Seiko Owner Seeking Help

[MJR123]

Hello, I’m new to this community and join for a slightly different reason to most I think. I have no experience fixing watches but have recently found a watch that my late Grandfather gave to me as a 13 year old. At the time I did not appreciate the watch and put it in a drawer, where it remained for many years, until I found it recently during a clearance of the house. 

I can now appreciate the watch, and although it is not the most expensive of time pieces it is a nice piece and needs to be restored to good working order. It is a vintage 1980s Seiko H601-5479 mens dual wrist watch (ani/digi). It is in relatively good condition externally but has no power. 

Ive taken it to a high street jewellers in the UK, who sent it to Seiko. Unfortunately Seiko etc were unable to fix it due to its age and parts being obsolete. They recommended a clock and watch repairers who has examined the watch and noted :

‘Leaking battery. Insulator present, contacts cleaned, battery replaced. No response from unit, apart from flash of LCD during swap of battery, possibly caused by static’

This repairer was unable to go any further with repair and suggested a specialist. 

Since this time, mid August (2022), I have contacted multiple specialists, all of whom have declined to accept the task of trying to restore power to the watch. 

I’ve seen that there are enthusiasts on this site that have repaired 1980s ani digi Seiko watches. Can anyone please recommend any repairers in the UK that may be able to assist me ? The watch holds sentimental value and will be kept as a personal item. I’d really appreciate any advice around this… who knows, worst case, it could become my personal reference point for learning to fix watches  

[HectorLooi]

Welcome to WRT @MJR123

I look on eBay for Seiko  H601-5479 and found many for sale or auction.

Your best bet would be to get a working donor watch and transplant the movement into your watch.

Since the watch is of sentimental value, it's best to practice on some scrap watches first before attempting the actual transplant.

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions. 

[watchweasol]

Hello and welcome to the forum.     If a watch suffers battery leakage it quite often destroys the watch cct   I think Hectors advice is the way to go and find a working donor.