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It's a happy day, a new watch arrived A Tom Swift Touchup™ of a vintage Seiko automatic.

Ricky Lee
March 31, 2012 08:56AM
 Registered: April 2005
Posts: 13,412 (2012-05)

Sure ye've seen it before, but here's a "before" photo in case it slipped your mind.

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233

A Sportsmatic model 7625-8233, minted in March of 1968.

Full stainless, 38mm x 45mm x 12mm thick, with 19mm lugs. The movement runs like a champ, so the task here was a simple cosmetic cleanup...

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

I pronouce the operation a success. Smile

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

The toughest part was the crystal, as the OEM Seiko unit is pure Unobtanium, as far as I can tell. Frowning The OEM jobbie is a domed acrylic, and no aftermarket crystal I could find was quite close enough to work. Oops! However, all's not lost! I determined that, with a modicum of tweaking, a G-S Angle-Tite was physically compatible and..

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..while a flat-top crystal is not the optimum solution, I reckon it's better than no crystal at all. Laughing

I gave the case a pretty robust polishing, but the caseback received just the lightest kiss possible..

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..since it had already been polished to death. Eek!

This is a "before" photo..

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..but since the movement was untouched, it's still accurate. It's running +9 sec/day, and the power reserve is a respectable 39-¾ hours. Not too shabby for a 44 year-old watch! Thumbs up!

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

Those are aftermarket hands, courtesy of Uncle : The main hands are SKU HAN-6595 (.90mm/1.50mm), and the seconds hand an SKU HAN-6760 (.20mm). The OEM units are identical to the hands used on the storied 6105 diver, according to my sources. Alas, they had a severe case of lume-rot Oops!, thus the aftermarket hands. If I'd been able to source a domed crystal, I would have given re-luming the stock hands a go, to keep things as original in appearance as possible. But I figured with the flat-top crystal it's gonna be a mod regardless, so take the easy way out. Smile And I reckon I might be able to recoup a few bucks by peddling the takeoffs, given their compatibility with the 6105.

BTW, you'll note that the dial is far from perfect. See the "speckling" between 4 and 8? I believe that is a result of the aforementioned "lume rot" of the hands. My theory is that the substantial quantity of lume which flaked off marred the dial. Can't imagine what else could be the culprit, as the watch has quite obviously never shipped water. I blotted the dial with Rodico® putty, but was unwilling to try anything more aggressive. And, honestly, it looks A-OK to the naked eye. Cool No! Really! Whistle "The camera is merciless and unforgiving", right? Eek!

Speaking of WR.. I gave the watch my newly-developed Caveman Water Resistance Test. It goes like this: Once the crystal is installed, I torque down the caseback, install the crown, and submerge the case (sans movement!) in a pan of water for an hour. After towel then air-drying, I then open the case and check for water ingress. Granted it's a static test, no pressure involved, but I reckon 'tis better than nothing. Wink I am happy to report that this unit passed with flying colors. Thumbs up!

One things's for sure...

Seiko Sportsmatic model 7625-8233
Click HERE for larger photo or HERE for supersized photo

..it wears GrrrRrrrRrrrrRrrrrrrr8!, and runs just as good. WIS Honeymoon

Cheers!

-Ricky


"He closes his eyes..and sees the watches arrayed beneath greenish, randomly abraded glass, like fish from some warmer season frozen hard in lake ice. Bright highlights off steel and gold.

He has been colonized by an order uncomprehended: the multifold fact of these potent objects, their endless differentiation, their individual specificities. Infinite variety arising from the expression of dial, hands, numerals, hour markers... He likes the warm rain but he needs desperately to return, to see more, to hear the words.

He has become the words, what they mean.

