1968 Seiko King Seiko Gold-Plated 35mm 4402-8000

Here we have a sophisticated and historic 1968 Seiko King Seiko Gold-Plated 35mm 4402-8000. Produced by the Daini Seikosha factory, the King Seiko line was created in internal rivalry with Grand Seiko to push the boundaries of accuracy and design, embodying Taro Tanaka’s famous "Grammar of Design" rules. A 35mm gold-plated case offers a refined vintage aesthetic, while a slim case thickness of 10.5mm and a lug-to-lug length of 42mm provide an elegant, compact presence on the wrist. On the right side, an oversized, signed "KS" push-pull crown allows for smooth interaction with the hand-wound calibre. The sharp, multi-faceted lugs are a hallmark of the era, catching the light with geometric precision. A box-shaped acrylic crystal sits above a clean, crisp white dial that exudes timeless minimalism. An outer minute track surrounds applied, faceted gold baton indexes that mirror the case's sharp lines. Elegant, razor-sharp Dauphine hands sweep across the dial, while a date window framed in gold sits at the 3 o'clock position. Below the 12 o'clock position, the applied Seiko logo sits proudly, balanced by the "King Seiko" name and the Daini lightning bolt logo at 6 o'clock. On the reverse, a solid screw-down stainless steel case back features the iconic gold King Seiko shield medallion. Inside beats the Manually Wound Seiko Cal. 4402, a high-grade 25-jewel movement beating at a traditional 18,000 beats per hour, equipped with hacking seconds and a quick-set date function for modern convenience. 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. April 1968, and is sold in worn vintage condition, with a lovely, clean and sharp case, as you can see from the photographs. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.

I’ve been fortunate enough to handle a number of these references over the years, and I can confidently say this is the best example I’ve had through my hands to date. The case remains wonderfully sharp, the dial is beautifully preserved, and it has that crisp, honest appearance that collectors are always searching for in vintage King Seiko. With the growing appreciation for these late-1960s King Seiko models, and considering the condition on offer here, I genuinely don’t expect this one to hang around for very long. Hurry and add this to your collection today!

Reference : 4402-8000
Movement : Manually Wound Seiko Cal. 4402
Age : Circa. April 1968
Year : 1968
Case Size : 35mm
Case Thickness : 10.5mm
Lug to Lug : 42mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box and Papers : None
Case Material : Gold Plated
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.