Seiko 0514-9990 - the first digital watch from Seiko
Oct 20, 2018 0:06:17 GMT -8
jim1963, russtmurray, and 5 more like this
Post by rossr on Oct 20, 2018 0:06:17 GMT -8
A Seiko 0514 came up for auction on YJ, and I decided to take a punt on it. Other than the non-working one still up for sale on YJ for a ridiculous price, this this is the only one I’ve ever seen for sale. The seller’s pictures did it no favours. But it is a model of historical significance, so I gave it a go - and it became mine. When it arrived, I could see that it wasn’t in such bad shape. Yes, the panel has some bleeding, but really, it could be worse. But it was sold as non-working.
Off went the (screw) caseback, and a battery was there in place, with no evidence of leakage. The module - one side of it at least - looks great.
The inside of the caseback also shows a service/battery-change history.
The (original) bracelet is an integrated-type, fixing on to an external casing ring.
A SR44W was in place. I didn’t have one handy, but I did have a SR43W equivalent (a 386), so in it went. It fit a little better with the thinner battery, as the clamping spring was previously very tight. Caseback on.
And....life.
The minute-setting (middle) button is very sticky (I’ll have a look at that) but seems to work. The hour button and the light button are fine. Note that this model, and its sibling 0524, pre-date the 0614 series by 6 months or so. There are some references to this model that date them to early 1973, but the year/month stamp on this piece, December 1972, prove that they were at least manufactured in ‘72. These are really uncommon. I think I was very fortunate to get this, and a working one too. There has been plenty written about the 06LC - for good reason too - but almost nothing about the almost forgotten 05LC series.
Regards,
Ross
Off went the (screw) caseback, and a battery was there in place, with no evidence of leakage. The module - one side of it at least - looks great.
The inside of the caseback also shows a service/battery-change history.
The (original) bracelet is an integrated-type, fixing on to an external casing ring.
A SR44W was in place. I didn’t have one handy, but I did have a SR43W equivalent (a 386), so in it went. It fit a little better with the thinner battery, as the clamping spring was previously very tight. Caseback on.
And....life.
The minute-setting (middle) button is very sticky (I’ll have a look at that) but seems to work. The hour button and the light button are fine. Note that this model, and its sibling 0524, pre-date the 0614 series by 6 months or so. There are some references to this model that date them to early 1973, but the year/month stamp on this piece, December 1972, prove that they were at least manufactured in ‘72. These are really uncommon. I think I was very fortunate to get this, and a working one too. There has been plenty written about the 06LC - for good reason too - but almost nothing about the almost forgotten 05LC series.
Regards,
Ross
