Servicing A Seiko Quartz Watch From The 70’s

When watch collectors think of servicing a watch, many don’t put quartz movements into the equation, but here is one 50 year old quartz watch that was resurrected thanks to the expertise of a qualified watch maker.

The watch is a Seiko reference 3003 (3863-7059) which was purchased not working, with a broken bracelet, and fairly tatty appearance overall. The seller proposed that it probably needed a new battery and that was true, but it also needed a little more.

When a new battery was installed the second hand twitched but didn’t move to the next indice. Warming it gently with a hair dryer got a bit more action, indicating that, just like a mechanical watch, it was likely oil had dried in the movement and was preventing normal operation. Heating the gunked oil had briefly freed the drivetrain. 

Seiko battery quartz powered watches from the 70’s utilized drivetrains very similar to their mechanical brethren and in some cases the gears and components were interchangeable between spring powered and battery powered watches. Unlike many modern throw-away quartz watches, these movements were designed to be serviced and regulated.

I had recently purchased a 70’s Seiko mechanical watch (ACTUS 6106-7005) with a lovely blue dial from watch maker, Rob Bertoz, in Tasmania. Rob describes himself as a born again watch maker and had completed his watch making studies in Melbourne back in the 70’s. He was happy to take on the vintage quartz. 

Rob confirmed that the movement needed a good clean and he kept in touch with me as he progressed the service. He explained to me how the simple step-motor worked to keep accurate time and how inherently good quartz movements could be quite long lived because there was less friction in the drivetrain compared with mechanical watches powered by a mainspring.

Within a couple of weeks the watch was back in my possession, running beautifully, and ready to be reunited with its now-repaired original bracelet. Quartz watches from this 70’s can be remarkably accurate, some within 10 seconds per year. This watch, a 3863, is accurate within 10 seconds per month. 

The economics? The total cost of this watch including original purchase, service, and components was under A$200. For a professionally serviced, and incredibly accurate vintage Seiko, that is good value in my book.

I am expecting many more decades of useful service from this lovely watch.