Hey kids! Remember when King Seiko had high beat chronometers? Remember when they beat the Swiss so badly at the observatory trials that they stopped holding the trials? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Now you'll pay $2,000 for a King Seiko with a low beat 6R in it that's -15\+25! Progress!
1) Seiko have permanently surpassed the Swiss in accuracy with spring drive. 2) non Swiss watches can no longer be COSC assessed 3) Seiko continue to actually innovate in quartz and mechanical technology (9f quartz, solar gps, dual impulse escapement, constant force tourbillion) 4) The case finishing, materials and details (zaratsu polishing, incredible sapphire clarity etc) in that $2000 ( most of which are actually sub $2000) 6R watch match $3-4k+ dollar swiss watches and not $2000 Swiss watches. 5) Pepperidge farm also remember a time before meme bots took over the Internet
@@pk1342 dave is right, you are not. No point paying $2000 for a nice watch to have it run >20s/day, Majority of their 6R watch should sell more if they downgrade to 4R and reduce it by few hundred bucks. so many SPB i want to buy but touching 6R
@@tngchinghwa I get what you're saying but most 6R's aren't running plus 20. I have two 6R movements both running at +6s and +4s a day. I understand that the tolerance does allow for +25 and Seiko should bring that in BUT my points still stand firm: 1) The high end SPBs have finishing on par with watches over double their price and to many people that is more important given that they can still save $1000-2000 compared to an entry luxury swiss and they most likely have an atomic time device in their pocket already (phone) 2) If you want higher end time keeping then 95% of SJE and SLA lines still undercut entry level luxury swiss and provide even high level finishing and movements that generally run well within COSC (even though tolerances are -10/+15) 3) Seiko bashing is a grossly overblown fad perpetuated by people on youtube that most often have never actually held one of these "$2000" watches in their own hands. 4) absolutely no one needs to buy a Seiko at RRP given how ubiquitous discounts are. You could easily find discounts on KS SPB models that take them down to $1200-1500
@@pk1342 Seiko's movements are backward. While Swatch made a number of eta-improved movements and Rolex built a Kennessey factory to pull out the cosc movement of Tudor, the only thing they made was 6r35, which stupidly increased the main spring to increase the beat error.
@@daeyeoplim Except that isn't all they've done is it? They've introduced the slimline 6L caliber and modified it to make it suitable for diving.The 8R series of movements offers a chronograph with vertical clutch and column wheel. They've also spawned numerous GMT movements both caller and flyer, which basically revolutionised the GMT market. They've created the dual impulse escapement for their hibeat movements and the constant force tourbillon in the Kodo watch. Also the new hibeat mechanical chronograph (tentagraph). Seiko doesn't need to compete with the swiss at their meaningless games now as they already won back in the 60s. COSC is a meaningless and arbitrary term that still means your watch can potentially be a minute out of time after 10 days.
This shows what went wrong with Seiko. Proper movement. Now they just dump erratic 6R movement into $2k watch and don’t care less about accuracy or consistency.
Exactly, I don't know why it is like that. There are many nicely designed Seiko watches, but with erratic movements like this, I would never buy any, either Grand Seiko or another brand.
@@stevens1041 I agree with the Tudor part, they have now very nice, accurate and high quality in-house movements. At Seiko, they offer several watches in the $2-4k regime, but still with very pedestrian movements. I don’t get this. Especially when they had these movements already 50 years ago. It’s pure craziness. I know, most probably they will reserve their better movements for GS and not cannibalize their sister brand, but still.
@@susokraut3169 I exclusively collected Seiko Marine Masters for a long time. With the 8L movement. But since Seiko redesigned the Marine Master recently, without the iconic monoblock case, I completely lost interest in this brand. I wore my old monoblock Marine Masters heavily, doing IT field work (cabling), and the watch held up remarkably well. The 6R35 movements aren't any good--and by the way, I heard nothing but terrible things about the 6R15 which the 35 model replaced, all sorts of issues with the 6R15 apparently. Would stay away from any 6R at this point. Seiko should stop being so stingy with the 8L.
Agree with the re-issue idea! A new 38,5mm of this with the same case and dial would be awesome! Had this on for some time, however the plastic date problem was real and modern GSs got it place. Kinda regret selling.
Hello, do you know if this watch has the original hands? The minute hands looks thinner and with different proportions that the hour hand. I am always on the hunt for King Seiko, but when I see this hand set, I refrain from buying since I am note sure they are the original.
Have the 5626-7040 silver sunburst dial which i use daily. The plastic crystal came off & i glued a glass now. Recently the cannon pinion started to slip which i solved. And had to regulate it again - now +3secs/day. Still using it every day.
Congratulations! I am very jealous, how did you encounter this one and how much did you pay? When I go to Chrono 24, even the best preserved ones don't look as good as yours, and there are several that despite having been serviced recently, they say the specs are about +- 10 s/day, so why your's is so accurate?
My watchmaker specializes in vintage Seiko. All I can say is keep looking with vintage watches you never know when one will pop up it might take a couple months maybe even 6 months but eventually a good one will show up.
