My daddy's other old watch
I got my daddy's other watch fixed.
Long story short, my dad gave me his two old watches that haven't worked in years that he stashed in his drawer—this Seiko and a Wittnauer quartz dive watch. (Side note: if you care to read, my last post was about getting the Wittnauer fixed). Got the capacitor and crystal replaced, and now it's up and running again.
This watch is funky, for sure. I think the styling is polarizing and definitely reflects the time it was made. (Found a YouTube video that taught how to date Seiko watches based on the serial number on the case back. If I did it right, then this watch was made in 1997.) The bracelet is comfortable, but to be honest, I just think it's ugly. Unfortunately, I'm married to this bracelet because there's a protrusion between the lugs that doesn't allow me to change to a strap or another bracelet.
Yet despite how I think it looks, I don't mind any of that stuff so much when it's on my wrist. That's definitely because it was my daddy's watch. I remember when I was a child being at the mall with my family and seeing my dad buy this watch. When my dad gave it to me, my mom told me she remembered how manly she thought it looked. 😂 And, just like the Wittnauer, I have a reminder on my wrist of how I hope to be as good a father my dad was to me to my girls. ❤
Question for any of you who have experience owning kinetic watches: is it worth buying a watch winder to keep the capacitor charged? After a while, I probably will only wear this watch once a week, if that. I'd appreciate any feedback or advice about owning a kinetic watch. Cheers.
I had that exact watch! I purchased it in 1996. I used to get compliments on it frequently.
Styles and times changed so I gave it away. I wish I still had it! I would totally rock it today.
They capacitors today are better, but all of them will die eventually. It’s a cheap and easy fix fortunately.
A watch winder won't provide the revolutions to keep a kinetic charged. There were special chargers out there and some DIY hacks that worked. They may be still around.
IMHO,unless you are fairly active and wear the watch frequently it'll be tough to keep it fully
charged. I have one that I wore as a work watch for a few years with no problems, but since I retired 6 years ago it sits idle on a shelf. A real PITA to give it the requisite shakes to wake it from hibernation.
Glad to see it up and running. The bracelet alone is worth the flex. 👍🏾
I’m imagining it in polished black PVD. It’d look like an H.R. Giger watch. 👽
Haha I have an old Seiko like this that I also can’t change the strap.
I like it as it looks like the watch that Predator would wear
Oh man, I sold a few of these back in the day!
I was trained by Seiko to inform customers that no matter how much they did or did not wear it, the capacitor was good for seven years max.
A watch winder won't provide the revolutions to keep a kinetic charged. There were special chargers out there and some DIY hacks that worked. They may be still around.
IMHO,unless you are fairly active and wear the watch frequently it'll be tough to keep it fully
charged. I have one that I wore as a work watch for a few years with no problems, but since I retired 6 years ago it sits idle on a shelf. A real PITA to give it the requisite shakes to wake it from hibernation.
Appreciate the advice. Thanks.
I am restoring one. It was great tech, with one cool drawback, the watch needs to worn. Regular winders don’t work on this movement. And the kinetic winder are too expensive. There is a hack that used an electric toothbrush charger to charge the watch. You can find the DIY YouTube for it.
Since the watch might be over 10 years old, and has not been used, the capacitor might need to be replaced. New caps run about $14-$26 dollars. Lovely watch. It has a lot of TAG flare. I am attaching an image of mine.
I am restoring one. It was great tech, with one cool drawback, the watch needs to worn. Regular winders don’t work on this movement. And the kinetic winder are too expensive. There is a hack that used an electric toothbrush charger to charge the watch. You can find the DIY YouTube for it.
Since the watch might be over 10 years old, and has not been used, the capacitor might need to be replaced. New caps run about $14-$26 dollars. Lovely watch. It has a lot of TAG flare. I am attaching an image of mine.
Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the advice. Yours looks like a nice one.
I am restoring one. It was great tech, with one cool drawback, the watch needs to worn. Regular winders don’t work on this movement. And the kinetic winder are too expensive. There is a hack that used an electric toothbrush charger to charge the watch. You can find the DIY YouTube for it.
Since the watch might be over 10 years old, and has not been used, the capacitor might need to be replaced. New caps run about $14-$26 dollars. Lovely watch. It has a lot of TAG flare. I am attaching an image of mine.
I had this model with a grey dial! Can’t even remember what happened to it!
I had this model with a grey dial! Can’t even remember what happened to it!
I am waiting on the capacitor so it is currently dead. I was going to service the movement in the meantime. I am surprised with the lume it has, for a 13 years old watch the lume paint is still nice and bright it lasts all night.
I am waiting on the capacitor so it is currently dead. I was going to service the movement in the meantime. I am surprised with the lume it has, for a 13 years old watch the lume paint is still nice and bright it lasts all night.
Good to know the lume is still bright. Seiko lume is pretty good. Best of luck with getting it up and running again!
Oh man, I sold a few of these back in the day!
I was trained by Seiko to inform customers that no matter how much they did or did not wear it, the capacitor was good for seven years max.
Hey. Sorry for the random hit up right now, but do you remember how much this watch cost retail back in the day? Just curious to know what my dad would have paid for this watch back then.
Hey. Sorry for the random hit up right now, but do you remember how much this watch cost retail back in the day? Just curious to know what my dad would have paid for this watch back then.
I want to say $600.
I want to say $600.
Thanks. Appreciate it.