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Post by archimark on Aug 4, 2020 7:09:23 GMT -8
Greetings, New to this forum. Someone on another non-watch forum referred me to this one. Hope someone can please advise regarding my old Seiko SQ watch. On backside has number 8123-7059 with 'A4' next to it. I bought it brand new on a trip to South America, way back in summer 1971, in Brazil. Wore it a lot and around 1985, I had it serviced, cleaned at a local watch repair shop in California. May have done this one more time. Somewhere around 2005 or so, watch stopped running. Watch shop was gone by then, so, put watch in a drawer. Recently, noticed the watch and thought it would be great to get it working again and cleaned up, if possible. Found the US Seiko Service Center online. It says they can fix (replace ?) the movement. However, in reading reviews about the Service Center, there's a lot of horror stories posted by people about the poor service and lack of customer service there. I know that people that are upset with a service are much more likely to post than people that are content with a service. So, hard to gauge what the real situation with them is. However, does make me nervous to send watch to them. Posting some photos of watch here. You can see there's a scratch on crystal and the hour/minutes paint turned brown, and back side of case is dirty. Also, maybe it's obvious, but just in case, the band is not the original band with links. Would you suggest I send watch to Seiko Service Center to get fixed or other place? If other place, any suggestions? Or just put the watch back in the drawer? Thanks for any and all input! Mark Silicon Valley, CA
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camrok
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Post by camrok on Aug 4, 2020 14:00:49 GMT -8
Hi Mark. Welcome. You may be lucky and a simple battery change will get it running. worth a try, if you want you could do it yourself with what’s called a jaxa watch case opener on eBay. If your concerned and would like someone to review it for a full restore with glass, hands and get it running, I am sure someone will chip in when they wake up about some reliable repairers close or by mail.
There are enough parts of these watches floating around to restore it pretty easily.
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Post by archimark on Aug 4, 2020 14:19:13 GMT -8
Thanks for your input, camrok.
As far as I know, the watch is the self-winding type, ie, no battery.....
As you say, will be great if someone can provide guidance regarding either DIY repair or doing the work for me.
Best,
Mark
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camrok
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Post by camrok on Aug 4, 2020 14:29:49 GMT -8
Thanks for your input, camrok. As far as I know, the watch is the self-winding type, ie, no battery..... As you say, will be great if someone can provide guidance regarding either DIY repair or doing the work for me. Best, Mark The 8123 movement is most definitely quartz and will need a battery The SQ on the dial stands for Seiko Quartz. Here’s where I stole the pic from. www.flickr.com/photos/russell_w_b/4223191144On the plus side it will be cheaper to repair than an automatic.
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Post by archimark on Aug 4, 2020 14:58:07 GMT -8
THANKS for the pic and info. All very helpful!
Between it being around 20 years or so since I last had watch serviced and that I always had a watch shop service the watch, I didn't remember it having a battery. Unlike my more recent watches that I've been able to open up and replace batteries.
Seiko website says it charges $154 for the 'movement service', assuming they have parts....so, dealing with crystal and hands would be extra I assume....
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Fergus
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Post by Fergus on Aug 4, 2020 18:47:46 GMT -8
Hi Mark,
15 years untouched with a battery installed you may have to expect bad news when it is opened. Especially if the button cell is of poor quality. A leaked cell can cause much damage to electrical and mechanical parts.
Either way even if a new battery does bring it back to life the movement should be serviced (disassembled, cleaned and oiled). If you have to buy a complete watch for spares you should understand it too will require servicing.
I’m sure a member in your country will assist your quest.
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Post by archimark on Aug 4, 2020 19:38:10 GMT -8
Hi Don,
THANK YOU so much for your input.
Understand about battery, leakage, associated damage, and need for maintenance.
Hopefully, can find a way to reasonably get this ol' watch in good shape.
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Fergus
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Post by Fergus on Aug 4, 2020 20:14:54 GMT -8
Coincidentally just yesterday I wore one of my early SQ's A clean, new crystal and service transforms and old watch.
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Post by archimark on Aug 4, 2020 20:43:18 GMT -8
Nice!
Thanks for sharing.....
Sure reminds of my watch in its better days....
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Post by archimark on Aug 5, 2020 19:50:14 GMT -8
Anyone have any more suggestions for fixing the watch?
Thanks,
Mark
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Fergus
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Post by Fergus on Aug 6, 2020 0:54:29 GMT -8
Hi Mark,
Some peps don't log in every day so it might take a while to get help. I am sure someone will eventually help even to look inside and maybe pop a battery in.
Had I been over your side of the pond I would have offered help but sending it waaayyyyyy over here is not cost effective.
DJ
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Post by archimark on Aug 6, 2020 4:43:10 GMT -8
Hi Don,
Thanks for explaining....understand....
I'll try to be patient....and keep busy with other things in meantime...
