My normal mood when considering the outside world is one of, at best, irritation — on a scale on 1 to 10, I wake up each morning at about 5 — and especially so when I haven’t finished my first cup of coffee.
I am furious.
Perhaps a little background is in order. For my birthday last year, my kids chipped in together and bought me a Seiko Sports wristwatch with an automatic movement.
It’s a lovely watch, not too expensive, not too showy, and of course I replaced the silly canvas strap (which scratched my oh-so delicate skin) with a nice black leather one which didn’t.
All went well until I actually started using the fucking thing. You see, the nice thing about an automatic movement is that you don’t have to wind it, and it doesn’t have a battery which runs down and needs replacing just about every year, which are the reasons I wanted one in the first place. According to the specs, this watch, when the mainspring is fully wound up, so to speak, has a “reserve” power of about 36 hours, which means you can leave it lying around unworn for about a day and a half before you need to wave your arm in the air to recharge it.
So I wore the thing for a couple days to charge the spring up, then took it off at bedtime and went to sleep. And found the next morning that the watch had stopped after about six hours. No amount of arm-waving could get it charged past that paltry reserve.
So I sent the watch back to Seiko USA to get it fixed under warranty, but discovered yesterday that despite the proof of date of purchase, the watch was considered “out of warranty” because nobody had actually sent back the registration card.
The cost of repair was about the same as the original price of the watch.
So this morning I called Seiko and told them to send the thing back to me un-repaired — fuck ’em — and told the customer “service” rep that I would never consider buying another Seiko product, ever. Of course, as the Seiko repair shop is in New fucking Jersey, my comment was met with complete indifference.
I’ll hand the watch back to Daughter and let her decide what she and the others want to do.
Now add this little irritation to my wake-up Irritation Level 5… and none of the posts which preceded this one helped matters at all.
If anyone wants me, I’ll be at the range.
Update: Daughter informs me that the place where she bought the watch has a 3-year warranty on all new Seiko watches, so all I have to do is send it there for the repairs to be effected. Now I just have to wait for it to get back from Noo fucken Joizee.
I think we have the same watch. The reserve on mine is supposed to be 41 hours but it isn’t near that at all. If I don’t wear it every day, the “reserve” doesn’t hold up. I bought it after reading quite a few rave reviews. I have a Seiko Cotura or something which is also a mechanical watch and it runs great. The bracelet is worn though.
Good luck with your watch.
JQ
I have the same watch as well. Like JQ said, unless I’m very active, the reserve doesn’t come close to stated specs. If I spend a day driving or working at my computer, it has a 12 hour reserve at best. If I’m out and about for a day of physical activity, it will easily have 24 hours or more reserve time available. All in all I love it though. My solution to the short reserve for those “less active” days is to give it a gentle shaking for 20 seconds or so before bed. Not much different than winding a non-automatic version.
^ I think this is the correct answer – shake it side to side for a while before going to bed. You’ll feel the rotor doing its job.
If Kim’s watch is an SNZG11K1 (which it looks like), that has the 7s36 movement in it which doesn’t hand wind. The 7s movements have been workhorses since the 60’s. I think I have at least 4 watches with 7s movements in the (7s26’s mostly) and several with the NH35 or NH36, which is just an upgrade that added hand winding. They all work well, but the 7s’s do need some shaking.
Like all marketers, they list the power reserve with a full wind. A full wind can be hard to achieve on a watch with no hand winding feature. I just shake it gently while I read a blog or have a Youtube video playing.
Ditto the other comments.
For some reason this model Seiko does not have the same reserve as other similar models.
My brother has one also and he had the same experience as Kim.
Several of my other automatic watches will run for a couple of days.
My solution is to wear the watch all the time.
Fortunately the luminous dial is easily seen in the dark and it’s big, so my elderly eyes can actually read it.
