This is the first of three Seiko Elnix I will be posting on my blog. I bought one to produce a video on (link below) I had to buy a donor watch in order to complete that video and the donor I bought was too good to then use. Things got out of hand and before you knew it I had bought 4 Seiko Elnix in total!
I was disappointed in the overall condition of the watch in the video so used the serviced movement in one of the three watches I will post on this site (consecutively)
Below is the photo from the video, at first glance the watch looks fine but closer examination and that dial was horrible and the lacquer was pealing from a serious battery leak.
This one is an absolute stunner. I paid little for it as it was a non runner and the crystal was a right mess. It also came as just a watch head with no strap or bracelet.
This case design is a well used one from Seiko, I have seen it in many models over the years including some of the really early high end quartz watches. It is quite eye catching especially coupled with this stunning silver linier brushed dial.
The Elnix movement is fascinating. These watches are from the mid 70s where technology was being pushed in the way of the introduction of quartz watches which Seiko were leading the charge.
These were more of a mechanical movement but the power came by way of a battery and a transistor. The regulation came from a conventional balance wheel.
Above is the dial side of the movement with the day wheel removed.
Here is the movement side.
You can see here a circuit board and a balance wheel with adjustable regulator and moveable stud arm. Timing is achieved in the conventional way by adjusting these arms whilst on the timegrapher.
There is not a quartz crystal in sight on this one!
The balance is made up of two wheels with one wheel having two magnets on them.
A circular coil is fitted between the balance wheels and once under power creates opposite magnetic force to make it spin.
The pallet fork also has a magnet on it but what is most interesting is the watch runs in reverse to a mainspring watch. Rather than the mainspring power the train on this the battery makes the balance wheel turn which in turn pushes the pallet fork, the fork moves a very interesting looking escape wheel and the power is transferred up the train. Hence why the pallet fork has very long jewels.
Everything this close to the balance is brass to avoid magnetism in the wrong places.
I found this type of movement absolutely fascinating and well worth taking a look at one if you are a fellow watch tinkerer.
The case is comprised of a few components, this silver one the old crystal I suspect was not original. It was glass and very scratched up and glued into the aperture.
There is a photo of the same model just a blue dial version I am currently working on.
To fit a new flat crystal I first of all had to measure the inner diameter of the bezel ring it sits in. I then needed to purchase a nylon gasket that would fit around the crystal. Then look at the inner diameter indicated on the gasket packaging, in my case 28mm. You then can buy a suitably sized crystal to suit and then press it in. You then have to press that crystal, bezel and another gasket that sits at the bottom of the bezel, into the case. Once done all is good.
You then end up with a watch that looks as good as this!
Here is the video of the restoration of one of the Seiko Elnix 0703 movements.