Best,
Mark
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pip
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Post by pip on Aug 6, 2020 5:01:03 GMT -8
Hi, popping her open to see the condition would help a lot, if you posted some pics of what you find maybe you’ll get a some more comments. You infer that you have done a battery change before so may know how to open a caseback but if not I’d suggest a quick trip to YouTube. Hope this helps.
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Post by archimark on Aug 6, 2020 6:00:56 GMT -8
Hi pip,
THANKS for your input!
I've never opened the watch....
As mentioned in original post, I brought watch to a watch repair shop to clean and service once or twice.
Looks like I need to get the tool mentioned by camrok to open up the case.....will check that out....
Speaking of tools....hope it's OK ask here.....
I've got another watch, Columbia (43mm across), that needed a battery. Pried open case back with a knife and changed battery. Tried pressing case back on, but no go....tried multiple times...even tried with another person, so, pressing with 4 thumbs on back and it still wouldn't go in.
Have done this successfully many times before on other watches of mine and my wife.
Is there a technique and/or tool available for pressing the back on safely?
Thanks,
Mark
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pip
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Post by pip on Aug 6, 2020 6:10:41 GMT -8
Yes, it's called a press and some casebacks are stubborn enough to need them. You could try putting it caseback side down on a hard surface and putting your weight on it, sometimes works. But bear in mind you can end up bending the caseback or breaking the crystal. In any case, I suspect that you are not greasing/replacing the caseback gaskets so you're storing up trouble for the future. Can I respectfully suggest that you either engage someone to do this stuff for you or you do a bit of reading up? There are lots of good books out there, I'd recommend maybe starting with something like Watch Repairing as a Hobby by Fletcher. It's fascinating and addictive is watch repair and you can end up spending more on tools than you do on watches!
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Post by archimark on Aug 6, 2020 6:22:21 GMT -8
THANK YOU, pip, for all the helpful advice.....understand your points.... Wouldn't mind sending my watch to someone to fix, if I knew the right person and they won't take forever to do the work...but in meantime, starting to get the idea that I could probably do the work myself, with right tools, parts, and some input. I'm pretty handy mechanically, just never worked on watches, other than changing batteries on simple watches. Have already started realizing a lot more about watches by reading some posts on this forum and your and others posts here... Will look for the Fletcher book.... Would one of these kits be a good start? www.ebay.com/itm/Watch-Repair-tool-Kit-Case-Press-XL-Case-Opener-Case-Holder-Spring-Bar-Tool/230949033571www.ebay.com/itm/21-PCS-Watch-Repair-Tool-Kit-Case-Opener-Spring-Bar-Tool-Hand-Remover-with-Case/380843384068?Best, Mark
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Post by archimark on Aug 7, 2020 8:07:13 GMT -8
Also, forgot to ask what the various numbers on back of watch mean.
8123-7059 [A4]
8123 = caliber on Seiko website.
Is caliber relate to size/style of watch or movement type?
7059 = ?
A4 = ?
Thanks for input.
Mark
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Fergus
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Post by Fergus on Aug 7, 2020 8:19:59 GMT -8
Also, forgot to ask what the various numbers on back of watch mean. 8123-7059 [A4] 8123 = caliber on Seiko website. Is caliber relate to size/style of watch or movement type? 7059 = ? A4 = ? Thanks for input. Mark 8123 = movement number/type 7059 = model number and geographical location of issue. 9 at the end often refers to the Americas. 0 = Europe and others.
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pip
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Post by pip on Aug 7, 2020 8:36:59 GMT -8
Those cheap toolsets are rubbish I'm afraid but will get you going until you realise they are rubbish and replace it all! We've all been there and we all started with some cheap tools before falling down the expensive rabbit hole of doing things properly. But don't spend a fortune on tools until you know it's an area of the hobby you want to follow. I've just thought of a good direction to send you in: Mike_B who is latterly of these shores, is a good teacher of beginner watchmakers having gotten into it in a huge way when he joined this forum. He has got loads of instructional material together as well as many YouTube videos. Can't think of a much better place to start than with him. He's 'one of us' and a really nice bloke too! You can find his website at myretrowatches.com/And case code 8123-7059 [A4] 8123 is the calibre which is another word for movement. Many different looking watches will have the same movement. Like you could get several different Fords with the same engine, like a 2litre turbo 7059 is the case/dial/hand combination so it is what it looks like. The model of Ford if you like. A4 is just a material code for the case iirc.
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Post by archimark on Aug 7, 2020 9:11:07 GMT -8
Thanks as always, pip, for your very helpful advice and watch info!
Agree that buying poor quality tools, is ultimately a waste.
Thanks for the suggestion about Mike_B...will check out his website and videos.
Definitely think I'm starting to fall down the watch rabbit hole.....
not the first one I've fallen into...but certainly watches are a fun one.
Best,
Mark
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