Seiko

SEIKO 6139 Chrono: Making the old look better, Part 2

Yesterday I showed my friend's Seiko Chrono in a pitiful state (cosmetically), and promised to clean it up. I then threatened to put it away for a few months (to make the owner simmer). But I decided this morning to finish up its spa treatment.

In my world of old watches, we don't make it look like a new one you bought at the store, or sent to the Rolex factory. We just clean them up, give them a brush and polish, and hand them back. This watch was running fine, so I didn't mess with the movement, especially since many parts are no longer available. I know others may disagree with this philosophy, but once you start taking things apart (especially pulling hands) you are on thin ice...

Even though it had been in the ultrasonic tank for an hour last night, I cleaned up the case's bezel edges with a fine file, then with Rodico (a cleaning putty).

I put Seiko silicone grease on every gasket surface. That's on each pusher, on the crown, on the back gasket and the crystal gasket. This grease is extremely slippery and it helps to seal the watch, as well as protect the gaskets from damage when screwing down the case back.

Nothing was torn or stretched, so I simply put it back together carefully. By the way, that crown and stem is a very special piece. Rotating the crown in the rest position turns the inner (yellow) scale. Pressing in the crown gently changes the date. Pressing in the crown fully changes the day of the week. Pulling out the crown allows you to set the time.

You can only wind this automatic watch by moving it around - my wife calls these "Shake-O" watches.

The bezel gets pressed on with a crystal press.

Back screwed into the case.

And tightened down securely.

19mm across the lugs, so I dig out some new spring bars of the correct size.

Aha. Perhaps I should have spent more time on the crystal, but you can only go so far in reviving a hard-used piece of plastic. I know for sure that Jim can't see without his cheaters on, so this is probably not going to bother him (if he even notices).

It seems to be running quite happily. Chronograph is just fine; starting and resetting to zero as it should.

Did you notice it's a column wheel design?

So that's it. A clean watch, running again, ready for the occasional use - when I tell him how popular these are and what they are worth, he'll be more careful.

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SEIKO 6139 Chrono: Making the old look better, Part 2

SEIKO 6139 Chrono: Making the old look better, Part 2

Before and After

Vintage Seiko Chrono...

Wow, thanks for part 2...