Any watch experts?

[edro]

Here is a pic of one.
Mine isn't in as good condition, but still looks great.

I found it in my dad's garage. He said he doesn't know where it came from. After I looked up info about them, they were made in the 1970s and 1980s and got popular in the Asian US Military bases, because they were stupid cheap for American soldiers, just because they were paying with USD$. Apparently, they are known for their amazing durability and perfect time keeping. They are kinetic, or whatever that is when the watch needs motion to stay in tune.

Sooo... Mine needs a new band, and I would like to get an original looking band for it. eBay doesn't have any. The whole watch, in good condition is going from $100-$200 on eBay.

I think it looks pretty sweet, so I wanna get it going good and wear it.

It keeps time, but not very accurately. Some days it is fast, some days it is slow. I am guessing that it set in a box in the garage for about 10 years or so, judging by the dust on it. So I am also guessing that it needs to be worn for a while to get it wound back up, so it can keep time consistantly.

Anyone know where to get a band? Any Seiko retailer? Is it a specific band? How about getting it checked out and maybe re-worked. You think any local watch shops would work on it? I don't really want to send it back to Seiko and have them tell me it is gonna cost $100 to get it re-furbed.

Any tips?

Ok, this is one long ass post about a stupid watch I found...

 

[MaxDSP]

Paging DonVito...

 

[AndrewR]

I would just contact Seiko if I were you. Japanese companies are typically good about supporting their products, and I wouldn't be surprised to find out that they could at least point you in the right direction.

Oh, and by the way, the watchband on that picture looks almost exactly like my current watchband -- on a Seiko Solar Diver which I bought last year. My guess it that the band is the same or very nearly so.

 

[edro]

bump

 

[orakle]

ttt for seiko

 

[ThisIsMatt]

what's wrong with the band?

 

[toant103]

a new band would run about $25. If your watch is not keeping time, i suggest you bring it to a watch store and get it service. They will need to do a clean and overhaul. But i think they will charged you like $125. Well, that's how much my store would charge.

And the watch is not Kinetic, it's automatic. But the watch you have is the good kind, they don't make em like they use to

 

[PowerMacG5]

It may actually be cheaper to replace it, but if you would like to keep it for sentimental reasons (or any other), than bring it to a qualified watchmaker. A watchmaker is someone qualified to work on mechanical watches (and can make them, hence the name).

Also, you may want to consider not wearing it until you get it fixed. Because it has been sitting by your guestimate of 10 yrs, all the oil is probably dried up. This will cause an excess of friction on the gears (why you see such drastic time changes), and will end up costing more to repair.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: toant103
a new band would run about $25. If your watch is not keeping time, i suggest you bring it to a watch store and get it service. They will need to do a clean and overhaul. But i think they will charged you like $125. Well, that's how much my store would charge.

And the watch is not Kinetic, it's automatic. But the watch you have is the good kind, they don't make em like they use to

Don't be so sure on the cost estimate for a Seiko band. While it is plastic, Seiko has a reputation for charging outrageous prices for its parts. I had a watch back in college (Seiko) that had its metal band shorn off by a frisbee (freak accident). All told, the watch was $175, but when I took it to a very reputable watch repair place, he said the band would be $75, which floored me. Awesome watch, but that annoyed me. I wound up (no pun intended) getting a band from WalMart for $5.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

The 6309 is a classic (though they are not especially rare), and well worth fixing. It sounds like it needs a full service from a qualified watchmaker, though. If the case/crystal are beat up as well, you might want to send it to someone like IWW, who can take care of that and service the movement as well.

Be aware that servicing that watch will probably run $70-150, and you can get a modern, comparable replacement (say, a Seiko SKX007) for around $100. I would still service yours, if it were me, because of its sentimental value, and the fact that it will hold its value or even appreciate somewhat over time.

As for the strap, I've never been that enamored with the strap that came stock on the 6309s, and I would just put it on a NATO strap instead - they're better-looking (IMO), more comfortable (especially in hot weather) and durable, and have the collateral benefit that, if one of your spring bars (the spring-loaded pins that secure your strap to the watch head) breaks, you won't lose the watch.