MOD Pattern Seiko watch
 

Hi Guys,

I'm a private pilot, but I am hoping the military pilots can provide me with some information about an MOD specification aircrew watch that has disappeared off the civilian market.

Up until about two years ago, (when I was still working for my licence and couldn't afford extras,) it was possible to buy the Seiko MOD pattern watch in high street outlets for about £250. My understanding was that this Seiko was current issue to the RAF/Fleet Air Arm at that time. This instrument was infinitely better than any of the overpriced trash that otherwise passed for pilots' watches in the civilian arena.

Subsequently, this watch disappeared off the market and of course the shop keepers cannot or won't tell me why.

I am curious to know if this watch is still on issue to military aircrew (in which case it must still be being manufactured and might be acquired perhaps by a direct approach to Seiko) or whether the MOD has replaced it with something different.

Best regards to one and all,

Broomstick.

Try ebay- they go for about £80.00
SMT

Clear your PMs so I can tell you the name of a guy who sometimes has them for sale.

SMT - there's a watch dealer who sells the real ex-Mil thing for £250 odd - the Ebay ones I've seen are not the same.

FWIW, the current model is a Pulsar Chronograph which, apparently, is not as good as the Seiko - progress eh?

CWC watches available here:

http://www.silvermans.co.uk/Silver/docs/topframe.htm

(Watch link: http://www.cwcwatch.com/ )

I think the actual spec for the watches was to be as cheap as possible and break as quickly as possible, oh and also not really hold time at all. At least the five or six that i had conformed to this standard!:ugh:

They truly are bad watches, dont waste your money on them and buy a good quality watch.:ok:

That watch is still current issue and is supplied direct from Seiko (UK) Ltd, SC House, Vanwall Rd, Maidenhead, Berks, SL6 4UW. For what it's worth, the NATO Stock No is 6645-99-995-4268.

The advice on obtaining one you've already been given looks good. If you are buying from eBay, there are copies around, Check that it has Seiko on the back and the NSN, plus the Broad Arrow. If it's one of the civvy marketed ones, it won't have a NSN but the Seiko Type No, 7T27-7A20, instead. The Service watches are Tritium luminised and perform well in the dark. The civvy ones are Promethium luminised and they may as well have not bothered using a radio isotope.

For information, Seiko do a chronograph version of their General Service watch. The details are at; http://www.afeonline.com/shop/produc...oducts_id=1569 . It seems to have all the weaknesses of the GS watch which is a curved plastic "glass" that scratches for a hobby. It also doesn't have the 24 hour swept hour pointer.

Had Enough 77 seems to have been very unlucky. They aren't the cheapest watch available and the DEFSTAN it's provisioned against is very stringent (I'd send you link but somebody has been sodding around with the Website, again). I can tell you that for all the thousands issued over the years, up until year 2000 anyway, there was no record of any Form S2022 (stores defect report) being submitted.

The ones I've seen on sale at http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/Seiko%20Watches.htm are like this:

http://www.chronomaster.co.uk/B92_Seiko_mil.JPG

while the ones GBZ suggests are different and they have both pushers on the right for a start:

http://www.afeonline.com/shop/images...P1-low-res.jpg

Broomstick,

With the plethora of watches available out there, why would you WANT a military style watch? I really hope you are not the type who will spin stories about a non-existent career in the military ......

Broomstick,

I cannot comment on some of the finer details mentioned above however, as a currently serving aircrew officer, I have the same 'issue'watch as the top one of the 2 photo's provided by airborne artist. I exchanged my older style one for the new Seiko type in the early 90's. It still works okay some 15 years later but as my eyes are no longer what they were, I now stick to the Breitling.

I would offer you mine but alas, I have to hand it back on leaving day. Best of luck!

Having had one of the 'Mickey Mouse' style issue watches when I was briefly an ALM, I found that it 'Shouted' the time at me, it took quite some getting used to, alas I had to return it when i was kicked out.
I am treturning to Private Flying after a 17 year break and am looking at suitable watches as my Vostock Amphibian is a bit fast.
There is an eBay dealer in Switzerland selling the MWC ones for around £100, but Argos are selling 2 versions, a Sekonda one for £80 and a Pulsar version for £40.

