A silly question when buying a new Seiko.

Ask you all ar, when you all buying a new Seiko from a shop, do you all check the serial number to see if your watch is "old" or "newer" stock? As many would know we can actually do that by reading the serial number (First digit is year, second is month of production)...



If yes, how old is the limit before you guys will reject the watch?



Any other things you all will take note? Example, Kinetic models, Solar...



Just curious.. :)

"Edgarr"

Ask you all ar, when you all buying a new Seiko from a shop, do you all check the serial number to see if your watch is "old" or "newer" stock? As many would know we can actually do that by reading the serial number (First digit is year, second is month of production)...



If yes, how old is the limit before you guys will reject the watch?



Any other things you all will take note? Example, Kinetic models, Solar...



Just curious.. :)

No I usually do not check the serial number.



Regarding Kinetics and Solar Seikos, the usual action I take is to not buy them :D Apparently I'm not the only guy here who doesn't buy Kinetic and Solar Seikos :oops: :oops: :oops:

"herzausstahl"

No I usually do not check the serial number.



Regarding Kinetics and Solar Seikos, the usual action I take is to not buy them :D Apparently I'm not the only guy here who doesn't buy Kinetic and Solar Seikos :oops: :oops: :oops:

why not kinetic and solar? have some reservation bout their technology ah?

Mechanical for me :lol:

I wil always chk the number if got a few pcs 2 choose but does not matter 2 me whether is older or newer...:)

But dis oni 4 SEIKOs n not other brands coz if hoot older pc n paying higher price than when flip sure 做蛇... :cry:



Few of my watches serial dat i remember



Tag 3733

Seiko LE cyclops 1177

Rolex dj pink mop 333377

For seikos..I'm open to quartz automatic and of cos kinetic as kinetic is a technology invent by Seiko... No solar for me... End of the solar battery die still troublesome :)

Date not important... I got a seiko that was build in 1965...



As for model, looking for an automatic watch with GMT hand.

I don't mind when they're produced because my past dwellings with vintage seiko tells me these buggers easily pass the 20years of usage provided there's not factory malfunction..



What I always check are the alignment, chronos- do they reset dead spot to zero ?, are all functions working smoothly with no play (eg. quickset day date, time that the date wheel changes)

Wah, thanks for the replies.



Actually my concern is more of battery and internal parts degradation after being left long in the shelf. Kinetic battery, solar battery will degrade, even mechanicals lubricant will "dry up and harden" after not moving for too long.



Thats why I ask if you all will check serial number before purchasing. And how long is the window of shelf before rejecting the watch.



Surely you all won't want a brand new made in year 2002 SKX007 and would rather take the newer 2009 piece right?

"Edgarr"

Wah, thanks for the replies.



Actually my concern is more of battery and internal parts degradation after being left long in the shelf. Kinetic battery, solar battery will degrade, even mechanicals lubricant will "dry up and harden" after not moving for too long.



Thats why I ask if you all will check serial number before purchasing. And how long is the window of shelf before rejecting the watch.



Surely you all won't want a brand new made in year 2002 SKX007 and would rather take the newer 2009 piece right?

i won't check for serial number. if the watch is to my liking, and it can work, i don't think too much into it. that said, i take mechanical watches over other types any day.. :lol:

Strange enough for me, I prefer the older make of watches,lol

usually i don't.... i kinda trust seiko watches.. hahahaha! :lol:

For seikos, i do not check the serial number or anything...hehehehe...

I prefer to pickup the better appearance on the same watch for a mechanical watch (that watch is without warranty hehe)

on the other case, there is only one piece left, or a new released model, or vintage...so no impact much on the choices

its all abt learning ,checking serial numbers can be more different reasons.



2nd hand vintage(mechanical): authentication of production year(even to specfic month/end of prod) to whats begin known and accepted. Different yr of production may have slightly different dial markings or caseback markings. number of digits in a serial number also can tell the era.



New Current model(mechanical) : can check if its old stock left in shop or a newer batch(tells you something abt the collectibility) If its a common model,I would like to have a later production batch(serial number). But also depends if theres difference in any known quality between older/newer batches.



Discontinued Model(mechanical) : normally will fast hand fast leg esp if the model is the one I am seeking.



Any Quartz Model : Do check serial numbers on quartz models as usually they have 3 ,5 battery but of course may fall short . so if the serial number is an quite early one,means along the yr,the shop has been replacing the battery themselves(dont think they will send to agent just becos of no battery). And the watch would not be having factory battery,check for scratches ard rims of caseback . And got chance can check the type of battery used and cond of circuit.(most likely ish cannot)

as long got warranty im fine D:

:D for non-mechanical i always check if the second hand is hitting all the marks

"bish"

:D for non-mechanical i always check if the second hand is hitting all the marks

ya collectors do check the watches'(quartz/solar/kinetic) second hands if they are hitting the hash marks and definitely it gives a + if it does appear to be that precise.



though this accuracy depends on the grade of movement used,design in the gears/teeth and there be the slack(of seconds hand) so the movement from one hash mark to the other has some (offset) free area to move..and servicing/fine tune wouldnt help. Thats is what the watch is made to be,not super precise but still within specs and performing as it should.