@@EscapementWatch but again, I saw several on Chrono24 which have been serviced recently and all are described as +-10 s/day, most even +-12 s/day. So how come your sample is as accurate as?
mine was serviced when bought but I still got my watchmaker to service it again after purchase. He noticed they missed the fix-o-drop on the balance and some other issues with over oiling. So not all services are created equal. Also, it could be the sellers on chrono are giving a slightly wider variance to cover their butts incase of expensive returns. Also, there could be some slightly worn out gear teeth due to improper servicing during its 50 year life span as well.
1967 was the final year of the Neuchatel Observatory's chronometer competition for wristwatches. In 1968, Seiko submitted their movements to the Geneva Observatory's chronometer competition, earning the top 7 spots for mechanical watches (i.e. #4-7 overall), while the Swiss won the top 3 spots for quartz movements (i.e. #1-3 overall). The Swiss watch industry effectively boycotted the competition due to Seiko's dominance. So on 26 April 1968, the Swiss authorities announced that the chronometer competitions for wristwatches would be cancelled altogether. However, in 2007, the Neuchatel Observatory's chronometer competitions resumed, with the major caveat that entries must only be for mechanical movements and all of the components had to have been manufactured in Europe. Today, the major chronometer certification institution is COSC, and they will only test and issue certifications of European watches.
Vintage Grand Seiko 57GS FULL REVIEW: ruclips.net/video/KkBEmkz92dY/видео.html
Hey kids! Remember when King Seiko had high beat chronometers? Remember when they beat the Swiss so badly at the observatory trials that they stopped holding the trials? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Now you'll pay $2,000 for a King Seiko with a low beat 6R in it that's -15\+25! Progress!
1) Seiko have permanently surpassed the Swiss in accuracy with spring drive.
2) non Swiss watches can no longer be COSC assessed
3) Seiko continue to actually innovate in quartz and mechanical technology (9f quartz, solar gps, dual impulse escapement, constant force tourbillion)
4) The case finishing, materials and details (zaratsu polishing, incredible sapphire clarity etc) in that $2000 ( most of which are actually sub $2000) 6R watch match $3-4k+ dollar swiss watches and not $2000 Swiss watches.
5) Pepperidge farm also remember a time before meme bots took over the Internet
@@pk1342 dave is right, you are not. No point paying $2000 for a nice watch to have it run >20s/day, Majority of their 6R watch should sell more if they downgrade to 4R and reduce it by few hundred bucks. so many SPB i want to buy but touching 6R
@@tngchinghwa I get what you're saying but most 6R's aren't running plus 20. I have two 6R movements both running at +6s and +4s a day. I understand that the tolerance does allow for +25 and Seiko should bring that in BUT my points still stand firm:
1) The high end SPBs have finishing on par with watches over double their price and to many people that is more important given that they can still save $1000-2000 compared to an entry luxury swiss and they most likely have an atomic time device in their pocket already (phone)
2) If you want higher end time keeping then 95% of SJE and SLA lines still undercut entry level luxury swiss and provide even high level finishing and movements that generally run well within COSC (even though tolerances are -10/+15)
3) Seiko bashing is a grossly overblown fad perpetuated by people on youtube that most often have never actually held one of these "$2000" watches in their own hands.
4) absolutely no one needs to buy a Seiko at RRP given how ubiquitous discounts are. You could easily find discounts on KS SPB models that take them down to $1200-1500
@@pk1342 Seiko's movements are backward. While Swatch made a number of eta-improved movements and Rolex built a Kennessey factory to pull out the cosc movement of Tudor, the only thing they made was 6r35, which stupidly increased the main spring to increase the beat error.
@@daeyeoplim Except that isn't all they've done is it? They've introduced the slimline 6L caliber and modified it to make it suitable for diving.The 8R series of movements offers a chronograph with vertical clutch and column wheel. They've also spawned numerous GMT movements both caller and flyer, which basically revolutionised the GMT market. They've created the dual impulse escapement for their hibeat movements and the constant force tourbillon in the Kodo watch. Also the new hibeat mechanical chronograph (tentagraph).
Seiko doesn't need to compete with the swiss at their meaningless games now as they already won back in the 60s. COSC is a meaningless and arbitrary term that still means your watch can potentially be a minute out of time after 10 days.
This shows what went wrong with Seiko. Proper movement. Now they just dump erratic 6R movement into $2k watch and don’t care less about accuracy or consistency.
Exactly, I don't know why it is like that. There are many nicely designed Seiko watches, but with erratic movements like this, I would never buy any, either Grand Seiko or another brand.
Baffling decision. I was a huge Seiko fan before, but I feel like Seiko is sending me off to another brand like Tudor or Longines instead.
@@stevens1041 I agree with the Tudor part, they have now very nice, accurate and high quality in-house movements. At Seiko, they offer several watches in the $2-4k regime, but still with very pedestrian movements. I don’t get this. Especially when they had these movements already 50 years ago. It’s pure craziness. I know, most probably they will reserve their better movements for GS and not cannibalize their sister brand, but still.
