I've had this great looking gunmetal Seiko diver for 4 months but it could have been sitting for years before it was delivered to me from Hong Kong. It wouldn't keep its charge yesterday after a long day of shaking it.
I'm hoping all it needs is a new capacitor and that the cost will be under $70. We'll see.
Update:
I dropped off watch at Watch City in Torrance and I will get more info tomorrow.
Bummer. It is an occupational hazard, though - of buying and owning so many watches. Similar to Ebay, where inevitably you're going to run into problems with buyers or sellers.
Too bad it is one of your very favorites, though.
Posted by: jonnybardo | March 05, 2013 at 08:12 AM
I'm assuming it will cost under 70. I'll get it fixed.
Posted by: herculodge | March 05, 2013 at 08:59 AM
It's nice.
Posted by: Angelo | March 05, 2013 at 09:50 AM
Jeff - Are you sending it to the Seiko Service Center in New Jersey? My watch was just delivered there today. Hopefully they'll send me a repair estimate soon.
Posted by: Gary | March 05, 2013 at 12:03 PM
I thought they started using batteries instead of capacitors for these things years ago. IIRC, the policy back then was to replace any capacitors found in watches sent in for service with batteries as they were found to be more reliable and less prone to sudden failure, as well as having a higher overall capacity. Unless it's from very old stock (and you can usually use the serial code on the back to figure out the production year - there's a guide online somewhere) i'd expect it already has a battery inside.
Posted by: Ulysses | March 05, 2013 at 12:37 PM
Here's an article that discusses the Kinetic, including the early ones that used a capacitor and the later ones that use a rechargeable Li-ion battery.
http://quartzimodo.com/the-seiko-kinetic-boon-or-bane/
Posted by: Gary | March 05, 2013 at 06:35 PM
I hope mine is a later one. It should be.
Posted by: herculodge | March 05, 2013 at 07:01 PM