Should you service your Seiko?

[@billkearney9990]

Thanks for sharing my experience Rob and yes the monster is still running great.

[@RandomRobReviews]

That’s great to hear.

[@pipczar]

Hey Bill, I live in the Phoenix area myself. Could I get the information on the watchmaker you went to? Thanks so much!

[@billkearney9990]

Blake Morrow Donaldson Watch Repair on Val Vista & Williamsfield

[@pipczar]

@@billkearney9990 Thank you so much! Beautiful monster!

[@pipczar]

@A S I'm a little North near the TPC and have been looking for a good watchmaker for ever...Rob is great. No BS look at so many watches.

[@weaselidt6580]

I wouldn't pay that much for a service when a new 7s26 movement and installation would be cheaper. Then I would have a used 7s26 to play with.

[@drwindsurf]

Thank you Bill for sharing your experience. Thank you Rob for another excellent video :)

[@kjeldpedersen666]

The way I see it a watch becomes a personal item if you like it. And if it doesn’t, sell it. The watches that qualifies as keepers in my collection I surely will get serviced if needed - and it has nothing to do with the price of the watch. Some people would argue that it’s insane from an economical point of view - but that’s just the way it is for me...😉

[@checksix_TC]

Agreed. Car enthusiasts also pay alot to restore a vintage classic car. If its worth keeping it's worth paying for the service.

[@indaleciomendez8442]

I'm with you on this one if I buy a watch it's because I really like it a lot and it don't matter how much I paid for it, as long as I get that watch serviced and runing I'll wear for another 10 years.

[@triples4good]

The mighty Monster looks pretty good except for the beat error. Best lume hands down. Also great Erikas strap.

[@greatlakescruiser5720]

Bruce did a vid re: his GS about a year ago and stated that the service interval specified by Seiko was every 3 yrs and that the price for the GS service was on par with a luxury swiss watch brand service. That's a pretty close interval for that kind of expense on what they claim is such a superior movement.

[@eyeheartsushi2212]

Great Lakes Cruiser Wow, 3-year service interval? I’d probably stretch that to 6 years if I ever go GS.

[@TheWayofGrace89]

If a Seiko craps out, throw it in a drawer and buy another one.

[@checksix_TC]

Just like having a pet, you pay for the vet fees in its old age, because of the love. Others pay a fortune to restore a classic car. I will pay to service a beloved time piece because it is valued companion telling me the time daily and timing my life's most memorable moments. A watchmaker is like a skilled surgeon. You pay for his skills, experience and knowledge.

[@nickdolin393]

I think generally speaking, watches under $1000 USD (price I picked), wear until they don't run well and/or stop running. Considering the price for service vs. price paid, I think it's better that way, but YMMV.

[@zeinharis8467]

Thanks for the explanation Rob, but one thing I know that magnetism will cause the watch to be gaining times not losing times cause in magnetism state the hairspring will be sorter, dry oils can be the main problem for losing times. One thing that interest me the most when we service our Seiko especially the divers is does Seiko do the ISO 6425 test again to the watch?!, I can't seems to find the answer for that.

[@agilewolf]

Its cheaper and faster to just replace the movement and in the situation with a gen 1 to upgrade to a NH35.

[@cokentutes]

I've got an automatic seiko field watch. 6 mos after purchase it does not deviate more than 13-16 secs / day since I got it. At this rate even though a $350 watch I will service it. Just because the 150-200 service will not get me this watch again. But will get me another 10 years of decent accuracy.

[@brandonar868]

If it ain't broke don't touch it.....

[@Rob1337]

Sent my srp309j into Seiko UK today, no doubt get an email soon stating it will be £200+ or so for the service and new glass

[@DJRWatchRolls]

Rob lift angle for a 4R35/36 and 6R15 is 53 degrees. 7S26/36 is 52 degrees if I'm not mistaken. Your amplitude will read more accurate if you change it on your timegrapher. Your beat error is fairly high. 0.5 and under is considered good.

