Review of three Seiko watches

LET'S START with the oldest first -- the one my father gave me. The case serial number indicates it was made in February 1958 or 1968, and I'd plump for '58 as being closer to the mark. It's typical of much of the Seiko product of that era - sturdy stainless steel case (all polished), 17-jewel automatic movement (cal. 7625E) with date at 3 o'clock, and centre seconds. The movement beats at a relaxed 18,000 vph, and has diashock shock protection and bi-directional rotor winding complete with the normal loud Seiko death-rattle as the winding wheels do their stuff. There's no money been wasted in decorating the movement -- just a matte grey nickel finish.

The dial is typically Japanese too -- after 40 years it shows no signs of ageing whatsoever (unlike me). (For some reason the Swiss just don't seem able to achieve this sort of immaculate dial longevity -- at least, not with their cheaper models.) It's silver-satin finished with a sunburst pattern, with applied stick markers that perfectly match the (rhodium plated?) sword-shaped hands. There is no luminous material.

The dial is topped by a very vintage, very rounded acrylic crystal that incorporates an internal magnifier over the date window. I don't think that's original -- I think Dad had that done specially (apparently it can be done by burnishing a depression into the inside of the crystal. CAUTION: Kids, don't try this at home. Leave it to the professionals.)

Interestingly, the dial design is not that dissimilar to an early Seiko Men Watch, although I think the similarity stops there.

The circular 3-piece case has a snap-on back (with no sealing gasket), and is of modern appearance with a decent sized 36.5mm diameter. Most of this is taken up by the dial as the bezel is narrow. Lug width (or 'interhorn width' as Breitling so elegantly puts it) is 19mm, with the overall distance between the lug ends being 43.5mm. The watch is 13mm thick and has a pleasing heft, but is relatively light (at 90 grams on the kitchen scales) and comfortable to wear. No water-resistance is claimed.

The crown is recessed into the case at 4 o'clock to give a hidden effect. It freewheels in the recessed position, also does nothing at the first detent, and moves the hands when pulled out to the second detent. Wind the mainspring it does not, no matter how hard you try. The movement is non-hacking but can be made to stop with steady backwards pressure on the hands.

The date change takes place between 11pm and 11.55pm, and is 'semi-quickset' in that it can be changed by moving the hands backwards and forwards between 2am and 10pm.

On the wrist the watch looks good (imho) and performs well. I don't know when it was last serviced (probably never), but it's running consistently to within 15 seconds a day. As soon as you pick it up it starts, as if eager to start measuring off the hours. You only hear the winding noise when you swing the watch near your ear, and then it sounds like a soccer rattle, followed by that distinctive sound as the rotor settles jerkily and quickly into position. This isn't a fault -- most rotors seem to do this rather than (as I had once imagined) spinning freely for ages before gradually slowing down. I imagine it's caused by the load placed on the rotor by the winding mechanism.

The Seiko didn't get much airtime from my father after my mother bought him an Omega Seamaster as an anniversary present about 30 years ago. The fact that he kept it all those years bears testimony to the high regard in which he held it. I know the feeling.

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