Comments on: Seiko Type II Quartz — A Piece of History http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/ Japanese Watch Enthusiasts Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:01:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.11 by: rukseiko1979 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-6778 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:55:48 +0000 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-6778 I have a 7546 (7546-8370 A1) which I bought new in 1979 (hence the username I chose!) for which I paid 70 GBP (Seventy British Pounds). It has a black face and both Day and Date. Although at the time it was quite expensive, relative to my nett take home pay of around 30 GBP per week, I was subsidising the purchase with money from an insurance payout (motorbike 'written off' in accident in which my previous (Oris) watch had been destroyed) so was not penny pinching. Also, from what I remember, there wasn't a plethora of 'value' brand (cheaper) watches available to choose from at that time. Anyway, my Seiko 7546 has outperformed (reliability and battery life) all the other watches that I've been given and it's outlasted many of them which either stopped working completely or I got fed up with due to the need for frequent battery renewal. I reckon that I do get around 5 years from each batter, although I never bother to record each change, so I don't know for sure. A few years ago I bought a 'tool' to unscrew the back so that I could fit a replacement battery myself, which I wanted to do as a matter of principle because I had been quote 15 GBP by a High Street shop to supply and fit a battery. Doing it myself cost 5 GBP, including the 'tool' and next time (around 2012) it'll be only the battery at approx 1 GBP! :-) I now wear my 7546 every day, have never had it 'serviced' and don't worry about accuracy (although I'm sure it's fine) because I regularly check that it's around 5 minutes 'fast' which helps to prevent me being late because I'm 'last minute' kind of guy! :-) So, my experience seems to be the same as that of "IT1949" in post 18. with my 70 GBP spent in 1979 being a good investment, although it is possible to buy a very similar looking brand new 'Seiko Quartz' watch for about the same price today, in 2010, 31 years later!? I have a 7546 (7546-8370 A1) which I bought new in 1979 (hence the username I chose!) for which I paid 70 GBP (Seventy British Pounds). It has a black face and both Day and Date.
Although at the time it was quite expensive, relative to my nett take home pay of around 30 GBP per week, I was subsidising the purchase with money from an insurance payout (motorbike ‘written off’ in accident in which my previous (Oris) watch had been destroyed) so was not penny pinching.
Also, from what I remember, there wasn’t a plethora of ‘value’ brand (cheaper) watches available to choose from at that time.
Anyway, my Seiko 7546 has outperformed (reliability and battery life) all the other watches that I’ve been given and it’s outlasted many of them which either stopped working completely or I got fed up with due to the need for frequent battery renewal.
I reckon that I do get around 5 years from each batter, although I never bother to record each change, so I don’t know for sure. A few years ago I bought a ‘tool’ to unscrew the back so that I could fit a replacement battery myself, which I wanted to do as a matter of principle because I had been quote 15 GBP by a High Street shop to supply and fit a battery. Doing it myself cost 5 GBP, including the ‘tool’ and next time (around 2012) it’ll be only the battery at approx 1 GBP! :-)
I now wear my 7546 every day, have never had it ’serviced’ and don’t worry about accuracy (although I’m sure it’s fine) because I regularly check that it’s around 5 minutes ‘fast’ which helps to prevent me being late because I’m ‘last minute’ kind of guy! :-)

So, my experience seems to be the same as that of “IT1949″ in post 18. with my 70 GBP spent in 1979 being a good investment, although it is possible to buy a very similar looking brand new ‘Seiko Quartz’ watch for about the same price today, in 2010, 31 years later!?

]]> by: IT1949 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-6609 Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:26:08 +0000 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-6609 I have a 7546 quartz watch that I have had for some 30 years, it's in use daily, but it does not feature the Type II logo. Ok it is showings signs of age now but still keeps perfect time and gives me no problems whatsoever. I remember taking it into a jeweller some years ago to have a new battery fitted and he commented on how large the movement was compared to the more modern watches. As I recall at the time when it was bought it wasn't the most expensive of watches but as my Father said "buy the best you can afford" so I did and that investment has paid off handsomely. I have a 7546 quartz watch that I have had for some 30 years, it’s in use daily, but it does not feature the Type II logo. Ok it is showings signs of age now but still keeps perfect time and gives me no problems whatsoever. I remember taking it into a jeweller some years ago to have a new battery fitted and he commented on how large the movement was compared to the more modern watches. As I recall at the time when it was bought it wasn’t the most expensive of watches but as my Father said “buy the best you can afford” so I did and that investment has paid off handsomely.

