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"...You know I love it when the news is bad..." 6

"...You know I love it when the news is bad..."

6139-6012 "Yellow Bruce Lee" saved from the scrapyard!

Just about everything was wrong here even down to the hands. Someone fitted a generic plexiglass crystal which just fell out.

After a lot of work, it's back in action again and on the wrist after nearly everything was repaired and/or replaced. Even the centre wheel was stuffed, I managed to fiddle around with the clutch spring enough to have enough grab to work though so it went right back in!

The sweep hand and minute accumulator hands were a shade of purple or something from nail polish, so were colour matched to the the original red-orange and repainted. Also dial and hands were relumed.

One of my 330W18 crystals and seal sets fitted as well.

#seiko #seikochronograph #seikobruceless #seiko61396012 #seikovintage #chronographwatch #70swatch #vintagechronograph #watchmania #watchoftheday

Just reflecting on my time at the @watchandclockma

Just reflecting on my time at the @watchandclockmakersau national conference over the weekend.

The images here are my results from the incredible black polishing course run on Friday. Huge thanks to Rory and Trent for running this, and doing it in a way that we came away with world class results within a day.

Make sure to scroll past and see the second image.

Here, on magnification, you can see some minor spots on the surfaces, which are "inclusions" in the steel from the time of manufacture, probably in the 1920's, but otherwise the surfaces are generally almost optically perfect.

These results were achieved in about 45-70 minutes per piece.

#blackpolish #blackpolishing #horology #watchmaking #australia #watchrepair #watchrepairs #watchservice #watchpolishing #highgradefinish #highgradefinishes

That moment of terror when you see forbidden gold

That moment of terror when you see forbidden gold on the job you just opened....

So the last guy in there fettled the lower balance shock assembly to accommodate a replacement balance.

It's a bad start, but somehow, things got worse.

They also didn't press the assembly in straight, there's a significant amount of tilt.

Then, it got worse again....

So the last guy replaced the balance with a 6309 balance (top), it's supposed to look like a 61 series balance (bottom).

In addition to that, the last guy felt any sort of sealing on the case was totally unnecessary.

It would seem as well the movement has not been properly disassembled to be cleaned. There is just a waxy film on everything, which is usually a sign the last service was done in the 80's or 90's, when you could buy an "all in one" service fluid, which "cleaned and oiled" the movement with no disassembly required! They used to load movements up 4 at a time on a special cleaning head and do like 10 a day, genius! The upside? A service was like 30 bucks.

Just totally unethical and poor work. Very disappointing. The customer is mortified at what has happened here and will end up spending a fortune now to put it right.

#lifeofawatchmaker #seiko #seiko6139 #6139 #61396010 #seikobrucelee #seikochronograph #vintagechronograph #watchbodge #bodgework #watchmaking #watchrepair #horology #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau

"Sorry mate, it's an old watch and we couldn't rep

"Sorry mate, it's an old watch and we couldn't replace the seals. NOT water resistant mate!" - Watchmaker that ISN'T VTA

Almost everything that goes out of this workshop (with the exception of really old "Dust Proof" crowns, or even older crowns with no seals), with new seals and a pressure test from a dry style pressure tester.

I can test to 100m at the bench, which is fine for pretty much everyone, as very few people seriously use these for diving anymore.

Nearly everything passes. Some case/crystal assemblies flex too much to get a pass, but they are usually OK for at least general wear/splash resistant.

One example is the 6138-8020 (Panda) case. It's seals just fine, but half the time fails at least one part of the 2 stage pressure test.

TV style watches tend to fail as well. Even with a full deck of seals. They just don't flex the way the machine likes.

If your diver doesn't pass after replacing seals, it's almost always corrosion either in the back seal track or around the "pendant" (crown tube). I can normally re-caulk the pendant which will fix the issue, but the back seal track can be a problem. Back seal track corrosion isn't very common.

#seiko #seikodiver #seiko6105 #seiko6309 #seiko7548 #seiko7549 #seiko6159 #seikowatches #skx007 #skxdiver #seikochronograph #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau

Another hot piece for the week, magenta dial 52LM!

Another hot piece for the week, magenta dial 52LM!

SEIKO 5216-5000

#seiko #seikowatches #seiko52 #seiko5216 #52165000 #lordmatic #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau #vintagetimeaustralia

Really sucks they discontinued these, they are so

Really sucks they discontinued these, they are so cool.

SEIKO SKXA35

Now serviced and ready for another decade's service!

#seiko #seikowatches #skxa35 #seikoSKX #watchrepair #seikorepair #vintagetimeaustralia #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau #vtau

A very clean GS 5646 went out this week. These a

A very clean GS 5646 went out this week.

These are a lot of watch for the money. Textured dial, the whole deal!