I only check when I bought my only seiko kinetic and quartz diver, which are both called Caesar (SKA383 and SNDA13P1) lol

but for my mechanical seikos, I don't really care since they lasts forever IMO

"jaded"

why not kinetic and solar? have some reservation bout their technology ah?

What I've been told about Kinetic and Solar models is that they have capacitors and their lifespan is around 9 years. That would mean that some time down the line, you'll need to have the capacitor of your watch changed. I guess that's why most prefer mechanical models?

I have owned my Arctura Kinetic since 2004 , it has never let me down . In fact i highly recommend Kinetic Seiko's , I now also own 3 Automatic Seiko's also , they are "special" watches to me . but as a quailty daily use watch the Seiko Kinetic series will serve you well "IMO" . :)

For me, I will check and make sure I am able to get the latest batch.. Can't blame the singaporean spirit. :oops: :lol:

There's no such thing as silly question man. You are just cautious or making sure your money is worth. Same question most people had in their mind before purchasing theirs but you should just buy what appeals to you and will feel good wearing. Most of us will tell you to buy first regret later =)

"funksoulava"

[quote="jaded"]why not kinetic and solar? have some reservation bout their technology ah?

What I've been told about Kinetic and Solar models is that they have capacitors and their lifespan is around 9 years. That would mean that some time down the line, you'll need to have the capacitor of your watch changed. I guess that's why most prefer mechanical models?[/quote]

Kinetic is one another hybrid system like the SWISS Auto-quartz. And yes, such system are still reliant on the internal power storage, the batteries or the capacitors. Personally, i would prefer my Solar watches be installed with rechargeable lithium battery cells such that when time comes, changing the battery would not be so difficult when it comes to sourcing of the battery. But in some circuit design, i was told that there are few that have the capacitors welded to the circuit, hence, changing the circuit in whole is necessary should that system breaks down for good.

"Ed.YEO"

[quote="funksoulava"]


What I've been told about Kinetic and Solar models is that they have capacitors and their lifespan is around 9 years. That would mean that some time down the line, you'll need to have the capacitor of your watch changed. I guess that's why most prefer mechanical models?

Kinetic is one another hybrid system like the SWISS Auto-quartz. And yes, such system are still reliant on the internal power storage, the batteries or the capacitors. Personally, i would prefer my Solar watches be installed with rechargeable lithium battery cells such that when time comes, changing the battery would not be so difficult when it comes to sourcing of the battery. But in some circuit design, i was told that there are few that have the capacitors welded to the circuit, hence, changing the circuit in whole is necessary should that system breaks down for good.[/quote]

Kinetic and Solar are just another variant of quartz.



the main difference, quartz, you pop in a battery and use it till battery dies, non-rechargeable, batteries last usually 1-2 years, perpetual models may use batteries claiming to last up to 10 years.



Kinectic uses a rotor system like mech watches, but thats the only difference. the movement is still a quartz . the capacitor-aka battery drives the quartz movement at the same time its also charged up by movement rotor. take note though its uses the rotor to generate charge to the capacitor, it is not able to use conventional watch winder to charge up even though logically it should. kinectic seemingly need a fast swing and not gradual swing like mech watch to get that charge.



all capacitors have lifespan, of course keeping them reasonably charged up will so call see more lifetime in them. once the capacitors cant hold a charge, its is render ineffective anymore. watch capacitor looks exactly like a battery cell, but cost much more.



earlier capacitors have charge holding issues, within several years, they seemingly cant hold up charge anymore.



seiko oem capacitor charger : http://store.startimesupply.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=1&Product_Code=MSA19-109&Category_Code=Watch_Winders_Kenetic"Ed.YEO">

"Ed.YEO"

capacitors welded to the circuit, hence, changing the circuit in whole is necessary should that system breaks down for good.

not welding la, its just soldering. welding is for high mechanical strength bonding application. soldering is a simpler electrical bonding method between 2 conductors.



i doubt most watch makers will even have a soldering iron to begin with, cost like few dollars for a simple pc to few hundred for a industrial pc with temperature control. so again, changing the whole circuit is technically easier for them.soldering is a technique either u know or u flop, i had a colleague who soldered for years, yet still unable to do so properly, always ends up in cold solder form.