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Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

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Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post02 Jan 2006, 16:43

Hi All,

I am interested in adding a vintage Seiko LCD Caluclator watch to my collection. Although I am very familar with LED Calculator watches, I am on uncharted grounds with the LCD Seiko. I have been following the watches sold on eBay for a while but am unsure of their current / future value and collectability. No two-tones or gold looking ones. I would like to add a real nice looking stainless steel one - Thanks!!!

Input from forum members would be most appreciated.
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fronzelneekburm

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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post03 Jan 2006, 03:14

Its already worth a small fortune in mint and complete condition. But I personally would never use digital watches as an "investion", its a reliable watch, but there is always a chance of something getting broken after so many years.

The value of vintage digital watches increases from year to year, but so do inflation and chances something gets broken. :wink:
It will always stay pretty collectable I think as its one of the first LCD calculator watches and there are also many people collecting Seiko digital watches (especially japanese).


If you want it as a collector, then buy a cheap used one without box/paperwork and you will most probably have a stylish nice watch for many years.

A real "die hard" collector would of course want it in mint condition and never wear it. But you didnt sound like one of these to me. :wink:
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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post07 Jan 2006, 17:08

Just thought I'd add my two pennies worth ...

I have a large collection of Seiko LCDs from 74 onwards, as well as LEDs from the same era, and specialise in Calculator watches in particular having more or less now got all my holy grails.

As for investment/value, yes ! I bought my first LED in 75 and still have it, and have been pileing them up ever since. Overall I would say they are an investment, especially mint/boxed/complete and unusual or well made watches such as Pulsar/Omega/Hamilton/Seiko. Ive noticed some of mine at least doubling in value in past 5 yrs. Partly becuase of net awareness and ebay etc, but partly becuase many of these 70s designs are timeless classics.

Theres another factor too - people hitting late 30s or ealry 40's who've now got a bit of disposable income, all buying into things of fascination from their youth. Whether it be a Pulsar LED, arcade games, or a Harley :)

Anyway, which particular Seiko Calc were you after ? they made quite a few variations ...
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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post09 Jan 2006, 16:54

Hi Diginut,

Thanks for your input. To answer your question, I really do not know what model to add as my "first" Seiko LCD calculator watch. I am in the process of researching what would a nice one to start with.

I never thought I would add a vintage LCD watch to my collection.

Any input as to a particular model to be on the lookout for would be appreciated.
Last edited by collector on 03 Mar 2006, 20:08, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post10 Jan 2006, 19:15

Below I've shwon an OTT pic of my classic calculator watches. Most shown are in very good condition and useable. Some I've owned for nearly 30 yrs too ! If I have a so called 'mint' one, I usually have a bakup nice one to wear instead as its so easy to scratch up a mint one.

Pics like this have inspired me in the past to want to collect the other ones I now own, and its certainly not intended to piss people off - after all whats the point in collecting stuff if you dont share it with other like minded people ?!

As for which Seiko LCD Calc to choose - thats all down to personal preference, like, will it sit comfortably on your wrist. Personally I usually end up wearing the seiko shown top row 2nd in from left, or one of the squarer C153s shown middle of top row, or the Pulsar Calc becuase its got the wrist-flick feature to read the time. In fact I can probably justify each one when I start thinking about it :)

That Pulsar was ahead of its time went it came out in 76.

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dot matrix

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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post11 Jan 2006, 05:18

Pretty impresive collection!

What is the one in the top right corner?
LED watches are quiet and polite. No ticking, no tocking, no beeping, no buzzing; they will only tell you the time when you ask to see it and they will do so instantly with no attention-seeking animations. A more civilized watch for a more civilized age.
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Seer Taak

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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post11 Jan 2006, 07:45

Looks like a National Semiconductor model? Uli Sick has one slightly broken one for sale http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NATIONAL-Calculat ... dZViewItem Are you by chance more of an LCD, than LED fan Diginut? I like them both, but many folk seem to be more atracted to the bright lights of the LED's :)
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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post11 Jan 2006, 12:00

Gold star to abacus :D I think I am going to start posting ?guess the watch? puzzles using pics taken from weird angles to see who can solve it first. Watch this space, err, sorry, forum.

It is indeed a super rare 1977 National Semiconductor scientific calculator watch. Also occasionally discovered with ?Novus? on the front keyboard flap, and sometimes without the funky 70s kitchen worktop swirly patterns on the flap.

Its unusual in that its got scientific functions, not just the basic 4 functions, but daftly has a 6 digit display which shrinks to 3 digits plus exponent when the numbers get big.

It been a real surprise to see two dud ones come up on ebay this month, as they are the first ones for 2 yrs. I spent years trying to find a worker and now only know of 3 working ones in collectors hands. Time for someone to start an ownership register !

Does anyone out there have any detailed info about this watch ?

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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post11 Jan 2006, 16:30

Thanks a lot Diginut - The National Semi Conductor Calculator watch is simply a great design!!!!!! What would you estimate a fair price for one, in excellent physical / working condition to be?
Last edited by collector on 03 Mar 2006, 20:08, edited 1 time in total.
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Seer Taak

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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post11 Jan 2006, 19:35

peter Wenzig has one on his site http://www.digitalwatches.de/ENGLISH_INDEX.HTM. Dont know if that was one of the 3 known collector's examples that Diginut mentioned? Not much specific info on the watch, but some nice pics. There's also no price mentioned, which suggests very expensive! I'm sure I saw one on a site a year or so ago that was priced well above the lowly prices that most LCD's get. I may be wrong, but I think the price was north of $500. Good luck in your hunt collector :)
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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post11 Jan 2006, 20:59

Seems like the Nat Semi is widely admired - and so it should be becuase its such a bold design. Another thing I like about it is the chunky wide strap. Dunno why, but I like watches that are big n heavy, but not blockly like the compuchron calc.

As for values - hard to say because theres just so few ever surfacing. I've only ever seen problem ones on ebay, and those go for $100-300 for novelty value I guess. I only know of one good condition working one changing hands, and it was for a shade over $1,000 included in a bigger deal.

Dont forget, mint HP01s with all the bits can easily pass the $1,750 / ?1,000 point, and theres loads of them out there !

Hell of a watch though - its got the lot:- calculator, stopwatch, funky LED display, an alarm, complex appearance, can do maths in units of time or other bases, and even tells the time :) Amazing. Only down side is you need a big wrist !
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Seer Taak

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Re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post15 Jan 2006, 03:43

Just took another look at peter Wenzig's website again. There is one on offer in his for sale section. 980Euros to you collector, although, with luck, I imagine Peter's open to a bit of negotiation :?
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re: Vintage Seiko LCD Calculator Watch Question

Post16 Feb 2007, 16:05

Diginut Do you have the Manual for the Citizen Round Calculator Watch the middle row third one from the Left if so how can i get the details for it

Regards Big-John

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