Key Features
Smart, complicated Day-Date-Alarm timepiece from the golden years of Seiko, authentically Made in Japan with top level precision in every part. Seiko is one of the most undervalued brands, the quality being heads over the typical Swiss standard brands from the same period. This timepiece is all original, including its stainless steel bracelet – the only thing added is a sapphire crystal for better scratch resistance. This timepiece has some cool and unique features! The alarm feature is unusual, and the black and red on/off indicator is a very nice addition. The watch also features a day wheel that is written in both English AND Japanese.
Ref 5C23-600A puts the production date at about 1985. The new battery should last for the whole warranty period, though dependant on the usage frequency of the alarm feature. The upper-left winding crown is for setting the time and day-date, with two click positions. The lower-right winding crown is for setting the alarm, which is activated when a red dot appears in the aperture near ‘ALARM’ on the dial.
About Seiko
The Seikosha Co. was founded in 1892 in Tokyo by Kintaro Hattori. Initially, the company only produced wall clocks, however they gradually introduced other timekeeping devices into the mix, with pocket watches in 1895, watches with alarm functions in 1899, and finally wristwatches in 1913.
The brand name of “Seiko”, meaning “Precision” in Japanese, was first used on watch dials in 1924, and became the official brand name after the founding of the Daini Seikosha Co. in 1937. In 1959 Seiko founded another company, Daiwa KogyoLtd., which was later renamed to Suwa Seikosha Co. These two companies, Daini Seikosha and Suwa Seikosha, continued to produce Seiko-branded watches on an internally-competitive basis. Eventually, Daini became Seiko Instruments, Inc. (SII) and Suwa became Seiko Epson Corporation.
In 1960 the company launched the famous Grand Seiko brand, which in time would become a ‘halo’ brand specialising in understated, elegant, and precise watches. Eight years later, Seiko would reach the highest score ever attained at the Geneva Observatory Competition, receiving the award for “best mechanical wristwatch chronometer”.
The success of the Seiko brand only grew, and in 1987 they became the official timekeeper for the IAAF Athletics World Championship in Rome. Then again in 1991 at the IAAF Athletics World Championship in Tokyo, again in Stuttgart in 1993, Gothenburg (Sweden) in 1995, Stuttgart again in 1997, Sevilla in 1999, Edmonton (Canada) in 2001, Paris in 2003, Helsinki in 2005, and Osaka in 2007. They were also the official timekeepers at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 1964, and Barcelona 1992.
Today, the Seiko Watch Corporation belongs to the Seiko Corporation as a subsidiary of the electronics giant Seiko Epson. In addition to the brand Seiko, the brands Pulsar and Lorus (cheap and fashionable quartz watches) as well as the brand Grand Seiko (mostly mechanical and good quality watches) belong to the Seiko Watch Corporation.
Servicing and Guarantee
This timepiece has been serviced with full disassembly. There is a 12-month guarantee, subject to the usage and care guidelines. The watch comes with its original stainless steel bracelet.
Overview
Case and Strap
- Clean-looking Tonneau style case.
- Stainless steel case body.
- Sapphire crystal.
- Stainless steel screw caseback.
- Pull-out crown.
- Original stainless steel bracelet.
- Dustproof.
Dimensions:
- Width 34.4 mm.
- Full height 38 mm.
- Thickness 9 mm.
- Strap width 19 mm.
Dial and Hands
- Matte black dial.
- Baton style indexes with original lume.
- “SEIKO” signature below numeral 12 position.
- Alarm feature with colour coded indication below signature.
- Day-date window over 3.
- Pencil style silver-tone hands with original lume.
- Silver-tone centre seconds hand.
Movement
- Japanese-made movement.
- Seiko 5C23A caliber.
- Quartz day-date-alarm.
- 5 jewels.
- Quickset date.
Testing Results
- Testing duration: 2 weeks cyclic test.
- Average timekeeping range: 10 – 3- sec/day.
Servicing and Guarantee
- Fully serviced.
- Mechanics in full working order.
- Original stainless steel bracelet.
- 12-month guarantee.
- Guarantee Terms and Conditions.
