Watches, Pens, and the Craft of Analog Living
The first time I considered restoring a vintage watch dial, I almost made a catastrophic mistake. I had just picked up a 1968 Seiko 5 — caliber 7005 movement, beautiful original matte black dial with applied silver indices — for $45 at an estate sale. It had a few hairline scratches and some minor spotting … Read more
People assume that finding the best vintage watches under 200 dollars means settling for something beaten-up, unreliable, or just decorative. I used to think the same thing, until a $45 Seiko 5 with a 7S26 movement proved me completely wrong. That watch kept better time than a $300 quartz I’d owned for years. After a … Read more
The first vintage watch I ever bought cost me $45 at an estate sale — a beat-up Seiko 5 with a rattling case back and a crystal so scratched it looked frosted. I thought a quick clean and a new strap would be enough. What I didn’t know about vintage watch problems repair cost could … Read more
Buying your first vintage watch feels exciting right up until the moment you realize you have no idea what you’re actually looking at. I remember standing at a flea market in Portland, staring at a tray of watches, completely paralyzed. The seller told me the piece was “all original.” It wasn’t. That afternoon cost me … Read more