[@pherble]

The Seiko Service Center in NJ have a terrible reputation for their responsiveness and customer service. I'd consider a trusted watchmaker or a Seiko certified watchmaker before I'd consider the service center.

[@5245]

Gee full cleaning service only costs like 50 - 60 dollars in where I live. It would be really great if someone figures out how to self service for specific seiko movement, and make a KZbin video about it for the people in a country where service cost is ridiculous.

[@bmassche]

Another option...Perrin watch in Canada sells 7d26 for 44 bucks Canadian. I've bought a few.

[@edteach3r]

$220 is pretty standard for a Seiko service. My watchmaker (an authorized Seiko dealer and amazing technician) charges that amount for any Seiko automatic, irrespective of the movement.

[@jnauttube]

Magnetism generally causes watches to run fast because the balance wheel has a much shorter travel due to the hairspring sticking to itself.

[@WLVFX]

Although I've never serviced a watch, but after watching Jodie's video on Just One More Watch, about servicing a Seiko at a Seiko service centre, I'd not go to one. Fair enough he's in Australia, but it's still a proper Seiko service centre, and had parts sent in from Japan. He also shows a price list, which might be the same document for all service centres. You can check out his video on his experience here- kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5i9ZGiGo6d3oaM Another commenter also states how bad it is too.

[@T.Q.]

I get sentimental attachment to my watches and even if sometimes paying that much for a service in comparison to its original cost price, sale price or full, I'd still go ahead with it. Having said that, I don't see anything wrong with sending it to a reliable third-party watch service centre, only thing is, there aren't many of those around and if they damage something they usually try to cover it up while an official service centre has unlimited access to parts and can easily replace anything that needs to be replaced. People spend a lot of money on things like after-market sapphires, ceramics or even hight end alligator/crocodile straps for their watches which sometimes amounts to more than what they paid for the actual watch, so I don't see anything wrong it paying to have your much loved watch being serviced to give you more years of joy. I don't see it as the same watch if you replace the whole movement because you got it cheaply just to avoid paying for service. I don't know, maybe other people see it differently, but I get attached to the things I love even if its a watch.

[@ytown4]

If the watch is special to you the price of servicing is totally worth it.

[@tobias_dahlberg]

If my Seiko SBDC065 would need a service I would, just like you said service the watch instead of replacing the movement or buying a new watch. It has sentimental value and so I wanna keep it original.

[@petesjk]

I would avoid the Seiko Service Center in the US. I had a terrible experience with them, and they didn’t care that I was unhappy with their work.

[@Trilogysworld]

How long will I have to wait before service on a seiko spb 187 divers 200 prospex

[@floridian9897]

Rob, being new to the hobby would the service process be pretty generic on different brands/models except where movement is specialized?

[@RandomRobReviews]

I have never had a watch serviced. Guessing it will be a very long time before I do.

[@mvjmiranda]

The amplitude on your watch is really good, but the beat error is a little out of wack. I would try to adjust it before sending in for full service.

[@A_Dude_And_His_Watch78]

Okay. I watch your videos enough I finally subscribed. It's just you and JOMW now.

[@adlanhaziq]

Matt Cowan WatchFinder?

[@timemachineeddie1146]

I used to just throw my Broken Seiko's in the Trash. The Jewels always told me it was cheaper to buy a new one. Today I sell my old worn out Monsters on e-bay. Describing their actual issues. That way they can still be used for parts etc. Great video and thanks for sharing.

[@jaredhill1021]

you might be able to get some of that beat error out yourself. Having the timegrapher makes that something that's doable at home. otherwise it looks good and the amplitude isnt bad. Personally I wouldnt service a 7s26. I'd just go for the NH upgrade as ive done on all my SKXs. I'll service my SARBs as the cost and availability of NE15 movements or new 6r15 movements makes it a harder sell to switch out for new.

[@rl7487]

I sent an SKX009 to the seiko NJ service center because it was running slow. They charged me for the overhaul. The watch was never opened and no overhaul was done and they sent the watch back to me as if it was serviced. Total fraud.