Breguette hands. Tapestry dial. Bombay lugs. Original stem. Signed." --William Gibson, narrative describing Silencio, All Tomorrow's Parties

Messages In This Thread

It's a happy day, a new watch arrived A Tom Swift Touchup™ of a vintage Seiko automatic. Image Attachments URL

 Ricky Lee 171 March 31, 2012 08:56AM

Nice work. Thumbs Up (n/t)

 Dave M 14 April 02, 2012 07:42AM

Great work again Thumbs Up (n/t)

 Reto 16 April 01, 2012 07:27AM

Wow! That turned out great Ricky! Love that dial color. (n/t)

 Timemiser 15 March 31, 2012 09:06PM

Well knock me over with a feather and call me Susan!
Ricky, you impress the heck out of me. You are one talented so and so. Congrats on another spectacular restoration. I am positive your client is going to be thrilled!Cool

 Magnum 23 March 31, 2012 07:22PM

BRAVO!! I like that one sir! Brought that zombie back fo-real! (n/t)

 jinxed 17 March 31, 2012 03:46PM

This is great! Cheers!Thumbs up! (n/t)

 IF 14 March 31, 2012 02:59PM

Wow, back from the dead and lookng great!!! Thumbs up! (n/t)

 F1SportsFan 18 March 31, 2012 01:22PM

I salute you, SIR Tom Swift watch repairman par excellence! Clapping! (n/t)

 James T. Kirk© 17 March 31, 2012 12:07PM

Beautiful result. Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Thumbs Up (n/t)

 DJM 18 March 31, 2012 11:32AM

A big improvement! Clapping! (n/t)

 MCV 24 March 31, 2012 10:35AM

Thumbs Up Wow... great job... how exactly do you use putty to clean the dial? (n/t)

 ajt36 18 March 31, 2012 10:24AM

As mentioned, you "blot" the dial.
Press the putty directly onto the dial, pull it straight off. No side-to-side motion, no "rubbing".

Straight on, straight off, that's the ticket.

 Ricky Lee 20 March 31, 2012 03:04PM

Absolutely one of my favorite Tom Swift (c) restorations Thumbs up!
top job on the hand choice. The dial although not perfect in every respect under the micrometer is indeed perfectly consistent with the time and experience the watch has seen. One thing I truly love about watches is how each one has a truly unique personality. This fellow is just great Cheers!

 Ethan_Mack 24 March 31, 2012 10:23AM

Re: One thing I truly love about watches is how each one has a truly unique personality. Jpeg Attachments
Yes indeedy.

That's one of the things Gibson expresses in "All Tomorrow's Parties" (see tagline). The man truly gets watches...

Quote
Ethan_Mack
This fellow is just great Cheers!
Thanks mate, much appreciated.
 Ricky Lee 22 March 31, 2012 03:01PM

Thumbs up!Congratulations, it looks great. (n/t)

 Paul J Costa 17 March 31, 2012 10:03AM

Good job! Thumbs up! (n/t)

 Jimmy50 17 March 31, 2012 09:50AM

Great work Clapping! (n/t)

 wodo 18 March 31, 2012 09:47AM

Wow! What a turnaround!! I have a 7625 that desperately needs a crystal too!!!
Hmmmm......

 dano0 23 March 31, 2012 09:31AM

Re: Hmmmm......
Be warned that it's not a "drop-in replacement" for this case style.

But it obviously will work, with a little futzing. Thumbs up!

Got photos of your 7625? Whistle

Wink Cheers!

 Ricky Lee 20 March 31, 2012 09:43AM

I'll post later...at work and cannot post now....stay tuned....check email! Wink (n/t)

 dano0 18 March 31, 2012 10:06AM

Super restomod! I like the hands on it. Who would ever know flat/ domed difference?!Clapping! (n/t)

 itschris 23 March 31, 2012 09:22AM

I got to admit I'm pretty jazzed about how it turned out. Innocent Now..
..let's hope the customer is pleased, too. Wink

Quote
itschris
Who would ever know flat/ domed difference?!
Well, I do. Whistle And it did bother me quite a bit, at first. Oops!

But I'm pretty much over it now. Laughing
Quote
itschris
Clapping!
Blushing

Thank you! Bro. Chris.
 Ricky Lee 21 March 31, 2012 09:37AM

Hard to believe the beautiful dial was hidden behind that old crazed crystal! Eek!
She looks GREAT Ricky! Thumbs Up Thumbs Up Cool

 cmoy 19 March 31, 2012 09:10AM

Yeah, I wasn't even 100% sure the dial was gray 'til I pulled the old crystal. Wink
Thanks Bro. Chris!

 Ricky Lee 20 March 31, 2012 09:31AM

GREAT work Ricky! Thumbs Up Cool (n/t)

 cmoy 16 March 31, 2012 09:40AM


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