Vintage misfortune
Unfortunately, after 53 years, the plastic quickset star of my King Seiko 5626 has broken, so the day/date cannot be changed manually, it only works by moving the hour hand now.
I took it to my watchmaker who confirmed it was the plastic piece that had finally broken. It is a known flaw of these movements, and I knew it could happen anytime.
It is a shame because I had it serviced recently with new gaskets, and it is working perfectly keeping near perfect time as well.
I know this is the risk of buying vintage watches: things can break and replacement parts can be difficult or even impossible to find.
Now, I have bought a metal replacement star from Vintage Time Australia on eBay, so I am hoping the watch will be back to full health in a few weeks.
It is not a cheap fix, but I love this watch and I think it deserves the care.
48 y.o. I love watches because they are a display of craftsmanship, technology, precision, design, history, and beauty I can wear on my wrist.
Indeed a lovely watch and with the clear link you have with it, worth the relatively price fix. Good luck with your endeavour, and hope the watch gets fixed!
I have 5625-7000 coming on Monday.
Does the quick-set function work by pulling the crown all the way out multiple times?
I’ve read that should be done only when the hands are both on lower half of the dial.
Would you now recommend not to use this function at all?
I'm not well versed in 3-D printing but one would think that it would have some utility in producing small plastic parts. There were some small plastic elbow tubes for the vacuum system in my '71 Lincoln Continental that were cracking a few years back and no one manufacturers them anymore. I posted my dilemma on a local community college message board that teaches 3-D printing but didn't get any takers. It seems like an untapped revenue source for the right hobbyist/entrepreneur especially if there is an original part to scan. Are there any 3-D printing crunchers on WC that know whether this is feasible and/or cost effective?
I have 5625-7000 coming on Monday.
Does the quick-set function work by pulling the crown all the way out multiple times?
I’ve read that should be done only when the hands are both on lower half of the dial.
Would you now recommend not to use this function at all?
The quick set function is operated by pulling the crown to the first position, rotating one way sets the day, the other way sets the date .
With the star piece broken, neither direction work, but the day will continue to change at 12am normally or by turning the hour hand which is done in the second position of the crown, which also hacks the seconds hand .
I always change the date in my watches as you say, when the hands are not between 9 to 3, best at six to prevent damaging the date function. This last time I could change the day and then the date would not change at all, adn and then trying the day stopped working too.
I'm not well versed in 3-D printing but one would think that it would have some utility in producing small plastic parts. There were some small plastic elbow tubes for the vacuum system in my '71 Lincoln Continental that were cracking a few years back and no one manufacturers them anymore. I posted my dilemma on a local community college message board that teaches 3-D printing but didn't get any takers. It seems like an untapped revenue source for the right hobbyist/entrepreneur especially if there is an original part to scan. Are there any 3-D printing crunchers on WC that know whether this is feasible and/or cost effective?
This particular part is way to small and detailed for FDM, the printing method most hobbyists use.
But I guess with SLA it wouldn’t be a problem.
The machines are way more expensive though.
Having this one as the Japanese Version is even more reason to get it fixed.
What a beauty.
I feel you, I had to disassemble my 5626 KS once more too after Service because of this.
It was well worth it however I absolutely love the thing.
This particular part is way to small and detailed for FDM, the printing method most hobbyists use.
But I guess with SLA it wouldn’t be a problem.
The machines are way more expensive though.
Thanks for schooling me! I appreciate it very much and I love learning new things. Hopefully the technology will evolve exponentially like so much else has in the technology sector.
I've personally noticed a lot of king, lord seiko parts popping up at buyeee Japan . It's around €20-€40 total cost.