Time waits for none. Review on Seiko Watches

The Japanese have manufactured good watches over the last two decades or so. Their watches are in no way inferior to the Swiss watches, although the Swiss Omega, Rolex and Tissot are the top world sellers. Seiko is a Japanese watch. The other popular Japanese brands are Casio and Citizen. Casio has many models, each one with excellent features. I have one Casio Watch in which you can store 20 phone numbers and e-mail addresses. It has other features like hourly chime, alarm and calculator. Seiko has many models, starting from Seiko 5, which is a Day-Date Automatic one to electronic ones and the latest Eco Drive.

I have a fascination for watches. I think as of today, I have about 30 watches of various types ranging in price from a few hundred rupees to a few thousands. The Omega Constellation Chronometer, which I had bought in 1963 at the Frankfurt Airport , gave me very good service till its dial became spotted. I had paid 103 US Dollars for it. Last year while in USA, I sold it to a second hand Watch Dealer in New York for 75 US Dollars only. Not a bad bargain. Old Rolex watches fetch very good price in New York. Whenever I visit Chiang Mai in Thailand, I go to the Night Market to buy imitation watches. I have an imitation Rolex with a black dial, which looks very genuine. I have another watch with two dials, showing you two times.

WAy back in 1972, I had bought one Seiko 5 with a white dial, which I had presented to my father. It is still with me. A few years back, in Calcutta, a Watch Dealer friend of mine gave me a beautiful solid Seiko 5 with a black dial and original steel strap for Rs.1100. I am wearing the same watch now, while writing this Review. Its movement is so silent that I do not hear its tick tick sound when kept closest to my years. I wear this daily from 5 in the morning to 11 at night when I change to a Casio with alarm and chimes. I wake up at 5 in the morning by its alarm, sweet, but loud enough to wake me up. I am expecting two more watches as gifts for subscribing to two magazines for five years. One is the Chronometer Swatch, and the other is a less known brand. The Swatch costs Rs.3100.00

Watch collecting is a very good hobby, but no one has coined any name for it. If you are a good collector, you should read more about each model, and keep a note about each watch you have. I have a grand father's model of a classic West End Pocket Watch. It has become a collector's model. India's HMT and Titan have good models. The Titan watches have a very wide price range. Some of them have solid gold cases and straps, all made of 22 Carat Gold.

I have seen some people wearing expensive watches, but not maintained properly. In summer months one has to be very careful. My friend Sanderud (Norway) swims with a Seiko on his wrist. He says that when he paid for it, he also paid for its well known features. It is really waterproof.

When wearing a watch, always be time conscious, and punctual, because time is money. It waits for none.