#seiko #seikowatches #seikoGS #56GS #seiko5646 #5646 #watchrepair #horology #grandseiko #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau

Just completed a huge restoration job on a SEIKO 6

Just completed a huge restoration job on a SEIKO 6159 which had major saltwater ingress.

Unfortunately the last service agent didn't replace the crown seal, and that's where the water got in.

The salt water did a lot of damage to the movement and the dial. I ended up replacing about half the gear train and the centre jewel, as I shattered it trying to remove the cannon pinion.

Dial/hands wise, the prognosis was poor, but the end result was much better than expected.

The lume was so compromised, it just fell out. So the dial plots were stripped back and relumed.

Also, the hands were treated for the corrosion and relumed also.

I included some images of the empty plots so you can see what's under the paint. The lume plots on these are a very nice, machined part which is pressed into the dial. The dial is over engineered for sure, but the result is great.

First image is the final result, quite a save I have to say!

#seiko #seikowatches #seikorestoration #seiko6159 #seikodiver #horology #watchrepair #seikorepair #watchrepairau #watchrepairusa #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralua #vintagetimeau

How good do these actually look? SEIKO 7017-6020

How good do these actually look?

SEIKO 7017-6020 "SPEED-TIMER"

The 7-17 movement is a bit odd in that it is a 60 second chrono. So either very useful or totally useless depending on what you are doing.

As for the scales around the dial? I have absolutely no idea what they relate to.

This watch was a complete mess, but now is back in the customer's fleet!

#seiko #vintageseiko #seikochronograph #seiko7017 #70176020 #seikospeedtimer #vintagechronograph #watchrepair #horology #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vintagetimeau #seikorepair #vintagewatch #7017

Such a clean and elegant look, SEIKO 44-9990 KING

Such a clean and elegant look, SEIKO 44-9990 KING SEIKO.

This example had been very poorly treated by a previous repairer. They damaged the "weighted hairspring", and replaced it with another hairspring, maybe from an assortment? I have no idea.

In any case, the amplitude was about 36 degrees after service!

I replaced the balance with another one from a scrap movement, and the amplitude was around 290 degrees, significant improvement!

Also needed the setting lever spring replaced and crown repacked.

#seiko #vintageseiko #kingseiko #seikoKS #44ks #449990 #seiko44 #seiko449990 #watchrepair #seikorepair #vintagetimeau #vintagetimeaustralia #watchrepairs #vtaustralia #horology #watchoftheday #watchmania

Nice and clean SEIKO 6138-0040 "BULLHEAD". Unfort

Nice and clean SEIKO 6138-0040 "BULLHEAD".

Unfortunately a few people had been in here previously and done some odd stuff, but I've got it all sorted out and it looks great!

How unique are these pieces? Super cool.

#seiko #seikobullhead #seiko6138 #61380040 #bullhead #vintagewatch #vintagechronograph #chronographwatch #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau #vintageseiko #watchoftheday #watchmania #horology #watchrepairsau #watchrepairsus #seikorepair

Can anyone identify which watch Gilgamesh is weari

Can anyone identify which watch Gilgamesh is wearing?

I believe he wore it in a famous story.

Does anyone know if it comes in 42mm?

What strap is he wearing it on? Would it look better on a bracelet?

Do you think it would be too large for a 7.5 inch wrist?

#gilgamesh #gilgameshandenkidu #epicofgilgamesh #mythology #sumer #sumerian #poems

Sent this back to the owner a few weeks ago. Liter

Sent this back to the owner a few weeks ago. Literally the best 6139-6010 "Bruce Lee" I've ever seen.

Usual service job - new seals, arbor jewels, new glass, rebuild and pressure test.

I also did a dial/hands relume, which in the photo looks quite bright, but was "biscuity" coloured in person.

Such a nice piece.

#seiko #seikowatches #seikobrucelee #seikovintage #vintagewatch #watchoftheday #watchmania #horology #seiko6139 #seiko61396010 #61396010 #watchrepairs #seikorepairs #seikoservice #seikoserviceau #seikoserviceusa #vintagetimeau #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeaustralia

Finally got one of these, locally, of all places,

Finally got one of these, locally, of all places, at the right price as a reference piece for future part production.

Dial isn't perfect, but it's honest. Rotating ring is really good.

Not currently running, but that's no drama.

#seiko #seikowatches #watchrepair #seikorepair #horology #seikosilverwave #silverwave #6601 #seiko6601 #watchrepairsadelaide #watchrepairsusa #watchrepairsau #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau

Customers ask me all the time - "Is my watch wort

Customers ask me all the time -

"Is my watch worth repairing?"

The answer is, "it depends"

It's very subjective. Does the watch have value to you? Do you enjoy wearing the watch?

