Seiko Alpinist Service
My Seiko Alpinist needs a service as it is keeping poor time and sometimes stops and starts again after a jolt. I contacted Seiko service centre to enquire about the cost of a service and what kind of service they do.
I was informed that it would cost £200 for a service as they would have to replace the movement, the gaskets and the watch would be ultra sonic cleaned.
I feel that it does not need a replacement movement and can easily be repaired with just a service. A new movement seems like a waste to me and defeats the purpose of buying a mechanical watch.
I would like to hear other people's thoughts on this. Do you think it's a good idea to have a replacement movement installed or should I go somewhere else for a service?
In the UK I was also considering Timpsons as they do watch servicing. Does anyone have any suggestions on what is the best possible thing to do?
I am a beginner collector of watches and I really like interesting dials, military, sports and dress watches. I have a small wrist, so I prefer smaller sized watches which can be hard to find at times...
Which ever is cheaper really. Not all movements are the same. Yes it’s mechanical but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should service the moment for sure.
Depends on cost to service. Some movements like the nh35 which is mass produced would only cost 30-50 dollars to purchase and at the point since I have all the tools I need I would just swap the moment my self.
But that’s me.
Idk what movement is in the alpanist but I would do what ever is cheaper. Assuming that the Watch is worth it to you to fix that is.
Hi Santana, thanks for your comment. The movement is a 6R15 and the watch to me has sentimental value as I got it for my 21st birthday as a gift from my family. So I definitely want to keep it running. To me the reason I like mechanical watches is that I view them as non-disposable, something that can be repaired over and over again and passed down and to replace a movement seems wasteful. Otherwise, it makes more sense to buy a cheap digital watch. I like for my watches to at least tell me what the time is roughly. But at the moment with my Seiko watch it stops for a significant time period and starts again when I am wearing it. I take your point about watch movements that cost little to replace and that it makes more sense to replace the movement. Have you ever taken a watch to be serviced? Or do you mainly replace the movements yourself? I am a bit inexperienced in this area as this will be the first watch I have taken to have serviced. Do you have a local watch maker or would you send your watch away to a big company?
The reason Seiko wants to replace the movement is because it is faster and easier to just replace the whole thing than it is to take it apart, clean it and assemble it all again. If you want a service of the movement with cleaning, oiling and adjustment you will most likely have to pay more than the 200 pounds. The movement you got is most likely fine and can be serviced if you want it, you just have to be prepared to pay more to keep the old one, as a service is more labour intensive.
I'd just let them replace the movement, you might find a watchmaker who'd service it for 150, but at least with Seiko you get warranty and reassurance that they'll use OEM gaskets etc. It's well worth doing anyway as the SARB017 is in high demand these days. The new Alpanist models have the far less reliable 6R35, I'd stick a 15 in mine if I could 😁
£200 seems a lot, what is the Timsons price? Might be worth a go as I assume their work guaranteed.
$215 is the cost for a 6R movement service by Seiko. The will go the way of replacing the movement cause it is quicker and more economical. Unless it is 8L or higher grade movement, Seiko wont service it the traditional way.
Since it is a 6R15, you can just get a good price from a good watchshop/watchmaker to service the movement for you and replace the gaskets.
Thanks for the help, I haven't got a price from Timpsons yet for the 6R movement but they say it would come with a 1 year warranty and a service for a mechanical watch starts from £85. Yes I will definitely look around, I went to Seiko first assuming that they would be the best for servicing a Seiko watch. But I was not a fan of having to send my watch away as it could get lost in the post.
If you are anywhere near Sussex, I can recommend Wheelers in Worthing.
www.wheelerclocks.com
They look after all my vintage and modern watches. They also give warranties on all their work.
I’d see if I could get what you have repaired rather than just change the whole movement, as it’s got so much sentimental value.
The service charge sounds about right. Way less than Omega but a little less expensive than Hamilton ($250 (+/-) Seiko vs $300 Hamilton (when I had a W-Wind serviced by them)). Personally I would send it to Seiko and let them do their thing. I am convinced that one of the reasons I was able to hold on to a car for 210,000 miles, and it still ran like a charm, was that it was always dealer serviced. Yes it was a bit more expensive in the near term but cost far less long term. My sister-in-law takes her cars to the cheapest place for service and by the time they get to 100,000 miles are completely trashed mechanically.
The lesson is don't cheapen up on service especially if the watch means something to you and you want to keep it a long time. Best advice I can give.
If you are anywhere near Sussex, I can recommend Wheelers in Worthing.
www.wheelerclocks.com
They look after all my vintage and modern watches. They also give warranties on all their work.
I’d see if I could get what you have repaired rather than just change the whole movement, as it’s got so much sentimental value.
Thanks James, unfortunately I live in Dorset and it would be too far for me.
I'd just let them replace the movement, you might find a watchmaker who'd service it for 150, but at least with Seiko you get warranty and reassurance that they'll use OEM gaskets etc. It's well worth doing anyway as the SARB017 is in high demand these days. The new Alpanist models have the far less reliable 6R35, I'd stick a 15 in mine if I could 😁
Can you link to anything on the comparison between the 6R15 and 6R35? Or are you speaking from (bad) personal experience? Thx
Can you link to anything on the comparison between the 6R15 and 6R35? Or are you speaking from (bad) personal experience? Thx
Mostly personal experience and a ton of anecdotal stories, I have 3 6r35 and 4 6r15. I rarely have to regulate the 15's, but the 35's drift out of spec quickly. It's at the point now where I don't bother anymore, I just accept it as long as it's under 30 seconds a day. Some people say Seiko use the wrong lubricant, not the ones stated to be used on the service sheet. I don't know, I'd assumed it was something to do with the SPRON510 mainspring that's in the 35 🧐