My Pretty Wife and I have three versions of that Seiko. Fully wound they run about 40 hours as do most Automatic Seikos. I also have about 25 other Seikos that are much higher quality that the Sports 5 models. The dive watches with the 4r36 movement are their best value for run time and accuracy. I got them at the Seiko Outlet Stores. It was a once a year trip to the Outlet Mall to go to one and I’d buy 5 or 6 watches for a really good price. I now go to a local Jeweler who will drop down to internet prices. This saves around 20-25%. Figure $400 to $450 for the Turtle/Samurai class Seiko.
Note that the upper mgmt at Seiko has kinda split the watch division into the Sports 5 watches and everything else other Grand Seiko. As to the three Sports 5 we paid an average of $95. BTW you can buy a brand new movement for the watch for less than $60 and fix it yourself.
What ever you do do not get a Kinetic. I have 7 of them and each has had the little capacitor/battery go bad. Replacement is $110-135 and I did four of them only to find out that the new capacitor lasts about 2.5 years. Each one only holds a charge for a week even when the system shows a months charge.
Good Luck;
Spin Drift
I’m one who normally wears a $12 plastic Casio. But Mrs G bought me a fancy Longines for our 50th, it of the “self winding” variety. Lasts about 18 hours if it sits around.
So now I have a watch winder — $50 at Amazon — which keeps it wound up by spinning it, so that when I wear the fancy one to church on Sunday it is ready to go. Meanwhile the Casio just keeps going and going.
Is Seiko owned by H&K?
Our institutions hate us. Top to bottom, front to back.
Here’s a slightly different perspective on the problem: https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-platforms-cory-doctorow/
Seiko’s own website says:
“Your three year U.S. warranty protection is automatically in effect with the purchase of your Seiko Timepiece.”
I’ve never had any but kind words for Seiko.
My buddy (USAF) sent me a similar (kinetic) Seiko watch from somewhere in the Far East when he got stationed over there while I was still on active at GFAFB in early ’68.
The watch only left my wrist before my head hit the pillow at night, but went back to place after my daily AM ablution until ’08 when I retired and no longer wanted/had to keep check on the time – kept perfect time for 40 years with nary a prob.
During that time it was subjected to vigorous hand washing at least every hour 0500-1800 5/6 days a week, as well as various other ignominies too numerous to mention.
If things don’t work out, I know a guy who can service it. I also know a guy (me) who could do a movement swap for you for free. If you’re feeling especially foolhardy, I could give the service a go myself. I’ve done a couple old ebay Seikos.
Bought a Seiko dive watch at the Ft Hood PX in ’75 or so. Served me in good stead until ’95 when it managed to demagnetize itself. Never worked right after that. Wife-bought me a Casio, very nice watch, not a bit of plastic in it. Lost a pin out of the band, have sent it back to Casio numberous times and they never could get a pin to stay in place. Just use my phone now.
I had always worn cheap watches on the theory that they would be destroyed by the wear and tear of everyday use. About three years ago I bought myself a Seiko from their solar line with an eye toward being less hard on watches after retirement. It is an electronic movement but maintains the battery charge with some sort of solar cell and has yet to fail or need a battery. It’s hard to find watches with just a normal dial and no extra crap on them. This one is just a simple dial with no numbers but with a day/date window. I’ve been happy with it so far.
I used to have a Timex Ironman but the buttons got solvent welded to the case.
Once I started carrying a “smart” phone I quit wearing a watch altogether.
It’s been decades since I wore a wristwatch. I’ve gone over to pocket watches. I carry mine in a belt pouch.
I have the same Seiko, I bought it about 10 years ago, I wore it for 3 years but it kept losing a lot of time, (5 minutes in a day), and wouldn’t last more than a day if left unworn. So I investigated thoroughly and bought myself a Laco, (look it up), automatic, clear face, looks good, ultra reliable, +- 5-10 seconds per day. I’ve worn it since, up until last my last birthday when my daughter and son-in-law bought me another as it was my 70th. I’ve been wearing them both for alternative weeks. I do have a watch winder and use it. I’m completely satisified with it. I figured that what was good enough for the Luftwaffe was good enough for me! (If I suddenly win the lottery I might buy a Hanhart – also German, but then I might not).
