Seiko Cronos

Shay · Feb 12, 2021

Hi Guys,

i came across this Seiko which I find interesting. The seller is looking for £200. What I like about this watch is the 1950/60 look. I don’t know too much about the movement etc..

I am attaching some pictures and would be grateful if the expert can give me their view before I go ahead.

thank you in advance and thanks to OF

snunez · Feb 12, 2021

Looks nice. I'm not an expert, but for $200, I'd buy it.

sleepyastronaut · Feb 12, 2021

I love the Cronos. The Cronos is a predecessor to the King Seiko, and thus a predecessor to the 44GS. Yours predates the hacking lever. It's a very nice movent based on a FHF that can run near Chronometer spec if it's been regularly serviced. Compare pics with the example shown here: https://wristsushi.proboards.com/thread/16478/seiko-cronos-50m-divers

There's some moisture damage to the dial around the minute track, you have to decide whether you can live with that. You want to make sure the crystal and bezel are intact, as the bezel in this generation has a tendency to crack when removing it to replace a crystal.

Caseback looks good, not too much wear.

Relatively easy to service, but parts can be unobtanium, make sure nothing is missing, and it's in good running order before you pull the trigger.

Shay · Feb 12, 2021

Thank you very much. Looking at the dial again and the moisture your pointed out I am not sure even if the price is cheap. I start to find these early Seiko liner, cronos, lord marvel super interesting. But need to get one in good condition. A question, I am assuming these watches didn’t have lume and radium on the dial?

sleepyastronaut
I love the Cronos. The Cronos is a predecessor to the King Seiko, and thus a predecessor to the 44GS. Yours predates the hacking lever. It's a very nice movent based on a FHF that can run near Chronometer spec if it's been regularly serviced. Compare pics with the example shown here: https://wristsushi.proboards.com/thread/16478/seiko-cronos-50m-divers

There's some moisture damage to the dial around the minute track, you have to decide whether you can live with that. You want to make sure the crystal and bezel are intact, as the bezel in this generation has a tendency to crack when removing it to replace a crystal.

Caseback looks good, not too much wear.

Relatively easy to service, but parts can be unobtanium, make sure nothing is missing, and it's in good running order before you pull the trigger.

sleepyastronaut · Feb 12, 2021

S Shay
Thank you very much. Looking at the dial again and the moisture your pointed out I am not sure even if the price is cheap. I start to find these early Seiko liner, cronos, lord marvel super interesting. But need to get one in good condition. A question, I am assuming these watches didn’t have lume and radium on the dial?

IMHO the dial damage is not that bad, just wanted to make sure you noticed. Since it's only at the outside edge, it wouldn't put me off. Overall, I feel this is an attractive watch. In my experience, everything JDM from this era either has some degree of dial damage, or has been redialed.

Some of these pre-divers had lume, some did not. Seiko used some uncommon lume materials, not necessarily Radium or Tritium. I can't say for sure, but this doesn't appear to have lume.

sleepyastronaut · Feb 12, 2021

Also, this may have a replacement crown, which is quite common for this era. Just fyi

Dan S · Feb 12, 2021

I think the dial damage is priced in at 200 GBP, but personally I would probably look for a better one. In this price range, you might as well find an excellent example if you're going to invest in a service.

Shay · Feb 12, 2021

sleepyastronaut
Also, this may have a replacement crown, which is quite common for this era. Just fyi

Thank you very much!

Shay · Feb 12, 2021

Dan S
I think the dial damage is priced in at 200 GBP, but personally I would probably look for a better one. In this price range, you might as well find an excellent example if you're going to invest in a service.

Thank you for your advice!

Tony C. · Feb 12, 2021

Excellent watches, and well worth collecting, I'd say.

Shay · Feb 15, 2021

Tony C.
Excellent watches, and well worth collecting, I'd say.

Does anyone know whether Seiko Cronos special comes in SS or only in GF?

sleepyastronaut · Feb 15, 2021

Pic from a long gone eBay auction

sleepyastronaut · Feb 15, 2021

Another from AWC

http://antiquewatchat.blogspot.com/2014/11/seiko-cronos-special-diashock-09-rare.html?m=1

Shay · Feb 15, 2021

T

sleepyastronaut
Pic from a long gone eBay auction

Thanks

Shay · Feb 17, 2021

S Shay
T

Thanks

@sleepyastronaut i have a guy who is offering the set of the 3 cronos divers. The J10328 is not looking too good. Would be great to have your view on the 3. He is offering them I individually at £250. It has been service at least he says, but I need to I investigate more.

sleepyastronaut · Feb 17, 2021

Is this the set from diverdave on wristsushi? I'd like to see movement shots, and better shots of the crown, but that's a very impressive collection.

Shay · Feb 18, 2021

sleepyastronaut
Is this the set from diverdave on wristsushi? I'd like to see movement shots, and better shots of the crown, but that's a very impressive collection.

You are right the collection is from Diverdave!

Shay · Feb 19, 2021

Just received today

sleepyastronaut · Feb 19, 2021

Congrats!

Dibs!

JamesTYO · Feb 23, 2021

I have a Cronos Sea Horse. The hands on this are wrong, thanks to a mix up with a watchmaker I have them on another donor watch and need to get them moved over. (These are for the lumed version, my dial is the non lumed one).
Nice watches, fiddly cases, to me one of the earliest really decent Seiko's and of course the precursor to the divers.
I happened to get this one on its original strap - mostly vintage straps are the worst thing about old Seiko but this one has quite a bit of charm despite being a bit beat up.