King Seiko is Back (again) - New Collection

[Sandpit]

New release looks fantastic to me and appears (at face value) to be a relative bargain in today’s crazy watch price climate. Only minor criticism which I think Monochrome Watches notes is the movement accuracy. But still, these things look amazing.

https://www.fratellowatches.com/new-...ko-collection/






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[Old Expat Beast]

Was just looking at these on IG. Good to see KS making a more substantial return.

There are some leather strap options, too: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZI8VlNvXU-/

[Moondoggy]

I think I like them, they are certainly geared to the "mature" audience.

[Scott_]

I love the looks. I'm less enthusiastic about the movement accuracy, but then again they're not competing against Grand Seiko here. Depending on USD pricing, I may still consider one.

On the other hand, perhaps I should look into a vintage King Seiko instead of the reissue?

[alllexandru]

Now these are cool, 37mm

37mm Diameter, 42.5mm Lug to Lug, 12.1mm Thickness, 19mm Lug Width

Price is ok, size ok, vintage heritage, cool factor : Yes

Video:
https://youtu.be/4JprbelN9xM

Leather strap simulator
https://www.seikowatches.com/global-...ial/simulator/


full article on fratello
https://www.fratellowatches.com/new-...ko-collection/

[L.K Johnson]

Lovely pieces and a great neutral article! Thanks for sharing!

[Sandpit]

Originally Posted by Scott_

I love the looks. I'm less enthusiastic about the movement accuracy, but then again they're not competing against Grand Seiko here. Depending on USD pricing, I may still consider one.

On the other hand, perhaps I should look into a vintage King Seiko instead of the reissue?

Vintage is a much much more appealing option in my opinion. Not just KS but GS and all other sorts of Seiko (e.g. Lord Marvel).

[Cru Jones]

The aesthetics are spot on! Very nice.

At €1,700, the movement is a let down. I would be okay with that choice at €700…..Just my two cents.

[Chester01]

What. no date?

[Scott_]

Originally Posted by Sandpit

Vintage is a much much more appealing option in my opinion. Not just KS but GS and all other sorts of Seiko (e.g. Lord Marvel).

I like many of the current GS offerings, especially on the spring drive side of things. In fact, I've recently purchased a GS SBGA413 spring drive watch.

Of course, unlike GS, KS doesn't have a continuing history of watch and movement design over the last 50 years. Rather than a throwback KS look and feel with a new-ish movement borrowed from other Seiko watches, I think I'd rather go in the vintage direction to add a genuine KS to the collection. As a bonus, it will cost less than half of the €1,700 for one of the 2022 reissue pieces. I'm looking at some KS Hi Beat watches instead, now.

[mongrelnomoad]

As a huge King Seiko fan (I’m lucky enough to own a steel First, a 52 and several 44s and 45s) I love these but really wish the reissues were pitched higher. Better movements and finishing, as befits a massively under-appreciated and historic line.

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by Scott_

I like many of the current GS offerings, especially on the spring drive side of things. In fact, I've recently purchased a GS SBGA413 spring drive watch.

Of course, unlike GS, KS doesn't have a continuing history of watch and movement design over the last 50 years. Rather than a throwback KS look and feel with a new-ish movement borrowed from other Seiko watches, I think I'd rather go in the vintage direction to add a genuine KS to the collection. As a bonus, it will cost less than half of the €1,700 for one of the 2022 reissue pieces. I'm looking at some KS Hi Beat watches instead, now.

You can still pick up a really good 45 for about €1,000, but they’ve been increasing in price substantially of late. I spoke to one of my “Seiko dudes” in Tokyo about the KS/GS split, and he said the general consensus was that they were of the same quality. Mine don’t feel like poor relations to my vintage GSs.

[Chute]

Are the two watches on the top picture and on the right of the second picture the same model or different?

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by Chute

Are the two watches on the top picture and on the right of the second picture the same model or different?

Same.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Chute

Are the two watches on the top picture and on the right of the second picture the same model or different?

Same model, different dial finish.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

You can still pick up a really good 45 for about €1,000, but they’ve been increasing in price substantially of late. I spoke to one of my “Seiko dudes” in Tokyo about the KS/GS split, and he said the general consensus was that they were of the same quality. Mine don’t feel like poor relations to my vintage GSs.

Yeah KS were priced a bit lower than GS back in the day but the difference in quality of casing, dials and movements across comparable models was generally negligible.