I’ve been self employed since 1986 and semi retired for 6 years and I stopped wearing watches about 1988 and don’t do clocks or calendars neither. If I absolutely have to know the time or date there’s a clock on my computer and in my vehicle and there’s also a phone laying around here somewhere. Mr. Streamlined
I really like my Seiko SKX009, and I’ve never had any problems with it. I rarely wear it though, opting for the other timepieces in my small collection.
Never had any luck with self winding watches.
For most of my day, I wear a timex with the only feature being the day of month. No sense my nice watches getting battered.
The other two are Bulovas. I’ve had good luck with them. They have lifetime battries.
And I’ll take the once every so often trip to the watch store for a free battry and the incessant charging and being dead when you need it iWatch.
Small correction on the proper name of that leftist northern state:
It is, The Peoples Republik of New Jersistan.
Since I retired, I don’t care what time it is. I barely care what day it is.
When I do wear a watch, which is rare, I have a Citizens Eco-Drive Garrison Watch. I find the eco-drive more reliable and less finicky than an automatic. I think I paid $230 from, of all places, JC Penney online. They are normally $375.
Just wanted to chime in here. I wore a battery powered Seiko for years and then, about 10 years ago, bought a Seiko “Solar”, don’t know the model number, too lazy to look it up. I bought it at JC Penney for about $165 if memory serves. It has a day/date window, luminescent dial and hands, black face and no numbers, just the hash marks, stainless steel watch and expansion band. Tells me the time, day of the week, and date. I have to remember the month and year, which I generally manage OK. Just have to glance at the wrist to tell the time. Don’t use my dumb phone for that.
Has never failed, and NO batteries, watch winder, etc. Figured the cost of the watch is made up by the savings in battery expense. Something to consider, for what its worth. I’ve worn a wrist watch since my Mickey Mouse watch I got for Christmas when I was eight years old.
I collect watches like I do knives and guns.
Seiko are my favourite brand and I have maybe a dozen of their watches, all automatics. They’ve always kept good time and I’ve never had a problem with the power reserve.
I hope you get this sorted out, and are able to enjoy the watch.
Sad story, Kim, but not uncommon. On a cruise my wife bought me a present — A TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre 5 from the duty-free store on board … it was $3000+ AUD.
It ran for about 72 hours then stopped dead as a dodo. Then we found the bezel was lifting off.
Took it to the agent here in Perth who firstly claimed, when we told him we’d bought it on a ship, that it was just a cheap replica! When we showed him all the paperwork he agreed it was the real thing, but then said it wasn’t covered by warranty because it wasn’t bought in Australia!
Mrs BIWOZ saw red and contacted the company’s HQ on the east coast. They agreed to have a look at it. About three weeks later it came back … all fixed, they said. Read the paperwork: “Watch cleaned, serviced and new battery fitted”. It was less than a week old when we sent it over! And the bezel was still loose.
Well, my good lady fired up and rang the head office. Her demeanour was calm, her language polite, but there was no doubt she meant it when she told them what she thought of their “service” and demanded a completely new watch.
After much to-ing and fro-ing, the company agreed and a brand new watch was sent.
While this one has had no problems, it does lose a couple of minutes a day. Not happy, TAG.
Ah, so it’s like my old self winding Omega.
It won’t self wind, it runs about a minute an hour slow, if not more, and even after getting it repaired twice it keeps falling back into that pattern every few months.
I stopped wearing it and got me an Apple Watch instead. Holds 48 hours worth of battery, keeps the time perfectly, weighs and costs half as much. And with the soft wrist band it doesn’t cause skin problems for me either (which most any leather or metal wrist band does for me).
Which covers the problem I have with most decent wrist watches: they’re way too bulky and heavy for my taste.