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By way of an epilogue to the most recent entry, I submit here a link to a review of sorts of the finished article. The video covers some of the ground presented in the full article but is in essence a watch review rather than a moving picture account of the restoration. Having said that, you will find insights therein to the question of the un-serviceable barrel, some footage of the running movement during its reconstruction and a brief comparison with the first automatic Grand Seiko, the 62GS.
I believe I am making some small advances in production quality, notably the lighting and sound. However, I suspect that my method of actually generating the content will not change a great deal as it involves quite a bit of talking off the top of my head, and then stitching together sequences to support some sort of narrative, and I feel comfortable with that approach. I am aware that I need to break up the action with a bit more b-roll (see I’m acquiring the YouTuber vernacular already) and that arguably this episode is perhaps a tad too long, but I’d be interested to receive any feedback, should you feel inclined to offer up any such.
Really beautiful watches and a work with them of authentic specialist, congratulations and thanks for making us enjoy watchmaking fans in general and the Seiko in particular
Thank you!
Hi Martin, I’ve never opened the back of a watch but do find your articles extremely interesting. Great attention to detail. Keep up the good work. Regards, Lyndsay (Perth, WA)
Thanks Lyndsay. I’m glad you are enjoying the content.
Well done. Posted a link to this at the forum. Always great information here.
Thank you!
Martin, can you help me or have any advice? I purchased a grand seiko 5645-8000 a couple of years ago, have had it serviced, which has made it keep good time, however the stem has been shortened too much and the dial is in a mediocre state. I need to get the dial sympathetically restored or replaced. find a gold emblem for the case back and then get the correct seals for the watch. I can’t seem to find a vintage GS specialist in the UK. If you could help I would be obliged to you.
HI Daniel,
I have a number of observations to make about your predicament but I’ll start by saying that I don’t take in work at all myself. However, I know of a couple of people in the UK who may be able to help. These are Richard Askham (watchspotblog) and Duncan Hewitt (thewatchbloke). I have used Richard in the dim and distant past and he is excellent. I have no direct experience of Duncan’s work but he seems to be in high demand and has a lot of experience with vintage Seiko.
As to your watch, I am doubtful that there is much to be done with the dial other than a clean. I have never seen a redial that looks anything other than a redial and in my opinion would diminish its appeal. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that you may find a dial on somewhere like Yahoo Japan, but that would require patience and persistence and there is no guarantee you’d ever find what you want.
Gold medallions are not available at all. Your options on that front are to find a complete, correct caseback (a long shot, but see above), to use a display caseback as a substitute or to buy an aftermarket medallion. I would emphatically not recommend the latter.
Good luck!
Martin