[@glennsmooth]

I’m about to completely tear down my 12 year old monster and also a seiko 5. Mainly for fun and education.

[@socrispy7114]

Seiko have a terrible service reputation, I will never send my watch to them again...

[@MrBaxtrax]

I wouldn't service it, Not when you can buy a shiny new 7S26 for under $100. Which is probably what the service shop did for you're friend, if they don't have a carton of 7S26 movements in the back room already. Can you service a Seiko? Yes. Now is it the best route on a sub $500 watch on the part of it's owner? Probably not. Personally I'd be more inclined to toss an new 7S26 or NH35 in it and call it a day. It's a difficulty level 2 using a basic watch kit off of Amazon. I know a lot of people are not inclined to do this, but honestly it's just so much easier to keep the the older Seiko's running this way, as opposed to a time intensive & costly tear down and cleaning of the entire movement. I wouldn't call a Seiko a throw away watch, as opposed to a watch that has inexpensive & user friendly replaceable movements. The only reason I would ever service one personally is if it were a one off "specialized" unobtainium movement variant. But if the heart of you're Seiko is a general workhorse movement it's way cheaper to replace than to repair it. I hope no one thinks I'm ragging on Seiko because honestly I would do the exact same thing with a generic Swiss running an unmodified Sellita SW200.😁

[@jefferyneu3915]

I definitely serviced my SRP309. It was under $200 when originally purchased, but is still very precious to me.

[@wapphigh5250]

Where did you get that specific Nato band? thanks!

[@wapphigh5250]

bump...anyone?

[@steveh4564]

I need that strap for mine!!

[@gislisnbjornsson690]

Rob - I would like a orange strap for my new Orange Monster. Uncle Seiko, nato or something else?

[@sealevelbear]

Noooooooo, forget about Seiko’s service center. Use your friend’s watchmaker, or find one in your area. Seiko is a horror show for customer service.

[@Jollopukki2]

Started to lose 20 minutes ? Or 20 seconds ?

[@pibblesnbits]

If your watch means anything to you don't send it to NJ seiko service. I wouldnt send my watch there for free under warranty and I am speaking form experience.

[@redastrachan8978]

I went there, (Mahwah, NJ), and was treated poorly.

[@pibblesnbits]

@@redastrachan8978 Seiko needs to do something about their service center in the USA, especially if they want to move upmarket.

[@redastrachan8978]

Ouch! (Anyway, my '05 Monster runs today *WITHOUT* their snarky 'Watchmaker'...)

[@clontstable1]

Also a new NH35 movement might be cheaper

[@GalaxysGreatestDad]

Anyone know the strap he has?

[@RandomRobReviews]

Erika’s original limited orange. Was a short limited run

[@bmassche]

Buy an snk809 and harvest the movement. Much cheaper than a service

[@Jon81G]

Beat error is out pretty bad. It's SO easy to adjust yourself; there are a few good videos on YT that show you how to accomplish it. Might as well just regulate the movement yourself....it'll save you some cash.

[@rctezluh42069]

thanks for this

[@hongsitu3429]

So when he was losing 19min a day it didnt bother him but it finally did at the 20min mark. Seiko fanbois are so forgiving.

[@RandomRobReviews]

Gotta draw the line somewhere, lol

[@robertspinks835]

That seemed dear thatsover 300 Australian they quote 183 Australian on seiko Website here if I remember correctly

[@phillipdahlenburg4015]

I had a Seiko prospect diver SRP 639k1 serviced by Seiko 3 months ago $253 Au

[@robertspinks835]

Phillip Dahlenburg my local watchmaker said around 170 for service when i showed my monster to him so seiko are always going to be a bit more. The joys of mechanicals servicing😬

[@phillipdahlenburg4015]

$250 is a lot but it’s unbelievable how accurate it runs now so it is worth it I guess

[@muchamadsaifurrachman3119]

Ninja tunder dinoshours

[@gorkemkyak1963]

do not if it is not an 8L series or a Grand Seiko. Just order a completely new movement and replace it with the old one. This way is cheaper than the service cost in many countries.