]]> by: garfre http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3815 Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:53:03 +0000 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3815 Bryan, very interesting article on the meaning of the type II quartz watches. I'm attempting to determine the initial production year for five of the Seiko analog quartz caliber series originating during the 1970's: 46, 58, 71, 78 and 82. Any help would be greatly appreciated. As an aside I have a dozen tuning fork watches humming along. Eleven are Bulova Accutrons with the 218 movement and one Omega f300. I use the Energizer 344 battery in all of them with no problem (the 214 Accutrons can be touchier with the 1.5 volt battery). Regards Gary Bryan, very interesting article on the meaning of the type II quartz watches. I’m attempting to determine the initial production year for five of the Seiko analog quartz caliber series originating during the 1970’s: 46, 58, 71, 78 and 82. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

As an aside I have a dozen tuning fork watches humming along. Eleven are Bulova Accutrons with the 218 movement and one Omega f300. I use the Energizer 344 battery in all of them with no problem (the 214 Accutrons can be touchier with the 1.5 volt battery).

Regards

Gary

]]> by: ptolemy http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3589 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:10:54 +0000 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3589 Ya, he was a pretty interesting guy in his prime :) I have seen some on yahoo.jp auctions over the last 6-12 month. but they are very rare. i think i seen maybe 3-4 total. he does not wear the watch nowdays, i have tried to get it cleaned up, replace battery but he wouldn't listen. i do not have pictures and he is out of my reach for 3 month; however when we talk on the phone i will ask him ig he left it at the house and if so, i'll go and snap few pics. from what i remember, the watch looks exactly the same style as one you pictured. just a bit different hands and different color of the dial i remember, back in early 90's, he used to heat the back a little to open the screw. he said that the screw kinda snapped into place after, so it had to be heated to open. i can only guess that the screw is made so that u would not need to open the hole case and that the battery can be replaced by anyone. regarding of what he did, drop me an email :) Ya, he was a pretty interesting guy in his prime :)

I have seen some on yahoo.jp auctions over the last 6-12 month. but they are very rare. i think i seen maybe 3-4 total.

he does not wear the watch nowdays, i have tried to get it cleaned up, replace battery but he wouldn’t listen. i do not have pictures and he is out of my reach for 3 month; however when we talk on the phone i will ask him ig he left it at the house and if so, i’ll go and snap few pics.

from what i remember, the watch looks exactly the same style as one you pictured. just a bit different hands and different color of the dial

i remember, back in early 90’s, he used to heat the back a little to open the screw. he said that the screw kinda snapped into place after, so it had to be heated to open. i can only guess that the screw is made so that u would not need to open the hole case and that the battery can be replaced by anyone.

regarding of what he did, drop me an email :)

]]> by: bryanandersen http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3578 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:30:43 +0000 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3578 Hi ptolemy, That must have been quite an experience for your stepfather, traveling to Japan on business in the mid-'70s. If you don't mind my asking, what business was he in? I've never heard of a Type II with a battery hatch, although I know models from when your stepfather was in Japan, like the Quartz Superior, Crown Quartz, and King Quartz used 48xx stream quartz movements with those casebacks. If you do happen to take some pictures of his watch, I'd be interested to see them. Regards, Bryan Hi ptolemy,

That must have been quite an experience for your stepfather, traveling to Japan on business in the mid-’70s. If you don’t mind my asking, what business was he in?

I’ve never heard of a Type II with a battery hatch, although I know models from when your stepfather was in Japan, like the Quartz Superior, Crown Quartz, and King Quartz used 48xx stream quartz movements with those casebacks. If you do happen to take some pictures of his watch, I’d be interested to see them.

Regards,

Bryan

]]> by: ptolemy http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3573 Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:05:29 +0000 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3573 Hi Bryan, Very cool article! My stepfather was in Japan a few times in the 70's for business. He was there last in 1976 and he bought a type II seiko. it is a bit different than yours though. For one, it has a screw in the back(i have since seen some of the watches on auctions have them, but they are quite rare). I cannot remember how long his battery was but i do have full model info written down which is: 4622-8000 and dates to august 1976 i do not have pictures of it though:( the screw looks like this (from scwf archive) <u>http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/index.php?mod=103&action=1&id=1160924232</u> thanx for the article:) Hi Bryan,

Very cool article! My stepfather was in Japan a few times in the 70’s for business. He was there last in 1976 and he bought a type II seiko. it is a bit different than yours though. For one, it has a screw in the back(i have since seen some of the watches on auctions have them, but they are quite rare). I cannot remember how long his battery was but i do have full model info written down

which is: 4622-8000 and dates to august 1976

i do not have pictures of it though:(

the screw looks like this (from scwf archive)

http://www.larrybiggs.net/scwf/index.php?mod=103&action=1&id=1160924232

thanx for the article:)

]]> by: bryanandersen http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3566 Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:39:23 +0000 http://www.gmtplusnine.com/2008/06/07/seiko-type-ii-quartz-a-piece-of-history/#comment-3566 Hi Mike, Good stuff, thanks for sharing! Regards, Bryan Hi Mike,

Good stuff, thanks for sharing!

Regards,

Bryan

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