I repair pieces all the time that don't have significant financial value, but when you look at the the entire situation, it may change your mind.

Mechanical watches can last several hundred years if regularly serviced. In fact, if oiled properly at the correct service intervals, the wear between the hardened still pivots and ruby jewels, is minimal to the point of being insignificant.

Contaminants will change that dramatically.

Parts in the keyless works tend to take the most beating, but in most cases, if regularly serviced, they will last a long time.

So. there is no reasonable point where a mechanical watch can be considered "worn out" if looked after.

Most vintage watches are scrapped due to cosmetic issues. The movements are generally repairable, if parts can be found or made.

So the question of is a non-hype vintage watch worth repairing?, is totally subjective to the owner.

In this example, the owner of this piece wanted the watch repaired because it was his grandfather's. While not terribly valuable, he will now get decades more service from the watch and enjoyment wearing it.

When you break down service costs for vintage watches on a by year basis over a service cycle, they end up being a better value proposition. Say you get 7-10 years in a service cycle, the per year breakdown for a standard 3 hander is only between 70-150 bucks a year really.

Well worth it for the enjoyment of wearing it! And you don't need to worry about batteries.....

#seiko #seikowatches #seiko7009 #seikorepair #vintagetimeau #vtau #vtaustralia #watchrepairs #watchrepairsadelaide #watchrepairsau #watchrepairsusa #horology

Another HOT piece that went back to it's owner las

Another HOT piece that went back to it's owner last week.

It's a ridgey-didge JDM model with the non lumed hands and indices. Who needs lume right?

#seiko #seikorepair #seikowatches #seiko6138 #61380010 #61380011 #6138 #seikochronograph #chronograph #chronographwatch #watchmania #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau

Saved a pretty beat up 7C46 Golden Tuna for a cust

Saved a pretty beat up 7C46 Golden Tuna for a customer last week.

Parts bill was loooooong.

Looks great now!

#seiko #seikowatches #vintageseiko #vintagewatches #seiko7C46 #goldentuna #seikotuna #7c46tuna #watchrepairs #watchrepair #seikorepair #seikorepairau #seikorepairusa #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia

I'm currently writing a relatively non technical s

I'm currently writing a relatively non technical submission for the @watchandclockmakersau magazine, based on some information I found in one of the 1963 SEIKO News Bulletins, which details the reasoning behind why SEIKO chose to use hairspring weights on the earlier KING SEIKO movements.

It all comes down to the centre of balance and Archimedean curves....

They were only fitted at the factory. Replacement balances do not have the weights.

In any case, here's one of my shots that shows one of these little guys, which apparently weigh 0.04 to 0.05 milligrams each. You can see the shape of them here. The black stuff in the middle is the "special adhesive".

#seiko @watchmaking #horology #seikoks #ks #kingseiko #4402 #seiko4402 #44028000 #449990 #technology #vintage #vintageseiko #vintagewatch #chronometer #vintagetimeau #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeaustralia

Ruby Jewels are back on the menu boys! Just had s

Ruby Jewels are back on the menu boys!

Just had some new stock come in.

They fit the entire SEIKO 61 and 63 series movements, as well as the 56 series movements. The 56 series rarely has a wear issue, but it does happen. As most of us would know, the 61 and 63 series ALWAYS has a wear issue.

New stock of the 7 series jewels is in production. I have some limited stock remaining for anyone that needs them.

The good news is, they are now better priced than before. So these guys are now going for $40 Aussie Pesos, or about $26 US Dollars delivered worldwide, not including any taxes.

Delivery includes DHL eCommerce Packet Direct service to the US and UK (usually approx 11-14 days), and Packet Plus to the rest of the world. DHL Express is also available at an additional cost.

I'll have multiple bundle sets available probably later today, I have to re-do the photography for those.

EBay link here -

https://www.ebay.com.au/str/vintagetimeau/SEIKO-Jewels/_i.html?store_cat=4155455119

#seiko #watchrepair #horology #vintagetimeau #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia

How good does this look? 1969 SEIKO 6139-6000, wi

How good does this look?

1969 SEIKO 6139-6000, with the chrome ring crystal.

All ready to go after having several major faults and a lot of rust removal.

Whoever was in there last replaced 1 of the pusher seals, but none of the other seals...WHY?

Also repaired a broken reset lever, added the arbor jewels and a few other things.

Crystal was one of the last jobs, done beautifully, as always, by @levy_crystal_restorations

#seiko #seikochronograph #seiko6139 #61396000 #seikospeedtimer #vintageseiko #horology #watchrepairs #watchrepairsadelaide #seikorepairadelaide #seikorepairusa #seikorepairaustralia #vintagetimeaustralia #vtau #vtaustralia #vintagetimeau

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