.
Hello folks,
I am not thrilled with all the Seiko Landmaster models, especially not the more recent models. :rolleyes:
But I do like the automatic versions, the limited edition "Polar" releases and the very first examples of the 1993 SBBW005 that have "Auto Quartz" on the dial. But all the "Auto-Quartz" models that I have seen at auction were either much too expensive, or in rough condition. :(
Last Friday however an example was posted for sale that was in good physical condition, with a long original bracelet, for a low price. The downside, it wasn't running. But I figured since the 5M23 movement only came with a "three day" capacitor in the first place, replacing it with one of the new "6-month" Li-ion batteries was necessary in any case. I have since heard that getting these one-piece cases open is not an easy chore. Sigh...
1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmaster #1 (Auto-Quartz)
There was another 1993 Seiko SBBW005 posted for sale on Friday too, that was also in good physical condition for a low price, but that auction did not end until Saturday morning. I had put bids in on both, so I got up Saturday morning to watch and see if I won my second SBBW005. This example also was described as having a power-reserve issue, with the second hand moving in two-second jumps.
As I was watching the auction I noticed that (unusual for a Yahoo! Japan auction) the 5-minute auto-extension feature was turned off!) As I blearily sipped my coffee, I realized someone could drop a higher bid than mine on this watch at the last moment, and there would be nothing I could do! :angry: No problem right, just put another bid down for my "maximum" and keep my fingers crossed.
"Not so fast, my friend!!" When I tried to use Buyee, instead of posting my bid; I would get a message "System Error Occurred [OK]"! I tried everything I could do at my end (logging off and on Buyee, logging off and on my computer, rebooting my computer and so forth. But nothing helped! Just when I need the service, Buyee crapped out!
My only recourse was to throw a bunch of money into my "FromJapan" account and place my bid from there. But since this was a "maximum" bid and you must move money into FromJapan before you can bid, I had to tie up a big chunk of my watch auction money that I am still waiting to have released after winning the auction.
POOH! (I have such terrible problems!)
1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmaster #2 (Auto-Quartz)
In the early Saturday morning chaos that ensued from the Buyee service failure, I also made a mistake! As I was placing my maximum bid for that 2nd SBBW005, I saw a small picture at the bottom of the auction page (in the "Recommended for you" section) of yet another 1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmaster listed, for the lowest price of them all!
I noticed the seller didn't mention any power reserve issues, and the price was okay, so I threw a bid in on that one too! :13:
What I did
NOT notice is the dial shown in the leetle peekture has "AGS" on it, not "Auto-Quartz"!
Ooops. :biggrin: Jeepers, how was I to know that there were "early" 1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmasters with "Auto-Quartz"
AND "later" 1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmasters with "AGS" on the dial. In the same year!
1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmaster #3 (AGS)
Ha! And I had to deal with the Buyee fiasco again, just to buy this watch by mistake! I actually do know about the early and late SBBW005 models, one of the reasons I like the "Auto-Quartz" versions, so that goes to show just how bleary I was! :blink:
Okay, on to the fourth and final 1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmaster in five days!
As I was waiting for the auction on the third one to end, later on Saturday, what did I see but a new listing from the relatively infamous "Closer0610" for guess what?? But of course, an early 1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmaster "Auto-Quartz" in supposedly "like new" condition at the same price as the others I bought. :wub:
Oh what the heck, right? It is only a couple of hundred dollars, and if THIS one is really nice enough, maybe I'll s-e-l-l the other ones! :biggrin:
1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmaster #4 (Auto-Quartz)
Especially confidence inspiring are a couple of random looking Seiko documents and
a Casio box!! :excl:
OKAY! That is how I ended up going from zero (0), none, NO Landmasters to having four 1993 Seiko SBBW005 Landmasters in five days!
Any questions?
- Thomas
.
