New $1,350 Seiko Diver is +12 per day!! Options

[Lol-x]

I recently got a Seiko Apocalypse Now - Captain Willard (SPB1151J1) diving watch.

Its a great looking watch but its running +12 per day. This should not be a surprise as the stated Seiko accuracy tolerance is -15 to +25 seconds per day.

Notwithstanding the above, I still am not really happy with a watch that gains double digit seconds per day

So my options appear to be:
1. Go to Seiko Service Centre and just ask them to adjust it to be -12 seconds from what it currently operates;
2. Go to an independent watchmaker and ask him to do the same as in paragraph 1 above.
3. Buy a case opener and a Witchi timegrapher and carefully try to adjusts it myself (watching YouTube videos as a guide).
4. Stop wearing the watch and slap on a Rolex.

I'm leaning to option 3 but it involves spending more money (approximately $150-$200), and it means I have more 'stuff' sitting around which I will seldom use, and take up my time. But it is a hobby and could be fun and satisfying if I can achieve my goal without damaging the balance or in some other way cause a disaster.

What would you do?

[jestrada]

#2

Unless you’re a truly experienced watch tech or don’t mind ruining your watch, I’d stay away from DIY projects…


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[Screwly]

#4 all day every day

[KatGirl]

#3. If I can do it, YOU can do it….

Kat


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[Old Expat Beast]

1 or 2. Seiko diver casebacks are hard to get off with a handheld remover as they're much tighter than non divers in my experience, so easy to scratch up. I'd give it a couple of weeks or so to settle in first though. I've also slowed down a 6R movement by leaving it face down overnight. Worth a try.

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

1 or 2. Seiko diver casebacks are hard to get off with a handheld remover as they're much tighter than non divers in my experience, so easy to scratch up. I'd give it a couple of weeks or so to settle in first though. I've also slowed down a 6R movement by leaving it face down overnight. Worth a try.

+1 . 6R movements are by definition a "hit or as miss", they may be spot on or +-30sec/day so this is definitely worth a try before following the watchmaker route (I won't consider shipping the watch to Seiko as it's still within spec).

[Cru Jones]

I would do Option #5: nothing. ;)

The watch is within specs. In 5 days, it’s “only” a difference of a minute. I wear watches in rotation with gaps long enough that the watch will stop anyway.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

I would do Option #5: nothing. ;)

The watch is within specs. In 5 days, it’s “only” a difference of a minute. I wear watches in rotation with gaps long enough that the watch will stop anyway.

Beat me to it Exactly the same thought

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

I would do Option #5: nothing. ;)

The watch is within specs. In 5 days, it’s “only” a difference of a minute. I wear watches in rotation with gaps long enough that the watch will stop anyway.

Originally Posted by Andad

Wear it just for show Stav.

When some one asks you the time just give them the hour and the minutes

Don’t sweat the seconds.

Originally Posted by brandrea

Beat me to it Exactly the same thought

All of the above. Or, option 3 since I like to check under the hood.
dP

[Andad]

Wear it just for show Stav.

When some one asks you the time just give them the hour and the minutes

Don’t sweat the seconds.

[toptier]

No biggie. Touché, but if you wanted practical accuracy then you should've went for a quartz watch or just pull up your phone.. with that said, I'd rather wear a Rolex between the two if accuracy is of utmost importance. Design-wise both are likeable anyway

[Lol-x]

Practical accuracy doesn't require a quartz watch or a telephone

The 6R35 movement is easily capable of +/- 5 seconds per day if it is regulated.
Seiko sets the daily deviation at +25/-15 because its putting the price point of the watch at a lower level.

If Seiko set the watch up at the factory at +/- 5 seconds per day the production cost would be much higher. At the same time, it would invite many more warranty services over the warranty period for regulation to bring the watch back into the +/-5 seconds per day specification. These all add up to a higher purchase price which, although the watch was not cheap, hopefully it was cheaper than might otherwise be the case.

So you get what you pay for, but at least the quality of the Seiko 6r35 movement is such that it gives the enthusiast the opportunity to take matters into their own hands without a significant additional expense or inconvenience to enjoy COSC like daily timekeeping accuracy.

