A Special Little Donkey Visits the Spa...
So, I picked this Seiko DX up off Flea Bay a few weeks ago. It has a date at 3 and the day (full word in English and Spanish) at 9. It's from May 1970 so it's even older than me!!
It was running, but not particularly well and the minute hand was very loose and not advancing as the watch ran. The case was a bit tired and in need of a spit & polish.
It has a 6106C movement which, unusually for Seikos of this age, has a hacking feature. Still no handwinding though.
I booked it in for a day at the Gasworks Spa.
I stripped the movement down and cleaned it all...
Then I reassembled the movement and oiled all the bits that need oiling (watch oils cost more than gold plated saffron)...
I had to repair the cannon pinion to sort the loose minute hand. It involves a pair of snips, an old oiler and a squeaky bum. Then it's clean the dial and hands, install a new crystal and put it all back together.
I decided to replace the rather poor (and Orient branded) milanese strap with an oil brown leather strap.
I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I usually sell the bits I refurbish but this one will be difficult to let go. It really needs a good home to go to.
I have a few other bits lined up to work on and I'm currently scouring the tinternet for a Bellmatic in need of some TLC. Watch this space.
Until next time gorgeous people..
A self-confessed Seikophile who spends far too much time looking at bits of watches under a microscope. Probably the finest restorer of vintage Seikos in my house. https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/gasworks
Stunning watch, well worth your efforts.
Shouldn't be difficult to find a Bellmatic, I have that search ping me every day and half of them need some attention. I'll get round to purchasing one towards the end of the year (in good condition!)
Wow that looks amazing, great work! 👍
Thank you Seiko Doctor 👨⚕️😜
Nice save.
Nice save.
Thank you Greg. I'll get to the Santa Fe at some point!!
That's a sweet watch,so glad you've given it the treatment. Looks awesome,top work again👍👍👍👍
Dam 🦫 👏👏👏
You should be a YouTube channel. Looks like a loving job you did 🫶
Are you a professional watch builder? You own a watch parts cleaning machine?
Love the watch. Is that pattern on the dial printed or a texture?
That linen dial looks great!
Dam 🦫 👏👏👏
You should be a YouTube channel. Looks like a loving job you did 🫶
Are you a professional watch builder? You own a watch parts cleaning machine?
Love the watch. Is that pattern on the dial printed or a texture?
Thank you.
No plans to do a YT channel. It would be mostly swearing. 🤣 If you like that sort of thing I recommended my good mate Joe, the Nekkid Watchmaker.
I'm not a professional, I work in the NHS so no high end cleaning machine. Just a decent ultrasonic cleaner and plenty of patience.
The watch has a light linen texture dial. They've fallen out of fashion a bit, but I think they're really lovely.
I am really diggin’ these early 70’s Seiko dials, indices, and handsets. The case on this ain’t bad either.
Good one, nice save.
As always, awesome work, bud! 🍻 The linen dial, crosshair, balanced day-date, and the indices/dauphine design is really cool. 😎
It was already a stunner from the start, what a beautiful gem this is! Awesome detailing and restoration.
Well done sir, Wonderful job! Always love to see another gem brought back to life.
Exceptional work. Bravo.
You've made an incredible job of it, as always. 👏
I just love how the indices, hands and dial compliment each other, and the strap you chose looks really lovely 👌
Nice job, as always. That textured dial is stunning. I understand if that is a keeper👌
Spot on!. Fantastic job. Keep at least a little while!
Fantastic work!
Please keep that beautiful piece or give it to honest, loving hands.
Great work! The strap fits it very well.
Terrific job as ever, love that linen dial!
You have excelled yourself with this one. I think you should keep it. If only so that I don't suffer angst deciding whether to put a bid in!
No, really worth keeping that one...
Looks great! I have a beat-up Bell-matic I'd be happy to send over, if you don't mind 2-tone.
Incredible work on a very unique piece!! Where'd you get the strap?