There is also the Poljot Aviators (Russian) and the German issue ones that are worth a look
I might go for the Pulsar one and just wear it for flying

That Seiko!
 

First of all, thanks to one and all for all the replies: I'm overwhelmed by the response!
Stickmonkeytamer,
I don't trust Ebay, either as a source for goods or as a company to deal with. But thanks all the same.
Airborne_Artist.
Thanks for taking the trouble, but having read Had Enough 77's post, I think I ought to look for something else after all. His experience hasn't been good. £250 is too much to punt on a watch that might disappoint.
VitaminGee,
I'll avoid the Pulsar! Thanks.
Rab K,
Thanks for the reference: I'll take a look at those.
Had enough 77,
Duly noted. As I said to Airborne_Artist I think I'll look elsewhere.
Golf_Bravo_Zulu
Yeah, I have seen that one, but it doesn't have the battery contents gauge that I believe the MOD one used to have and it's an awful lot cheaper; I wonder what else they've left out?
MrBernoulli,
I want to wear a fashion watch for everyday use (kept on local mean time) and something a bit more technical for flying with (which I would keep with my flying kit and permanently on Zulu time). Military stuff is always at least rugged and usually fit for purpose. Oh, and no I don't let on to having a military career.
Party Animal,
Thanks Party Animal: sadly, my finances won't stretch to a Breitling. I believe those cost £100 per year just for servicing!
Wessex Boy,
The other source of watches I have been interested in is Werners Flying Watches. Some of their watches look good, but they are all made by small German manufacturers. You don't really know what your buying. Take a look and see what you think.
Once again, thank you everybody.
Broomstick.

Try here:
http://www.mwcwatches.com/shop/index...af9adc3fed7d07




If in doubt BANG OUT!

ex-military would not be wearing a military style watch as military aircrew is one of the few jobs that takes a watch off you when you leave.....

(top picture) still got mine - i have the battery replaced in the high street as i don't hold much hope of ever getting it back if i leave it with 'the system' it runs slightly fast (an improvement over my 'chronograph' B1 which runs irritatingly slow) but i can't read the date unaided anymore - overall not a stylish watch, but it does what it's supposed to, and is free!!

I use a Citizen Skyhawk ecodrive. The stop watch function is a bit hard to see. Only problem I have is I need to use the manual to remember how to reset the time - because it only loses about 1-2 seconds per year.

I have the titanium version. AOC 1 Gp has the cheaper stainless steel version :).

The seiko chronograph in the bottom picture provided by airborne artist we currently have in stock at work.

I work in a jewellers by the way! :)

Very good Ratty, and you found your manual.

I prefer page 380 - Se os botoes (A) e (B) forem pressionado ao mesmo tempo no modo do ...

Airborne_Artist's top picture is the Seiko Type No 7T27-7A20 and is the civvy version (Promethium luminised) of NSN 6645-99-995-4268, current issue. The lower picture is Seiko's other "military style" chronograph that, I'm pretty certain, will never acquire a NSN.

The Seiko "issue" watch, incidentally, doesn't have a battery level meter. The seconds hand goes in 2 second increments when the battery is about to die, but keeps time.

Good luck.

Seiko Conkers
 

Sorry folks,
I can't go along with the fragility of the Seiko pattern flying watch, mine is a "twoer" after a couple of epic conker battles with them whilst very bored and very confused! The best bit was seeing the face of the stores basher as one of victims (a USN exchnage pilot) of my epic conker watch took all the pieces back and lamely tried to explain how he had casued all the damage to crown property.
The cost of your training - millions
The cost of your seiko watch - £250.00
The cost of seeing the stores bashers face - priceless!
Personally I have to say I prefer the old pattern, but hey, there's nothing wrong with my breightling either!