This morning my Seiko Kinetic SKA427 stopped. I shook it a few times and the minute hand remained motionless. I shook it again. Nothing.
Panic set in. Was I going to have to take my Seiko, purchased only 6 weeks ago, in for repair?
I shook it again for about a minute and the minute hand started ticking. I think I'll wear it every day for a while to give it a charge.
My guess is that it takes longer for a kinetic Seiko to "communicate" with the rechargeable battery that it's getting charge and may take a good minute of shaking before you see the second hand ticking. In contrast, my Seiko automatics, like the Black Monster, start ticking within a few seconds.
If you want to avoid this in future purchases of Kinetic watches, get one that features "Direct Drive" which is where the crown can be spun freely to charge up the power unit. I guess the delay you saw was the time taken for the battery voltage to rise up to a level required by semiconductors to begin operating. While the voltage rises towards a minimum threshold nothing will happen. A mechanical watch is different because all that's needed is a fraction of tension in the mainspring and a little nudge of the balance wheel to get it going.
Posted by: Ulysses | January 23, 2013 at 08:20 AM