Watch collectors collect for many different reasons and the background story to the watch often features highly. The story behind this watch puts it at the top of my list of important watches.
This watch was engraved in 1984 so it is at least 37 years old and I didn’t think quartz lasted that long. I have read about Casio G-shocks from the 80’s still humming along but I always thought that the electronic circuitry in quartz watches was doomed to fail and that is why we collectors prefer mechanical movements that can be serviced for many decades.
But like many other things in life there are good quartz movements and not so good quartz movements. The bottom end of the watch market with its “throw away” philosophy is dominated by cheap quartz movements and they have probably given the genre an undeserved bad name.
The most accurate watch in the world right now is a Citizen Eco-drive caliber 0100 powered by an AT special cut quartz crystal. It costs over US$7000 and is accurate to within one second per year. Breitling, Grand Seiko, TAG Heur, and Omega, all make stunning quality quartz watches.
But back to my very important Seiko. I recently renovated this watch with a new battery, lizard grain leather strap and a sapphire crystal to replace the badly scratched original mineral glass. It is running very well and appears to be gaining just a few seconds per day. Not bad for a 37 year old watch. I mentioned that it is a two-hander (no second hand) and that definately qualifies it as a dress watch. I think it carries that off pretty well. It is a slim, minimalist, classic style watch that slips nicely under a shirt cuff.
And why is it the most important Seiko in my collection? It belonged to my Father, George. He passed away over 5 years ago and as a “double whammy”, the watch was given to George by my Mother, Shirley who has also passed. This watch generates some wonderful family memories and will be an on-going part of family history. How could a watch be any more important?
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