Dodged a Bullet on an Old Seiko

[namor]

I’ve been a Seiko wearing fan since 1979. I’ve owned more Seikos in the intervening 45 years than I can remember - yet I can still make Seiko errors.

I put this old watch up for sale, trying to thin out my watch box, without really looking at it very closely. Fortunately for me, the Toxicavenger mentioned that it looked like a Dr Seiko mod and asked if it had the trip lock installed. It does have one and that let the penny drop for me: it’s a HOT ‘09

For those unfamiliar with that name - Randall Benson (RIP) aka Dr Seiko had a modding business called Hands Of Time ( HOT). I didn’t get along with him, but he was undeniably a very talented watchsmith. His specialty was the 6159, 6105 and 6309 Seiko vintage divers. He would completely disassemble one, rebuild it with all good parts, regulate it, and usually modify the case with a trip lock crown. As with this one, he’d put a sapphire crystal and put a very clean haze grey bead blast on it ( taping off the wave on the caseback to keep it shiny). The watches always ran better than new.

Tip of my hat to T for preventing me from making a costly mistake!

[Baffo]

Awesome!

[mattcantwin]

Good story; happy ending.

[rockmastermike]

It takes a village and our village is the best village

[kempoman]

Nice! I like the idea for vintage seiko modded by specialist.