Ricky,
I am with Dave on this one. Score them.

I wouldn't pitch the hands on the Sportsmatic, they might be a ringer for the 6105 diver hands. They look like they could be, you would have to do research to find out and if they are someone would pay dearly for them. Not sure it's just a guess at this point.

I have a few Seiko's with the 7123 movement in them and have had that movement worked on. I think there is an adjustment that can be made to speed them up or slow them down.
They are a serviceable movement.

Re: I am with Dave on this one. Score them.
I'll give it a go. The customer is a traveling sales rep whom I see only bi-weekly, or sometimes weekly if he's got a lot going on with us. So it'll be a bit before I have a chance to make an offer.

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Mark C.
I wouldn't pitch the hands on the Sportsmatic, they might be a ringer for the 6105 diver hands. They look like they could be, you would have to do research to find out and if they are someone would pay dearly for them.

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Mark C.
I have a few Seiko's with the 7123 movement in them and have had that movement worked on. .. They are a serviceable movement.

If I do end up owning the watch.. Well, we'll see. I might be willing to get it rebuilt, assuming it's not too dear. But, frankly, if the cost is in the ballpark with a mechanical COA service, then I'll probably just go DIY and install a modern quartz movement.

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Mark C.
I think there is an adjustment that can be made to speed them up or slow them down.

There is indeed. And I've tried that. As I expected, it had no apparent effect. The trim pot is intended to compensate for a few seconds a day or week gain/loss, not a 300% + alteration of the going-rate.

But 'twas worth a try!

Keep us posted. (n/t)

Oh, no worries there. (n/t)

I would try to keep both! (n/t)

Here's a link to the service manual, and a thought...
[thewatchsite.com]

Now in there it mentions a Friction spring for the fourth wheel and pinion, and how it needs to be lubricated at the contact point... So perhaps it's either too much pressure, or no/gummed up lube... If it was putting to,much drag on the works, well, that would slow it down, perhaps..

Thanks mate! Though.. well, I glommed ALL the tech manuals off WUS many moons ago.

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Flasharry
..too much pressure, or no/gummed up lube..that would slow it down, perhaps..

Could be. Something is sure enough slowing it down!

I'll say this, though.. it's rock solid and steady, not "jerky" or inconsistent at all. It's just slower'n Christmas.

Thanks mate!

Choose 2 nice quartz watches from your collection, and trade them for both Seikos.
Honestly, you could probably find 20 watches in your collection that you would not miss.

Then restore both Seikos properly. Win/win!

Doh! Why...

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Dave M
Choose 2 nice quartz watches from your collection, and trade them for both Seikos.

..didn't I think of that?

Too obvious, I suppose.

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Dave M
Honestly, you could probably find 20 watches in your collection that you would not miss.

Oh, aye! At least 20.

And, now that I ponder it, I'm thinking he'd be all over something with more "modern" styling.

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Dave M
Then restore both Seikos properly.

Well.. "proper-ish" anyway. The OEM crystal for the Sportsmatic is apparently pure unobtanium, so I'm not sure your could really do a sure 'nough 100% Proper Restoration.

Bro. Dave!

No brainer I would keep the auto
I think there is more to a vintage auto.
Since the auto caliber is working, you could easily recase it in a better case or work on the case/crystal.

As far as the quartz, new battery, polish case, band may be a new crystal and your friend will be happy. Looks like he doesnt care much about watched anyways. Give him the quartz

That's the Conventional Wisdom, sure. But surely you've noticed that I frequently don't subscribe to Conventional Wisdom.

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JP
I think there is more to a vintage auto.

Again, Conventional Wisdom.

But looked at a certain way, when it comes to Vintage Watches, automatics are Common As Dirt. After all, practically every Vintage watch 4 decades old or older will by definition be an automatic, or at least a mechanical. They're A Dime A Dozen. OTOH, a 32 year-old vintage quartz is something you don't see every day.

Then, too, there's this: While I've owned a couple in the past, I currently have no in my collection. The contrarian curmudgeon in me, the one that causes me to Root For The Underdog so often, likes the idea of owning a Quartz Seiko Five as my nod to the venerable Seiko sub-brand.

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JP
Since the auto caliber is working, you could easily recase it in a better case or work on the case/crystal.

No re-casing of the Sportsmatic will be entertained.

The case is A-OK.. over-polished caseback aside, it's perfectly serviceable.

However. Having now field-stripped the watch, I can tell you that the crystal is one Odd Duck indeed. I am convinced that I can adapt a generic hi-dome acrylic crystal, but "adaptation" it will definitely be, requiring some modification to the commodity crystal. But that's a whole post unto itself...

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JP
As far as the quartz, new battery, polish case, band may be a new crystal and your friend will be happy.

Again, case, bracelet and crystal are salvageable on the Quartz .

The real problem is the movement. My initial experimentation tells me that not only is a new battery not gonna Do The Trick, neither is the adjustment range of the trim pot sufficient to regulate the glacial going-rate.

So. Either I rebuild the OEM caliber 7123 (ain't going there!), look for a used donor movement (maybe, if the price is right), or swap in a modern equivalent.

I'm leaning towards the latter. Cheap, simple, practical. But if I find out Quartz Fives are sought-after to the point where it's financially viable to Keep It Original, I will do so..

And I'd love to hear more on that latter. Bro. Catalin? Bro Obsidian? Any and all Quartz Fans?

The 7123 is a rather rare beast...
and As such, I'd say its worth the effort...
My watch guy is a pretty good quartz restorer .. PM me..

Re: and As such, I'd say its worth the effort... My watch guy is a pretty good quartz restorer
Well. Perhaps I was hasty in saying "ain't going there" in regards to rebuilding the OEM 7123.

Obviously I would prefer to keep the watch original, assuming I can do so without selling any body parts, robbing a bank, or such-like inconveniences.

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Flasharry
.. PM me..

It may be a day or two - I've already started working on the Sportsmatic - but I'll do so!

Bro. Harold!

Though the 5 quartz is more scarce......the 7625 is also becoming scarce as well....
The crystals are pretty specific as well. I have a gold example that I have not been able to source a crystal for, let alone a stem and crown. It actually is with Boris my watchmaker right now, getting a crown installed. No dice ona a crystal though. Funny thing, the legendary Sea Horse housed that very same caliber. As for the 5 quartz....I have never seen the like. I always thought part of the "5" moniker was automatic. Very interesting piece there....that I would try to fix for sure. Try shorting out the battery contact, or, maybe a run in a jogging machine would do the trick......

Re: No dice on a a crystal though.
There's a bloke on eFlay with a ton of vintage NOS Seiko crystals. No affiliation, nor can I vouch for him, but you can find him HERE.

His interface is not very intuitive.. hover your mouse over the "More Options" button to see spedific applications. He does have some to fit the 7625... But, unfortunately not the specific one I need.

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dano0
As for the 5 quartz....I have never seen the like. I always thought part of the "5" moniker was automatic.

A popular misconception, it would seem. I thought so too until I laid eyes on this one.

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dano0
..maybe a run in a jogging machine would do the trick......