Vintage Seiko 6309-7049 - Keep or Sell?

Hello everyone. I've just joined the forum (due to some very imformative posts). I have been looking at getting a new watch for several weeks (budget is £200 - a gift from my in-laws) but the more I look at, the more I'm thinking that my battered old Seiko is worth hanging onto. I guess I've become quite attached to the old girl! I have only learned more about it from some posts on this forum and am now fascinated.

It works fine and is completely (as far as I know) original. A US serviceman gave it to me around 15 years ago in lieu of part of a financial debt that he owed me. I've used it daily both in the office, during heavy building work and even in the sea.

However, it seems to speed up by around 10 minutes every couple of weeks which, whilst it means I'm never late for a meeting, often results in me having a go at my wife for turning up late to collect me from work...when in fact she's right on time!

The glass is fine but the bezel is a bit battered so I'd like to get this refurbished if possible along with getting the timekeeping issue above sorted.

Can anyone give me some advice? What would you do? Does anyone in the UK sell spare parts for this watch? Could I replace the bezel myself or do I need to send it off to a professional?

Very many thanks in anticipation.

Hi rutland_jim ! Welcome to the forum !!!

I'm going to say that maybe you should keep this old Seiko sir. Mainly because it sounds
like you have a real history with the watch, and have become attached to the watch. Plus
it sounds like you have become interested in watches in general as well which is great.

Honestly think you will really be able to enjoy this watch for many years to come, and even
though I'm not a Seiko expert at all. You can probably have a local watchmaker near you
help you with servicing this watch, and maybe even help you with that bezel too.

By the way, here are just a couple of links I found in a search for Seiko parts in the UK for
you that may have, or be able to order different parts for this watch. One of them is actually
a post right here by Andrema (Mark) done a couple years back about a website that is called
seikoheaven. Here are those links...

https://xtrememeantime.forumotion.com/t4482-cool-site-another-resource-for-seiko-parts-and-all-things-seiko

http://watchpart.co.uk/seiko-m-85.html

http://www.time-repairs.com/watchrepair/SeikoPriceGuide.htm

http://www.seikoservice.co.uk/srv501.jsp?parmForm=srv501.jsp

http://www.kkhservices.co.uk/

I hope that this helps you out rutland_jim ! Let us know how it goes. ..Good luck to you, and once
again welcome to XMT !

Very helpful reply AT. Thank you very much.

I'll take a few days to check out the links you've suggested and come back with an update...

Kind regards and best wishes (from a very wet UK!)

rutland_jim wrote:

Very helpful reply AT. Thank you very much.

I'll take a few days to check out the links you've suggested and come back with an update...

Kind regards and best wishes (from a very wet UK!)

You are welcome rutland_jim ! Hopefully it helps you out, or at least leads you in
the right direction. ..Have fun, and good luck with everything.

Take care of yourself, and stay dry !

welcome to XMT!
I would keep it as well

everything you need is here,
https://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t208/yobokies/

some contact info here also
https://xtrememeantime.forumotion.com/t2965-yobokies-link-and-contact-information

great links Tom!

barnbuilder wrote:

great links Tom!

Likewise sir ! Hard to beat Yobokies !

Welcome, Jim. If your 6309 is all original, as you say, then if you can invest a few pounds to replace the bezel (not expensive at all) and have the watch cleaned/serviced, you would have an excellent much sought after Seiko diver classic. Many guys are looking for all original 6309s.
There is a very reliable fellow with the moniker TigerUK (John Bentley) on the SCWF watch forum who lives in the UK. He could do the work for you if you ever wished. His forte was Seiko Bellmatics but now he can work on most vintage models. It is his hobby so he is quite fair in his prices. Another person to get a bezel is from a Canadian watchmaker named Jake Bourdeau living in Hong Kong. He has the parts for your watch ( 10watches.com).