[1William]

I would call around and find an Independent Watch maker that can do the regulation and that you are comfortable with. Why spend more money than needed. Buy equipment that you might only use on occasion and run the risk of damaging or not being able to get the watch back in the state that is acceptable. I own a lot of Seiko's and they are all over the place for timing and I typically just leave them alone. Good luck sorting this out and let us know what you decide and the outcome.

[Kinnakeet]

I’m a huge Seiko fan and GS mostly. I agree with you being unhappy. Today I am considering the purchase of an SLA055 or 057, maybe even the Willard. I understand what the tolerances are for those. But I can’t help to feel these tolerances are very sloppy and lazy for a watch in this price point. If I do make the purchase I will have the AD put the watch on a machine first. Would hate to come home with a very slow running watch.

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

1 or 2. Seiko diver casebacks are hard to get off with a handheld remover as they're much tighter than non divers in my experience, so easy to scratch up. I'd give it a couple of weeks or so to settle in first though. I've also slowed down a 6R movement by leaving it face down overnight. Worth a try.

Thanks Adam, I'm not in a hurry to do anything, so I might give it a couple more weeks and see how it goes (face down at night).

[fskywalker]

#3


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[Rolexken]

My seiko experience is that they take a few weeks to settle down so do nothing for a while, then experiment with the 6 different positions to park the watch overnight. Then personally I would go for #1 if desired. But give it 3 months

[dchang81]

Both my SLA033 and SLA025 were around +8. I remember reading on other forums when I got them that was not unusual, most often they can be regulated to good accuracy but they don't leave the factory that way which is a shame. Also from what I understand Seiko won't do a thing since it's "within spec"

[Aussiexplorer]

I self regulated my Turtle, its around plus two seconds per day now. Fiddly, but if you are careful, a great option. I had a buddy with a timegrapher and a pressure tester to help.

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Aussiexplorer

I self regulated my Turtle, its around plus two seconds per day now. Fiddly, but if you are careful, a great option. I had a buddy with a timegrapher and a pressure tester to help.

Sounds great, but without your buddy, the cost of just the equipment could be $$$!!!

[Quin]

Cant it be done without the timegrapher? I just bought an 051 diver that’s like 10 seconds a day fast

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Quin

Cant it be done without the timegrapher? I just bought an 051 diver that’s like 10 seconds a day fast

It can be done, but it can be very time consuming. You'll need to check every 24 hours (or similar) and re-open the case and re-adjust accordingly. With a TG you'll see the -/+ rate change as you're adjusting.

[Quin]

Thanks it really doesn’t bother me, my Oris is the same way. I’ve read about people doing by eye.

[Chester01]

Give it time. It may settle. My seiko turtle was about +11/12 when I got it, about 6 months in its +6 per day.

[Lol-x]

I spent $100 on a no-name Model: 1000 timegrapher from China.

Looks like I'm getting myself into trouble

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

I spent $100 on a no-name Model: 1000 timegrapher from China.

Looks like I'm getting myself into trouble

I have one, too. Some of us do. I’d expect it to settle in after awhile. It is within Seiko specs right now. Wait and see if it settles down.

Kat


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[Lol-x]

Thanks, I just ordered a timegrapher from AliExpress app it will take a month to arrive.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Thanks, I just ordered a timegrapher from AliExpress app it will take a month to arrive.

J said yahhhh.

[Lol-x]

Are these 3 point caseback removal tools recommended?
I don't want to waste my money, and I don't want to damage my watch.

CasebackTool.jpeg

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Are these 3 point caseback removal tools recommended?
I don't want to waste my money, and I don't want to damage my watch.

Attachment 1283731

That's what I use, and only had a problem when I tried to open my Seiko Turtle. You need a caseback holder, too, and one that can hold the Willard case securely. Part of my problem when I scratched the Turtle caseback up was probably that the holder didn't get a great grip on the case, as well as a the caseback being on tighter than all the vintage Seiko and GS that I generally can open with ease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uj-gwze508