1973 King Seiko Special Hi-Beat Chronometer Certified 5245-6000
Ref: 5245-6000
Specification
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : Pre-Owned
Box & Papers : None
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty
Points of Mention
This watch is sold as "Watch Only" and therefore comes with no original Seiko box or Seiko papers. The watch comes paired on a very nice leather strap with a steel buckle. The watch is from March 1973 and is in worn, vintage condition as you can see from the photos. Overall, however, the watch is in very good condition for its age and the dial is completely original and never touched. The watch comes with our 12-Months NON-Waterproof Warranty.
The Watch
Here we have a 1973 King Seiko Special Hi-Beat Chronometer Certified 5245-6000. The King Seiko was produced between 1961 and 1975, it sat just below the Grand Seiko. Initially, they were built in Seiko’s Daini Seikosha factory but by 1969 they were made in both factories. The 35.5mm stainless steel monocoque case (coque in French means hull) case design, made from a solid piece of brushed stainless steel, access to the movement is by removing the crystal with a special tool. The case flows over your wrist with a lug to lug length of 40mm and a case thickness of 10mm ensuring a comfortable fit on the wrist. On the right side is a signed crown. The polished smooth bezel holds a raised crystal above a white dial. Applied baton indexes have chamfered edges that catch the light as you rotate your wrist. At 3 o’clock a framed day-date window. Elegant steel hands complemented by a sweeping tapered second hand. At 12 o’clock we have “Automatic Chronometer Officially Certified”. At 6 o’clock we have an applied KS printed underneath “Special Hi-Beat”. On the reverse, the watch details are engraved into it. Inside an Automatic King Seiko Cal. 5245, 25 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour. This Chronometer Certified movement was launched in 1971. The watch comes fitted on an 18mm leather strap.
Personal Note
This is one of those occasions where I challenge to you find a better example! The only one that would beat this is if you can find a truly New Old Stock example because this truly is that good! Beautiful case and dial, all original and looking as good as it did when it left the factory. This is how we like to find them, but finding them like this is only getting harder as the years go on as truly incredible examples find their way to collectors who intend to keep hold of them for the long term, therefore we very rarely see examples like this.
The Brand
Seikos 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. 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 Caliber 6217 which later was given the nickname “62MAS” by collectors. The company name was changed to the Seiko Corporation in 1990. Innovation at Seiko continues today with GPS Solar watches and many more.