Doing case work on a seiko helmut

Walrus · Dec 21, 2021

I was working on a deal for a seiko helmut and during our talks my friend sent it to me at basically no cost. Excuse the lack of pictures but it’s night here and I know they will come out poorly. I love the shape of the helmuts but this one is a little rough. The case has its original brushing but just wasn’t well cared for. Some normal person must have worn it and just figured it was a watch. So I can enclose pics at a later time but anyone ever “restore” a seiko and have work done on a case on a vintage seiko. Since it didn’t cost anything I could just clean it up and wear it but I also have room to put some money into it and feel ok. I’m in the US east coast I’ve been so busy since I got it I just put it aside for now. Just examine my options. I’d be curios if seiko themselves does such work but that might be cost prohibitive there are many other watches to buy still. My watchmaker will take a look but he’s on a “two week vacation” to Brazil which then means he will be backed up upon his return. He must do well cause he spent three weeks in Portugal during the spring. So yeah anyone with any experience on vintage seiko cases I’d appreciate the feedback. Even if it’s pointing out I’m being unreasonable.

whisper.tick · Dec 28, 2021

If it's the 6139-710x then you'll have a hard time replicating the original finish on the top side of the lugs. I've yet to see this done properly as it calls for specialised tools to get the contours right. Side of the lugs and case can be easily replicated. Seiko don't offer case refinishing for this as far as I know.

All in all, if I was in posession of such a case, I'd use it as is and be on the lookout for a better one if need be. The chances of making it worse while trying to refinish are far greater than the likelihood of any improvement to the case itself.

Walrus · Dec 28, 2021

W whisper.tick
If it's the 6139-710x then you'll have a hard time replicating the original finish on the top side of the lugs. I've yet to see this done properly as it calls for specialised tools to get the contours right. Side of the lugs and case can be easily replicated. Seiko don't offer case refinishing for this as far as I know.

All in all, if I was in posession of such a case, I'd use it as is and be on the lookout for a better one if need be. The chances of making it worse while trying to refinish are far greater than the likelihood of any improvement to the case itself.

Thank you

waterchestnut · Jan 13, 2022

Walrus
I was working on a deal for a seiko helmut and during our talks my friend sent it to me at basically no cost. Excuse the lack of pictures but it’s night here and I know they will come out poorly. I love the shape of the helmuts but this one is a little rough. The case has its original brushing but just wasn’t well cared for. Some normal person must have worn it and just figured it was a watch. So I can enclose pics at a later time but anyone ever “restore” a seiko and have work done on a case on a vintage seiko. Since it didn’t cost anything I could just clean it up and wear it but I also have room to put some money into it and feel ok. I’m in the US east coast I’ve been so busy since I got it I just put it aside for now. Just examine my options. I’d be curios if seiko themselves does such work but that might be cost prohibitive there are many other watches to buy still. My watchmaker will take a look but he’s on a “two week vacation” to Brazil which then means he will be backed up upon his return. He must do well cause he spent three weeks in Portugal during the spring. So yeah anyone with any experience on vintage seiko cases I’d appreciate the feedback. Even if it’s pointing out I’m being unreasonable.

You could take a look at Lapinist watch restoration. He specialises in doing work on seiko cases mostly. If I'm not wrong, he's got an instagram account where he sporadically posts some of his work. There was also an interview article with him awhile back. He's located in Poland if I remember right.

Walrus · Jan 13, 2022

waterchestnut
You could take a look at Lapinist watch restoration. He specialises in doing work on seiko cases mostly. If I'm not wrong, he's got an instagram account where he sporadically posts some of his work. There was also an interview article with him awhile back. He's located in Poland if I remember right.

Thanks I’m in the US would it make sense to go that route? I’m not big into Instagram but I should probably get the app as apparently there is a lot of watch stuff. I was looking at some cases on eBay but it’s hard to tell the condition. I just like the hec out of this watch as it’s so odd I got like 50 bucks into it but the way it sits on the wrist is just so odd I love the darn thing with all its dings and marks. Plus a buddy knew I was looking for one and did me a solid by just sending it off to me. I could pick up a nicer example but I’d like to (if possible) clean this one up as it has some sentimental value now. TBH I can just wear it as is also it’s not like everything has to be perfect for me. Keeps excellent time, chrono and date change working fine and I get a laugh every time I wear it, it’s such a unique look. A couple pics but sun set long ago so they won’t be that good. I do have the original bracelet but I just through it on an extra leather strap I had laying around. So pics will give some idea of its rough life but just poor lighting right now. Thanks again for the name.

waterchestnut · Jan 13, 2022

Walrus
Thanks I’m in the US would it make sense to go that route? I’m not big into Instagram but I should probably get the app as apparently there is a lot of watch stuff. I was looking at some cases on eBay but it’s hard to tell the condition. I just like the hec out of this watch as it’s so odd I got like 50 bucks into it but the way it sits on the wrist is just so odd I love the darn thing with all its dings and marks. Plus a buddy knew I was looking for one and did me a solid by just sending it off to me. I could pick up a nicer example but I’d like to (if possible) clean this one up as it has some sentimental value now. TBH I can just wear it as is also it’s not like everything has to be perfect for me. Keeps excellent time, chrono and date change working fine and I get a laugh every time I wear it, it’s such a unique look. A couple pics but sun set long ago so they won’t be that good. I do have the original bracelet but I just through it on an extra leather strap I had laying around. So pics will give some idea of its rough life but just poor lighting right now. Thanks again for the name.

Guess it depends on whether you'd like to ship the watch overseas to get work done. I won't comment on prices as it would definitely vary based on individual cases. You could maybe try to drop him an email to get a rough quote on your watch. A quick google of "lapinist watch restoration" should return his email contact details. He gets alot of GS/KS jobs but there are also posts of him doing work on 6138/6139s as well. From what I recall, your watch should be a 6139-7100. It has a slightly more unique finishing in that the bezel has a more polished finish as opposed to the rest of the case which has more matte brushed finish, that I would guess requires more work to do(note that I have 0 experience in doing any casework).
On a side note, your model of watch should most likely have come on a fishbone bracelet (ref: Z050S). You should be able to note the ref number on the backside of the straight end links. The bracelet design is that of two fatter side links and a much thinner mid link, which I've always thought looked real nice with the hidden lugged case. Not sure if you've heard as well but there is a general recommendation to leave the chronograph running to minimize wear to the clutch. I would say a nice find for 50 bucks!

Doing case work on a seiko helmut

Walrus

whisper.tick

Walrus

waterchestnut

Walrus

waterchestnut

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