nos seiko 0624-5009

[holly35]

stunning new watch with double boxes and label,hang tags.launched1974 in japan it was hugely expensive costing 65000 yen,( £450 in todays money, plus import taxes and vat.) . the worlds first six digit display and the first digital watch seiko exported from japan. it replaced the O5LC,O5LCA,O6LC.these were produced for the home market only.
they had to be completley dismantled to fit new batteries.
this model ,(O6LCA) was much better ,having a battery hatch and a beautifully elegant case and bracelet.two versions were made,this the all steel model and a gold plate version.
now considered unobtainable in the condition

[LEDluvr]

I have one but not in as good condition as this.
I love this model. Elegant design, easy to read display, very comfortable wear and view with the built in 'tilt'.

I might be wrong, but I didn't they make a gold version too? Very rare?

[charger105]

Yes, very nice. I've got a beaten up one, which alas does not work.
Regarding the existence of a GF version, clockace picked up a beautiful example at a flea market or something. See here:

http://dwf.nu/viewtopic.php?p=21840&highlight=#21840

Rgds,
Andrew.

[holly35]

this is the gold plate model.beat up but works and sets fine,however an accumulation of 30 years dirt has left it needing a clean due to some digits that come and go.

[LEDluvr]

I had that same problem too Holly35, with some parts of the digits winking on and off. Ed was able to solve that for me.

[clockace]

mine had digit segments that would not function as well when i got it. that's how i got it cheap. i opened it up and cleaned all the contacts and the zebra strips with a q-tip and alcohol. reassembled and it works perfectly. wore it today as a matter of fact. kind of tricky to get it apart by depressing the springs between the lugs. the whole thing comes out including the front glass. make sure you remember how it came out and you should be able to get all the pieces back in correctly. peter

[Old Tom]

If you are going to dismantle one of these early Seikos then worth having a quick Google for the tech manual- there are at least five sites with copies (free!) available for download.

The 0624 came from Seiko's "how should you best make an LCD watch?" period and featured the main IC lying on it's back with the Gold plated legs pressing directly onto the LCD panel (no zebra strips)- if you lose segments invariably due to the tiny leg points getting dirty/displaced. And if you pop the plastic carrier off the IC be very. very careful when you replace it as it is all too easy to bend a leg on the IC.

And finally, RRP for the stainless Steel 0624-5009 was stg£149.95, Gilt version (0624-5019 unless some watch monkey has swapped the back) was stg£179.95 when released in the UK (I have three original/copy sales invoices for these from 1975)

[holly35]

please check out the following site
www.uniquewatches.net
or search seiko 06lca ,when you come to the japanese site listed above ,click on translate.it will take you directly to the 0624-5009.
it clearly shows this watch, otherwise known as the o6lca (0624-5009) with a price of 65000 yen in 1974,this is about £450. in todays money

[rewolf]

Regarding YEN and GBP: which exchange rate are you using? If the price was 65000 YEN in 1974, you must use 1974's rate to convert into GBP. TODAY it is ~440GBP (http://www.google.com/search?q=65000yen+in+gbp), but I'm sure it was different in 1974.

Edit:
Found this: http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates
1974 average: 1£ = 682.68797¥, 65.000¥ = 95.21£
2009 average: 1£ = 146.48375¥, 65.000¥ = 443.74£
Quite a difference...

[holly35]

65000 yen in 1974 was a huge amount of money then. looking back now it doesnt look too bad. £450 was an approx cost in todays money used as a comparison . about a weeks wages then ,and a weeks wages now, still very expensive.
would you agree this is the correct watch (O6LCA) 0624-5009 and cost as shown on this site?
also the g/f model number 5019 is strange because my gold plate version clearly shows the following on the case back
basemetal top stainless steel back 0624-5009 not 5019.this is obviously the correct back and model as the steel version has the same inscription less the basemetal top wording of course.
therfore you cant use a case back from the all steel model on the g/p version as the inscription would give it away.

[holly35]

Regarding YEN and GBP: which exchange rate are you using? If the price was 65000 YEN in 1974, you must use 1974's rate to convert into GBP. TODAY it is ~440GBP (http://www.google.com/search?q=65000yen+in+gbp), but I'm sure it was different in 1974.
i see what you mean regarding the cost comparison.so £95.21 in japan ,adding export taxes and vat takes it to £149.95 as per old toms response.
thanks i will clarify the article.
Edit:
Found this: http://www.oanda.com/currency/historical-rates
1974 average: 1£ = 682.68797¥, 65.000¥ = 95.21£
2009 average: 1£ = 146.48375¥, 65.000¥ = 443.74£
Quite a difference...

[clockace]

my yellow 0624 says on the back 0624-5009, base metal top[brass] st. steel back. i doubt very seriously that this is ygf. if anything it is electroplate. does anyone have print advertising stating this piece is yellow goldfilled? if so that would mean that the gold layer is probably at least 40 microns thick. noooott. this piece is mint. the back is original. the only thing that has wear marks is the slot in the battery hatch cover. peter

[holly35]

on closer inspection ,i would also agree its not gold fill,going by the amount of wear on the case of my one , even if it is well used. i actually assumed it was g/f because of the model pictured below,its a M159-5028 ,its band is marked 12k g/f tops. the band on the gold plated 0624-5009 however is marked basemetal tops stainlesss steel back. in any case the all steel version is hugely better ,including the thick solid steel links .
steel in my opinion is always the best option ,regardles of watch type (lcd/led) or make apart from the cheap looking hollow link bracelets from pulsar.
l.

[holly35]

my yellow 0624 says on the back 0624-5009, base metal top[brass] st. steel back. i doubt very seriously that this is ygf. if anything it is electroplate. does anyone have print advertising stating this piece is yellow goldfilled? if so that would mean that the gold layer is probably at least 40 microns thick. noooott. this piece is mint. the back is original. the only thing that has wear marks is the slot in the battery hatch cover. peter

pictures please!

[clockace]

i have a front photo on the photo gallery. modern lcd's and under user galleries under clockace. peter

[clockace]

[img][img]http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/4813/seiko0624003.jpg[/img][/img] here is a photo of the backside. peter

[Adam]

Anybody got a beaten up 0624 with a good LCD that they want to sell/trade. I have a good body working module but bad lcd.

thanks Adam