one day.

Here’s my opinion, because you asked!

Do you like the watch? Would you wear it a lot if its movement were running right?

Then sure, get it fixed. Losing five minutes a month wasn’t great but within range for that movement. Servicing should be factored into the lifetime cost of a watch. A Rolex OP might be $7000 out the door, but expect a grand or so every five to seven years.

With a Seiko, a service likely means a whole replacement movement. So you’ll get one whose positional variance could be drastically different than the one in there right now (the recent downturn notwithstanding).

In short, if you like it, you can get it running again for less than the cost of a whole new watch. If the case and other parts are worn down, I’d let it die a natural death.

Great karma, add me!

If you wear a watch that's running fast you'll live longer

I own two Seiko monsters I bought many years ago. One is in mint condition and one is in need of repair.
Depending on what model you have it might be worth repairing/servicing.
If you look them up on Chrono 24 and ebay the price has gone up quite a bit in the last few years.

While I’m not a big fan of Seiko I get what your asking. To jhe888 point about magnetization maybe spot on. Others here have fixed them economically. I have an inexpensive Hamilton I wear a lot. It is sub $500 I would probably replace it. I have other expensive watches that I service. Watches require service over time.
There are others here that know watches and movements.
https://www.60clicks.com/ultim...er-collectors-guide/
If you like the watch see how cheaply you can fix it. If not, if not it owes you nothing.

You might want to send it to a Seiko Repair center for evaluation and estimate.

I thought my citizen was kaput. I sent it in to a citizen watch repair center. I wanted an estimate. I bought it maybe in 2010. Turns out they fixed it for free and it only cost me the postage to send it in.

I have a watch collection. One of my favourites is an Ebel Sports Wave 22 automatic. After just six years the stem winder thread gave up the ghost, and refused to engage. I sent it off to the main Ebel and everything fixer in nearby Norfolk for a quote to repair.

Back came the quote - $885.38 + 20% VAT.

Nowadays I don't bother trying to screw the winder in - nobody notices anyhow.

quote:

Originally posted by Kranky:
I would purchase something more reliable.

My rule of thumb for something like that is >50% of original cost, and there has been a significant change in technology or new gadget that I prefer then replace.

--K

7 years with a machine beating 28,000 times per hour in a waterproof case on your wrist telling the time, day and date. All for $200.

$2 a month. And that's using todays prices. He bought it for under $200 back then. Reliable enough in my book.

I'd judge by the case condition, but honestly, why not try a new color or look at this point?

quote:

Originally posted by darthfuster:
If you wear a watch that's running fast you'll live longer

lol