This is quite a rare Seiko from 1972 as this was the first year of production of a 3803 movement which is a very early quartz watch. Seiko invented the firs quartz watch, the Astron in 1969, I have actually handled one and trust me they are extremely rare watches! A 1972 3803 is still very early on in the development of quartz movements. As such the mechanics were fantastic. Mostly metal parts, well constructed and clearly standing the test of time some 52 years later (as I type)
I bought this one direct from Japan as I knew about this model but equally fell in love with that dial texture and design. Raised indices and what can only be described as gold studs as minute markers.
Gold hands and a lovely black second hand with a fork on the heal. You can see they paid attention to detail on these and were probably one of the flagship 3803 series of watches at the time.
Watch came with no strap or bracelet and with a battery installed it would not run. It tried to but the most I could get was a few seconds of ticks. Great this is always what I want with a watch for the collection, one that needs work. I set about disassembling the movement and seeing what I could find. Instinct suggested that because it was trying to run it would be more likely just requiring a good clean and fresh oil.
What follows now is a succession of photos of the disassembly. The idea here is that perhaps people are out there looking for photos of the movement and components.
Once all stripped it was cleaned in the cleaning machine and assembled following the photographs you have just seen as reference.
I found this was a nice movement to work on, well made and laid out. Pretty much a mechanical watch with a circuit board and coil. As its a very early quartz watch these would have been state of the art no doubt that commanded a price so as such it would be high quality.
Once all assembled and battery installed it has ticked happily ever since. A watch well rescued I think.
The 3803 also had a model call the Morpho which was even more flamboyant! it boasts a beautiful blue dial combined with a stunning cut facet crystal. These do command prices of £500 upwards now and I have now got one, not in £500 condition and requiring much work to make it run again, a possible video in the future for the channel.
Here are the final shots of the watch all cleaned up. I was able to find a suitable bracelet that I think works quite well. Watch has very small 16mm lugs!
