Seiko Quartz watch that doesn't work: Trash?
Joshua GrilletThe history of the quartz watch
Yes ladies and gentlemen, we can maintain a quartz movement! Of course there are quartz watches and quartz watches!
The quartz watch appeared in Tokyo on December 25, 1960. This was the birth of the Astron by Seiko. 100 copies with a gold case at the sweet price of ¥450,000, a brand new Toyota Corolla at that time.
Since that day and the upheaval it produced in the watch industry, quartz technology has continued to improve and become more and more accessible. In my opinion, the golden age which generally combines reliability and affordable price is the late 70s and early 80s at Seiko. Quality watches for everyone!
How does a quartz watch work?
If you want to understand everything about this technology, no one explains it better than Romain from the Elégance & Précision blog here "How a quartz watch works"
Welcome to the LumeVille virtual workshop!
Grab a chair and a magnifying glass, today we are going to take care of a Seiko SilverWave Quartz, a model that I really like!
Today's subject is a 7546-6050 reserved for the Japanese market which can be found in the 1978 catalog at the top left.
First sightings of the vintage Seiko
The copy on the workbench really needs some care! This watch has been worn out and the movement does not work. The second hand is hesitant but does not move, this is a crucial indicator of the fault: the cog is blocked by old oil or debris.
Program of the day:
- Glass replacement
- Repair of the bezel
- Movement revision
Ahead !
Glass replacement
We dismantle all the trim parts and clean them with ultrasound. There is a lot of people !
The glass is stuck between the bezel and a ring, an atypical construction in the watchmaking world but classic for Seiko at that time. The new glass is in place, we press.
The dial ring or "chapter ring" is installed in the middle, the whole thing can be installed.
Repair of the bezel
The paint on the inscriptions has disappeared. To our brushes!
Satisfying, isn't it?
Movement revision
Take your screwdriver and your tweezers, let's take it apart.
If you have followed the theoretical part of the link above, you will easily find the stator and the rotor.
All the mechanical parts are washed and then reassembled with the appropriate oiling. We install a new battery and there...
Miracle ! The movement comes out of its deep coma.
Final result
Conclusion
Quartz is a superb technology that is often snubbed, yet the advantages are there:
- The finesse of the movement and the watch in general
- Shock resistance
- The precision
- Less expensive and more frequent maintenance
Of course, the Seiko 7546 movement is not particularly beautiful because that is not its purpose, but some manufacturers have played the game:
I think that the world of vintage Quartz has not yet been explored enough by watch enthusiasts and that there are still many beautiful pieces to discover. A universe under the radar and today is the time to take an interest in it, tomorrow it may be too late...
You can find our SilverWave for sale here: "Seiko SilverWave Diver JDM 7546-6050 from 1978"
Take care of your vintage watches, they deserve it.
You can find the other blog articles here: Blog
You can also find a selection of vintage watches here: Vintage Watches
Joshua Grillet
Founder of LumeVille and watchmaker
