Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice

[MJMcRibb]

Non-footwear violation, but I need to challenge @CWOyaji and his thrifting skills.

I present to you my $3 Seiko Japanese market chronograph from 1969. First chrono I've ever found, and I found it on accident at a small charity thrift store here that hasn't sold me anything for at least a year. When she told me the price I nearly tripped over myself in my rush to get my money out of my wallet.

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I'm sure this will never happen to me again so I have to gloat while I have the chance.

Nice find! I thrifted it's American market brother last year. Replaced the pusher gaskets and have been wearing since.

 

[suitforcourt]

Nice find! I thrifted it's American market brother last year. Replaced the pusher gaskets and have been wearing since.
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Your thrift finds are always mind boggling. Nice pick up.

 

[Nealjpage]

Nice find! I thrifted it's American market brother last year. Replaced the pusher gaskets and have been wearing since.
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Fellow watch nerd?

 

[Quantum17]

Fellow watch nerd?

Too many people sharing my quirks, vintage shoes and watches. You guys are freaking me out. I thought I was weird and (more importantly) rare.
Edit: add in meme for illustration

 

[friendlygoz]

My late father didn't go to thrift stores. But he always had some really nice watches. My grandpa was a fan of Omega which my brother took.

The GP is a gyromatic but it runs 5 minutes fast every day. I asked an horologist about fixing it. He offered to buy it from me, which I will never sell. Maybe one day I will get it fixed.

@wasmisterfu mentioned that GP has great stuff. Me, I'm more a Seiko range kinda guy.

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That’s a great watch. 5 mins off. Wow. Pay 20-30 bucks and get it regulated or 100 more than that to get it serviced.

 

[friendlygoz]

Too many people sharing my quirks, vintage shoes and watches. You guys are freaking me out. I thought I was weird and (more importantly) rare.
Edit: add in meme for illustration
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oh, it’s a thing. I love both. I know it’s a thing because my 10 year old son makes fun of me for my shoes and watches. I have may more of the former. It might be time to rebalance by addition.

 

[happypebble]

oh, it’s a thing. I love both. I know it’s a thing because my 10 year old son makes fun of me for my shoes and watches. I have may more of the former. It might be time to rebalance by addition.

You need to carefully instruct your offspring on the ins and outs of the vintage shoe game. EBay him a pair of vintage Florsheims. Sorry, son, your Reeboks have mysteriously disappeared.

 

[CWOyaji]

Non-footwear violation, but I need to challenge @CWOyaji and his thrifting skills.

I present to you my $3 Seiko Japanese market chronograph from 1969. First chrono I've ever found, and I found it on accident at a small charity thrift store here that hasn't sold me anything for at least a year. When she told me the price I nearly tripped over myself in my rush to get my money out of my wallet.

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BTW here are the days of the week on the inner dial. It's showing Wednesday, which is the character for water in Japanese.
Sunday: 日 (Sun)
Monday: 月 (Moon)
Tuesday: 火 (Fire)
Wednesday: 水 (Water)
Thursday: 木 (Wood)
Friday: 金 (Gold)
Saturday: 土 (Earth)

 

[suitforcourt]

That’s a great watch. 5 mins off. Wow. Pay 20-30 bucks and get it regulated or 100 more than that to get it serviced.

The horologist quoted me $300 (Canadian) to service. He charges 150 for a regular Seiko automatic.

 

[Nealjpage]

BTW here are the days of the week on the inner dial. It's showing Wednesday, which is the character for water in Japanese.
Sunday: 日
Monday: 月
Tuesday: 火
Wednesday: 水
Thursday: 木
Friday: 金
Saturday: 土

Oh! I asked my son about that because he's interested in Japanese. He said it meant water, and since it was raining yesterday, he wondered if the watch somehow knew that. (Clearly it doesn't.) I will let him know.

 

[stook1]

My late father didn't go to thrift stores. But he always had some really nice watches. My grandpa was a fan of Omega which my brother took.

The GP is a gyromatic but it runs 5 minutes fast every day. I asked an horologist about fixing it. He offered to buy it from me, which I will never sell. Maybe one day I will get it fixed.

@wasmisterfu mentioned that GP has great stuff. Me, I'm more a Seiko range kinda guy.

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Very nice watch, sir! Once you get it properly regulated perhaps consider switching to a different type of strap. I think it would significantly enhance the look. That is unless the bracelet has sentimental value, which I could very much relate to.

I have a vintage omega moonphase watch that was given to my Dad by my great uncle so that he could pace his walk to elementary school in the early 50s. My grandparents had a sterling silver ID bracelet custom made into a watch bracelet by a jeweler at the time. So I have received the same sort of recommendation but there's no circumstance in which I'd change the bracelet given the history.

I'll try to post a pic for the thread later. Speaking of difficult servicing, I really need to find someone to service this watch and I am sure it is going to cost me a boat load of money because of the complications.

 

[CWOyaji]

Oh! I asked my son about that because he's interested in Japanese. He said it meant water, and since it was raining yesterday, he wondered if the watch somehow knew that. (Clearly it doesn't.) I will let him know.

^Updating previous post with the other days' meanings, in case others are curious.

 

[stook1]

Yeah, I concur, that looks like an 8783 Saratoga to me.

Strange... not sure what to make of it but they are apparently model 8793. I didn't realize this until they'd already shipped so I guess we'll find out in a couple of days. I can't seem to find a reference to that model and I checked a bunch of the old catalogs. Maybe an SMU or something? Dunno. ?‍♂️

 

[wasmisterfu]

Strange... not sure what to make of it but they are apparently model 8793. I didn't realize this until they'd already shipped so I guess we'll find out in a couple of days. I can't seem to find a reference to that model and I checked a bunch of the old catalogs. Maybe an SMU or something? Dunno. ?‍♂️

Or the date stamp is partially faded, making the 8 look like a 9?

 

[stook1]

Or the date stamp is partially faded, making the 8 look like a 9?

I don't think so. We'll see... These were relatively inexpensive so I'm not gonna stress it but i'm not sure what to make of the model and it's a bit of a shot in the dark (pun intended) on the condition.