1968 Grand Seiko Automatic Hi-Beat 36,000 Date 36mm 6145-8000

Here we have a classic 1968 Grand Seiko Automatic Hi-Beat 36,000 Date 36mm 6145-8000 featuring a 36mm stainless steel case. The case gently curves over your wrist with flat-ended lugs, its curved flanks lead a lug-to-lug length of 41.5mm, and a thickness of 11mm ensures a comfortable fit. The case flanks flow effortlessly, with chamfered edges and crisp lines still evident along the lug edges. On the right side is a signed crown. The bezel is recessed into the case for a distinctive profile, with the crystal sitting proud of the dial. The sunburst silver dial features applied batons with black tops marking the hours that catch the light as you rotate your wrist. At 3 o’clock, a framed date window. Elegant, slender baton hands have black fill and are complemented by a tapered second hand. At noon, an applied “Seiko”; at 6 o’clock, an applied “GS” with “Hi-Beat 36000” printed in black text. On the reverse, a screw-down case back with the details of the watch inside the Seiko horseshoe and the Grand Seiko gold medallion embossed in the centre, inside a high-beat Automatic Seiko Cal. 6145, 25 jewels, beating at 36,000 Beats per hour. This quality movement was made at Seiko's Suwa Seikosha factory. The watch comes paired with an 18mm leather strap and a pin buckle.

This watch is sold as Watch Only and therefore comes with its Grand Seiko box or paperwork. It comes with an 18mm leather strap and a pin buckle. It is from Circa September 1968 and is in great vintage condition, as you can see. The original dial with the applied batons has a subtle, even patina; signs of wear and age are to be expected. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

This early Grand Seiko Hi-Beat really shows how seriously Seiko was taking precision watchmaking in the late 1960s. It’s not just a dress watch with a clean dial, it’s a very deliberate exercise in finishing, proportion, and technical performance. The case has that unmistakable GS presence: sharp but not aggressive, with chamfered edges that still catch the light nicely despite the watch’s age. At 36mm, it sits exactly in that classic vintage sweet spot, and the relatively compact lug-to-lug keeps it feeling balanced on the wrist rather than oversized. For a vintage Grand Seiko, this is hard to beat, so snap it up today whilst you still can!

Reference : 6145-8000
Movement : Automatic Seiko Cal. 6145
Age : Circa. September 1968
Year : 1968
Case Size : 36mm
Case Thickness : 11mm
Lug to Lug : 41.5mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
The wrist model's wrist size is 7inch

The first Grand Seiko debuted in Tokyo in 1960 at Suwa Seikosha, established in 1942 in Nagano, Japan. Grand Seiko watches are handcrafted by highly skilled artisans and master watchmakers, often referred to as Takumi (meaning "master craftsman" or "artisan" in Japanese). In 1962, Taro Tanaka developed a set of design guidelines known as the "Grammar of Design," which aimed to create a cohesive look for Seiko watches. These guidelines encompassed nine key principles that distinguished the watches. Some of these principles involve Zaratsu polishing that makes the watch surfaces shine beautifully and reflect light in interesting ways. There’s also an emphasis on using unique shapes for the watch cases, ensuring that every part is perfectly shaped, and adding features like sharp, clean edges and well-designed hands and markers that catch the eye. Today, Tanaka's principles still apply to the modern Grand Seiko philosophy. Rather than sending its 25 Jewels Chronometer movement to the Swiss to be tested, Seiko decided to do the testing itself. The European Chronometer Official Association believed that a chronometer-rated watch had to be independently tested to be awarded that designation. Seiko watches were not independently tested, so therefore they could not be chronometers. The ECOA did what irritated watchmakers do: they wrote a stern letter to Seiko requesting that the designation of Chronometer on Grand and King Seiko watches stop. Seiko obliged and ceased using the text chronometer on their watches. In response, the Japanese Chronometer Authorisation Association was started in 1968 as an independent group to test timepieces to chronometer standards. The Association was short-lived: due to the rise of quartz watches, it closed in 1983. Today, Grand Seiko movements are tested over 17 days in 6 positions compared to COSC testing over 15 days in 5 positions. In 1985, Suwa Seikosha became Seiko Epson Corporation. In 2017, Seiko announced that Grand Seiko would become an independent brand. Grand Seiko watches are known for their unique quality because a single craftsman puts together each one, whether it uses quartz, mechanical movement, or Spring Drive technology. In the Shinshu Watch Studio, a talented watchmaker named Yoshifusa Nakazawa leads a skilled team at the Micro Artist Studio. This special workshop is dedicated to creating some of the most intricate and beautifully designed Spring Drive watches, which are carefully finished and assembled by hand.