@@susokraut3169 I exclusively collected Seiko Marine Masters for a long time. With the 8L movement. But since Seiko redesigned the Marine Master recently, without the iconic monoblock case, I completely lost interest in this brand. I wore my old monoblock Marine Masters heavily, doing IT field work (cabling), and the watch held up remarkably well. The 6R35 movements aren't any good--and by the way, I heard nothing but terrible things about the 6R15 which the 35 model replaced, all sorts of issues with the 6R15 apparently. Would stay away from any 6R at this point. Seiko should stop being so stingy with the 8L.
What a salty reaction from the Swiss manufacturers... thinking "when are not ahead, we are not in". Seiko really showed them.
Watches of this calibre need to make a return to Seiko's catalog. Great review!
Yes please return! But let me just add Grand Seiko (suwa) is still making watches of this calibre and much higher now a days. But $$$
@@EscapementWatch I forgot to mention "at a reasonable price". Haha😆
Gorgeous watch! Cool movement, too. I didn’t know Japan was certifying their own chronometers back then!
Wow great condition vintage KS
Really nice watch, congratz! I have a KS 5625-7000 and I can only adore that sharp case. So perfect examples of the early days of Grammar of Design.
Agree with the re-issue idea! A new 38,5mm of this with the same case and dial would be awesome! Had this on for some time, however the plastic date problem was real and modern GSs got it place. Kinda regret selling.
They don't make them like they used to.
Yes! unless you buy a Grand Seiko of course.
I have my father's one. Needs complete restoration though
Not the biggest Seiko/KS/GS fan but this one is ..stunning!
It’s a beautiful watch. Thank you for sharing the history and details!…now maybe I can find a deal on one with a broken calendar wheel 🤔.
Go for it!
Gorgeous! Have you had it repolished? Looks immaculate. Good to see vintage Seiko being reviewed, thanks
I did not have it repolished but it could have been by previous owner. The case looks very sharp still so it could be original or a very lite polish
Seiko???? Hihihi quartz
that swiss move hit them hard during the quartz crisis.
Vey nice indeed, good work! I may have to wear my KS 4502 tomorrow now, haven't worn it for a while
Please do!
Stellar timepiece! Beautiful condition. I would love to own one if it was a little larger. Thanks for sharing 👍
Thanks for watching!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Fantastic watch !
Gorgeous
Nice review 😍😍😍
Hello, do you know if this watch has the original hands? The minute hands looks thinner and with different proportions that the hour hand. I am always on the hunt for King Seiko, but when I see this hand set, I refrain from buying since I am note sure they are the original.
Yes this watch does have the original handset
Gorgeous watch.
Agreed!
Where can we buy this Seiko ?
Have the 5626-7040 silver sunburst dial which i use daily. The plastic crystal came off & i glued a glass now. Recently the cannon pinion started to slip which i solved. And had to regulate it again - now +3secs/day. Still using it every day.
You know they are now making sapphire crystals for them. With the metal retainer ring so you're all set to go for an easy swap. Lapinist is the guy
@@EscapementWatch i glued a mineral glass on it. Have a sapphire crytal on standby in case it drops off.
the greatest KS case is 44KS
Congratulations! I am very jealous, how did you encounter this one and how much did you pay? When I go to Chrono 24, even the best preserved ones don't look as good as yours, and there are several that despite having been serviced recently, they say the specs are about +- 10 s/day, so why your's is so accurate?
My watchmaker specializes in vintage Seiko. All I can say is keep looking with vintage watches you never know when one will pop up it might take a couple months maybe even 6 months but eventually a good one will show up.
@@EscapementWatch but again, I saw several on Chrono24 which have been serviced recently and all are described as +-10 s/day, most even +-12 s/day. So how come your sample is as accurate as?
mine was serviced when bought but I still got my watchmaker to service it again after purchase. He noticed they missed the fix-o-drop on the balance and some other issues with over oiling. So not all services are created equal. Also, it could be the sellers on chrono are giving a slightly wider variance to cover their butts incase of expensive returns. Also, there could be some slightly worn out gear teeth due to improper servicing during its 50 year life span as well.
Who is your watchmaker? How much did you pay for this? @@EscapementWatch
Who is your watchmaker? How much did you pay for this?
typical swiss elitism
Beautiful 👌🏻
Thank you! Cheers!
1967 was the final year of the Neuchatel Observatory's chronometer competition for wristwatches. In 1968, Seiko submitted their movements to the Geneva Observatory's chronometer competition, earning the top 7 spots for mechanical watches (i.e. #4-7 overall), while the Swiss won the top 3 spots for quartz movements (i.e. #1-3 overall). The Swiss watch industry effectively boycotted the competition due to Seiko's dominance. So on 26 April 1968, the Swiss authorities announced that the chronometer competitions for wristwatches would be cancelled altogether.
However, in 2007, the Neuchatel Observatory's chronometer competitions resumed, with the major caveat that entries must only be for mechanical movements and all of the components had to have been manufactured in Europe. Today, the major chronometer certification institution is COSC, and they will only test and issue certifications of European watches.
I can’t even imagine modern Seiko with this quality