The Downside of Vintage

My fellow watch nerds, I picked up my watch only to find out that there are no more parts to fix it!!๐Ÿ˜ญ I knew the risk with vintage pieces but never thought it would happen (silly I know). This watch is very special to me so I'm a little bummed. Looks like this one will be permanently in the box from now on.๐Ÿ˜”

Reply
ยท

Not necessarily done. ย 

You can search around there may be some parts stashed somewhere. ย You can also look for a parts watch to cannibalize to get the part you need. ย It can work, but it is usually not the cheapest option.

ยท

It took me about 10 seconds to find out that this is an "Age of Discovery" perpetual calendar from around 1990. In another five seconds I found a guy on a Seiko site that fully restored one 14 months ago.

Don't give up quite yet. Let the internet be your friend.

ยท
SurferJohn

Not necessarily done. ย 

You can search around there may be some parts stashed somewhere. ย You can also look for a parts watch to cannibalize to get the part you need. ย It can work, but it is usually not the cheapest option.

But there is hope and that's all that matters! I'll do some digging around!

ยท
Aurelian

It took me about 10 seconds to find out that this is an "Age of Discovery" perpetual calendar from around 1990. In another five seconds I found a guy on a Seiko site that fully restored one 14 months ago.

Don't give up quite yet. Let the internet be your friend.

IT IS POSSIBLE THEN!! THANK YOU!!

ยท

I was wondering if there would be some quick responses from our esteemed colleges to say otherwise...๐Ÿ˜‰

ยท
Angles

IT IS POSSIBLE THEN!! THANK YOU!!

Seiko forums are filled with folks who can work all sorts of black magic.

ยท

I have an age of discovery, worn but ok condition but not working, thanks!

ยท
Aurelian

Seiko forums are filled with folks who can work all sorts of black magic.

I'll definitely be taking a look there๐Ÿ™

ยท
Angles

I'll definitely be taking a look there๐Ÿ™

https://www.thewatchsite.com/threads/fully-restored-seiko-age-of-discovery-quartz-perpetual-calendar-6m13-0010.343840/

ยท

With Seikos the first 4 digits of the reference number on the caseback relate to the movement & the 2nd 4 to the style of case. This watch uses the 6M13 movement. It took me 12.673 seconds to find this example on Ebay, link below.....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185621563671?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=4IzP9GsaQ-S&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=uQ_Pitz3Tc6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

ยท

Not so fast my friend, try( grand central watch ) they have many parts for all vintage watchesย 

ยท
Asmara82

Not so fast my friend, try( grand central watch ) they have many parts for all vintage watchesย 

Thank you!

ยท
Warrior75

With Seikos the first 4 digits of the reference number on the caseback relate to the movement & the 2nd 4 to the style of case. This watch uses the 6M13 movement. It took me 12.673 seconds to find this example on Ebay, link below.....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185621563671?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=4IzP9GsaQ-S&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=uQ_Pitz3Tc6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Amazing! Thanks ๐Ÿ™

ยท

I hope this turns out well, but a perpetual calendar and vintage is booze and pills. You're really compounding your risk by doing this. I'm staying in the kiddie pool with three-handers.ย 

ยท
PoorMansRolex

I hope this turns out well, but a perpetual calendar and vintage is booze and pills. You're really compounding your risk by doing this. I'm staying in the kiddie pool with three-handers.ย 

Fair but I couldn't resist the siren call๐Ÿคท

ยท

With Seiko you don't have to be worried about watch repairs. With zeiko everything is possible. You'll find a guy who can fix this watch soon. Just dig a bit more on Internet.ย 

ยท
PoorMansRolex

I hope this turns out well, but a perpetual calendar and vintage is booze and pills. You're really compounding your risk by doing this. I'm staying in the kiddie pool with three-handers.ย 

โ€œBooze and pillsโ€? ย You make it sound so temptingโ€ฆ

ยท

Good luck on your restoration efforts. IMHO, what you need is a talented watch maker who can make the necessary parts if they canโ€™t be located. My local watch maker did this very thing for a client, not me, I just happened to be in the shop when the return was made. Unfortunately he retired just before Covid. I miss โ€œmyโ€ watchmaker. ๐Ÿฅฒ

PS: If quartz, they should be able to do a complete swap of movement, similar to putting a new engine in a car. Remember, there are still moving pieces in a quartz movement so....

ยท

Move to Japan, enroll in watch making school, take internship at Seiko and then a job there, make your own parts and restore this beauty. Or spend more time on internet to find the watchmaker who can.ย 

ยท

Is it working now? Or you just want parts for safety?

ยท

From my experience quality vintage quartz movements can be easily fixed. It just takes time and curiosity to find the right parts and the right watchmaker.

Here is my 1980 Eterna Kontiki before repair.ย 
Still incredibly accurate today and a joy to wear.

The cost of repair was very low.

As you can see on the second picture the problem was that the battery had been put upside down causing the ic to die.

Image
Image
ยท

That watch is a work of art. It makes sense that it has a quartz movement. ย Can you imagine the hassle of frequently setting the time on a mechanical? ย Good luck!ย 

ยท

Snazzy watch. ย 

ยท
mjosamannen

Is it working now? Or you just want parts for safety?

It's working now but not very well. Looking for parts for safety and until then, in the box.ย 

ยท
ckim4watches

That watch is a work of art. It makes sense that it has a quartz movement. ย Can you imagine the hassle of frequently setting the time on a mechanical? ย Good luck!ย 

Haha, that would be a headache! Thank you!๐Ÿ™

ยท
Slnr29

From my experience quality vintage quartz movements can be easily fixed. It just takes time and curiosity to find the right parts and the right watchmaker.

Here is my 1980 Eterna Kontiki before repair.ย 
Still incredibly accurate today and a joy to wear.

The cost of repair was very low.

As you can see on the second picture the problem was that the battery had been put upside down causing the ic to die.

Image
Image

Lovely watch! Thanks to everyone here I'm very confident it will be fixed just like yours ๐Ÿ’™

ยท
StevieC54

Good luck on your restoration efforts. IMHO, what you need is a talented watch maker who can make the necessary parts if they canโ€™t be located. My local watch maker did this very thing for a client, not me, I just happened to be in the shop when the return was made. Unfortunately he retired just before Covid. I miss โ€œmyโ€ watchmaker. ๐Ÿฅฒ

PS: If quartz, they should be able to do a complete swap of movement, similar to putting a new engine in a car. Remember, there are still moving pieces in a quartz movement so....

That's insane! Hopefully there are others like him and I'll keep an eye out, all my future watch problems would be gone with a talented person like that๐Ÿ˜†

ยท
nightfury95

The watch looks in great condition. What do you need to get fixed?

I believe it was the motor itself since nothing lines up anymore. Date is no longer centered, hour hand no longer hitting the hour on the hour (when it was exactly 12, hour hand would be past the 12), and the same issue would occur in other functionsย 

ยท
stafford

If you are hunting for a specific part:

Here is a list of the 10 or so models that use the 6M13 movement

Figure out which one is yours using the 2nd set of four digits mentioned in a comment above and click.

There is a list of case parts in addition to the movement by part number. If it's not in stock at least you know what you're googling for ๐Ÿ˜œ

Thank you!๐Ÿ™

ยท

Thank you๐Ÿป