A statement on the current Seiko Epson Corporation website makes it clear that the Marvel watch from 1957 was a very important watch, and arguably, the most significant in Seiko’s history. It reads “The Seiko Marvel was the first original mechanical watch made by Epson”.
In the lead up to the release of the Marvel, the movements that powered many of Seiko’s wrist watches were sourced from the Swiss watch company, Moeris. In 1950 Seiko introduced the Super, their first central seconds watch, with a redesigned wheel train although it is believed the movement otherwise remained a Moeris design.
But in 1957 Seiko introduced the Marvel, its first wristwatch to be designed and manufactured entirely in-house. This set the pattern for decades of amazing innovation by Seiko including Japanese firsts and world firsts.
The Marvel came in a number of versions including 17, 19, and 21 jewels, anti-shock, and Diashock. The watch in my collection is a 1957 19 jewel version with “anti-shock” which according to one online source was probably an incabloc design, and subsequently replaced with the Diashock system.
My watch has a stainless steel case, gold-plated indices (?), and what is called a “red movement” because of the copper content in the metal (see photos). It has a press-on case back, and keeps remarkably good time. General consensus is that the watch would have originally come with a brown alligator grain leather strap but I have selected a black Seiko branded strap.
The dial has some corrosion and scratches but is not bad for a 66 year old watch and I am embracing its “well-used” look. The crystal was unfortunately in pieces but I have replaced it with a “well-used” but serviceable alternative.
There is not much more to say except that there is something very special about owning one of Seiko’s first in-house watches. It is bloody marvelous!
By Greg Smith
Renovator's Notes: The stainless steel case on this watch was in very good condition. With the back off, there was some green vertigris corrosion around the edges of the movement and I assume that was related to the copper content in the metal. The watch was running well and I decided not to go for a full service and clean right now. I brushed the vertigris off with a nylon brush and then applied a little watchmaker's oil around the edges with a cotton bud and wiped it clean.
The dial has a number of scratches, black dots and other evidence of degradation. I had never tackled a damaged vintage dial before and contemplated doing a renovation. I read extensively on line, watched a number of videos, and came to a firm conclusion - DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR A DAMAGED VINTAGE DIAL. It is not for amateurs.
I won't give too much detail here, but essentially there are a number of layers in a watch dial and they are intertwined. Attempting to correct a problem in one of those layers is likely to simply damage the others.
The learned view seems to be that if dirt cannot be removed by very gentle application of a water soaked cotton bud, or if you want to be daring, a cotton bud with a small amount of lighter fluid, there is virtually nothing you can do to improve the dial's appearance apart from sending it to a redial specialist.
Remove dust with a puffer, put everything back together, and embrace the wonderful patina of a vintage product. I am glad I followed that advice.
REFERENCES:
https://adventuresinamateurwatchfettling.com/2020/04/04/origin-of-the-species-a-seiko-marvel-from-1956/
https://corporate.epson/en/about/history/milestone-products/1956-6-seiko-marvel.html
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