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Yeah KS were priced a bit lower than GS back in the day but the difference in quality of casing, dials and movements across comparable models was generally negligible.

Thanks for the concurrence. Great to hear the opinion of a sage!

They were “a bit lower” priced at the time. Not 70% off. Grrrrr.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

Thanks for the concurrence. Great to hear the opinion of a sage!

They were “a bit lower” priced at the time. Not 70% off. Grrrrr.

Sometimes the price differences were quite large and for no apparent reason. These two had 56xx movements, similar case finishing, and the KS had a more refined dial and hands. Looking at other models in this 1972 catalogue, the KS was clearly underpriced. Coincidentally, I posted comparison pics of these two on IG yesterday: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZJNRbtrE_I/

[Old Expat Beast]

Hong Kong pricing and specs.

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Sometimes the price differences were quite large and for no apparent reason. These two had 56xx movements, similar case finishing, and the KS had a more refined dial and hands. Looking at other models in this 1972 catalogue, the KS was clearly underpriced. Coincidentally, I posted comparison pics of these two on IG yesterday: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZJNRbtrE_I/

Fascinating! I had no idea that they were so different in price. I don’t own any 56s (I’m still sore to have missed out on a rather peachy KS 5621-7020 on my last Tokyo trip) but when I have handled both, I’ve always felt the King to be the nicer of the two.

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Hong Kong pricing and specs.

That accuracy is a travesty.

[sensui]

These really are cool. Accuracy and pricing aside.... Really nice release.

[Tbonewalk]

I just got a Willard with the 6R35 and it is running very nicely with nice accuracy and seems to run forever when off the wrist...

[Sandpit]

Originally Posted by Scott_

I like many of the current GS offerings, especially on the spring drive side of things. In fact, I've recently purchased a GS SBGA413 spring drive watch.

Of course, unlike GS, KS doesn't have a continuing history of watch and movement design over the last 50 years. Rather than a throwback KS look and feel with a new-ish movement borrowed from other Seiko watches, I think I'd rather go in the vintage direction to add a genuine KS to the collection. As a bonus, it will cost less than half of the €1,700 for one of the 2022 reissue pieces. I'm looking at some KS Hi Beat watches instead, now.

I’m hugely biased, but I really don’t think you’d go wrong with a manual wind 4500 movement based example. There’s many different options in the 45KS range.

Last year I picked up a nice example of a 45GS. It has (as far as I’m aware) effectively the same manual wind, 36000 vph hi beat movement as the 45KS, but made in a different factory. There are GS / KS collectors that know way way more than me on this, but this is my understanding anyways.

Personally I find the vintage options far more interesting that most modern watches and it seems there’s a near endless list of options to buy between the 60s and 70s.

I don’t think you’ll go wrong, but as always buy the seller. There’s several well regarded sellers based in Asia.

Here’s my 45GS. My cheapest, but one of my favourite watches



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[Tbonewalk]

how do the vintage ones stand up to water, like washing dishes, etc. I presume you can't swim w them or submerge them?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Tbonewalk

how do the vintage ones stand up to water, like washing dishes, etc. I presume you can't swim w them or submerge them?

Depends. I've had a few serviced with new seals and they're come back tested to 2 bar, or 20 metres. I've had a couple of vintage divers (1970s) come back good for 100 metres, which is as 'deep' as my watchmaker tests to. Generally, though, best to avoid submerging, yes.

[Tbonewalk]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Depends. I've had a few serviced with new seals and they're come back tested to 2 bar, or 20 metres. I've had a couple of vintage divers (1970s) come back good for 100 metres, which is as 'deep' as my watchmaker tests to. Generally, though, best to avoid submerging, yes.

I'm hunting right now lol... so darn cool!!!

[Tbonewalk]

loving this, but not cheap... I think it's worth it, but as I understand it, some question the value...

[alllexandru]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

At €1,700, the movement is a let down. I would be okay with that choice at €700…..Just my two cents.

My guess is this is just a (re)start for the King Seiko line, probably Seiko will not miss the opportunity of having later other editions with better mvt of course increasing the price also

If we look on the price alone 1700 vs other swiss with sellita mvt is not that bad, you do have here a lovely package all in all, time will tell but I'm in favour buying one

[rolehex]

Love the brown and red dials but wish they were a couple mm larger. Love the band too.