1960s Seiko Crown Textured Dial Gold-Plated 35mm 15002

Here we have a rare and exquisite, highly artistic 1960s Seiko Crown Textured-Dial Gold-Plated 35mm 15002. Introduced in 1959, the Seiko Crown line represents a pivotal milestone in the brand's history, serving as the direct foundational blueprint for the legendary Grand Seiko series. A 35mm gold-plated case offers a warm, refined vintage luxury aesthetic, while a slim case thickness of 9.5mm and a lug-to-lug length of 43mm ensure it sits elegantly and comfortably as a classic dress piece. On the right side, a correctly proportioned, unsigned push-pull crown allows for smooth interaction with the mechanical heart inside. The elegant, elongated lugs taper gracefully, framing the case with mid-century sophistication. A domed acrylic crystal sits above a captivating, rare, textured silver dial, which features a fine, linen-like pattern that beautifully catches and diffuses light. An outer minute track surrounds applied, multi-faceted gold baton hour markers that mirror the sharp, clean design philosophy of the era. Elegant, razor-sharp Dauphine hands sweep across the face with absolute precision. Below the 12 o'clock position, the "Seiko Crown" script name is beautifully printed, while the "Diashock 21 Jewels" text sits cleanly balanced above the 6 o'clock position. On the reverse, a solid snap-on case back protects the historic Manually Wound Seikosha Cal. 560. This high-grade, robust movement features 21 jewels and beats at a traditional 18,000 beats per hour, recognised as one of Seiko's finest manual calibres from the golden era. It comes paired with an 18mm premium brown leather strap, secured by a gold-plated pin buckle.

This watch is sold as ‘Watch Only’, and therefore it comes without its original Seiko box or paperwork. It comes paired with a well-suited 18mm leather strap and gold-plated pin buckle. The watch is from Circa. 1960s, and is sold in worn vintage condition, with a lovely, sharp case, as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

The highlight of this watch for me is undoubtedly that dial. At first glance, it appears simple, but once the light catches it, the subtle linen-like texture comes to life and reveals a level of detail that is rarely found at this price point. It's exactly the sort of understated craftsmanship that vintage Seiko did so well. What continues to surprise me is just how much watch you get for the money. This is a historically important model from the collection that ultimately paved the way for Grand Seiko, fitted with a high-grade manual movement and housed in a beautifully proportioned case, yet it still represents incredible value in today's market. Add this to your collection today!

Reference : 15002
Movement : Manually Wound Seikosha Cal. 560
Age : Circa. 1960s
Year : Circa. 1960s
Case Size : 35mm
Case Thickness : 9.5mm
Lug to Lug : 43mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : None
Case Material : Gold FIlled
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

Seiko’s history began in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori established the K. Hattori retail and repair store. In 1892, Seikosha was established to make wall clocks. 1895 saw the production of their first pocket watch. 1913 saw the launch of their first wristwatch, the Laurel. In 1924, the first Seiko was manufactured. Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments Inc.) was established in 1937. Seiko was listed on the Tokyo stock exchange in 1949. The Suwa factory became independent and formed Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corporation in 1959). In 1956, Seiko launched Marvel as their first true in-house-made watch; they continued to make this watch until 1959. The Seiko Lord Marvel, introduced in 1958, was Seiko's first luxury watch, predating the well-known Grand Seiko. It was designed to rival Swiss brands with a refined design and higher specifications. In 1967, Seiko launched the calibre 5740C watch movement, a significant upgrade over the earlier calibre 5740A, which beat at 18,000, and the 5740B, which beat at 19800. This movement was special because it allowed the watch to run at a high speed of 36,000 beats per hour, making it Japan's first high-frequency watch. In fact, it was only the second watch movement of its kind in the world, following one released by a Swiss brand just a few months earlier. Japan’s first chronograph watch was introduced for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics; it was called the Seiko Crown Chronograph monopusher. Not stopping there, Seiko launched Japan's first true divers' watch, the Seiko Diver’s 150M, fitted with the automatic Calibre 6217, which was later given the nickname “62MAS” by collectors. King Seiko and Grand Seiko emerged as prominent lines within the Seiko brand, with King Seiko making its debut in 1961 as a distinguished luxury watch collection. Grand Seiko, on the other hand, has consistently set the standard for exceptional craftsmanship and precision engineering. In 1965, Seiko introduced a groundbreaking manual-wind movement featuring 25 jewels and hacking seconds, coinciding with the launch of the second-generation KSK series, which boasted sharp, angular cases and robust, flat-ended lugs. The King Seiko KCM was introduced in 1969, featuring a chronometer-certified movement that operates at an impressive 36,000 beats per hour, along with a sleek C-shaped stainless steel case. In 1975, the King and Grand Quartz brands were introduced, built at the Suwa Seikosha and Daini Seikosha factories. In 1977, a high-end Twin Quartz Cal.92 was produced until 1979, when the 97KQ and 99KQ were introduced. The final 1981 King Quartz Cal. 94KQ movement remained in production until Seiko ended the King Seiko line in 1985. Despite the challenges during the Quartz crisis of the 1970s that led to the gradual shutdown of King Seiko production, Seiko made a comeback in 2022 by reintroducing the classic King Seiko collection. The company name was changed to the Seiko Corporation in 1990. Innovation at Seiko continues today with GPS Solar watches.