The "King Seiko First" that arrived today is a top-tier model born at the Kameido factory in 1961.
It is one of the historic masterpieces that stands side-by-side with Grand Seiko.
While the concept behind Grand Seiko was to create the world's finest watch regardless of cost, King Seiko was created by pouring all of the company's technical prowess at the time into building a practical wristwatch.
Compared to the Grand Seiko lineup, which can be called orthodox in its later products, the King Seiko, with its unique designs and functions, shows a presence that somehow competes with Citizen.
This particular piece is from the earliest production period, born in 1961.
Its distinctive feature is the "25" notation at the 6 o'clock position on the dial, which is small, matching the size of the other printed text.
The design was changed shortly after to make the "25" larger and more prominent, so while it is a detail for enthusiasts, it is surprisingly rare to come across.
Furthermore, the King Seiko 1st comes in early and late models; the dial changed from an SD dial to an AD dial, and the case size and lug width increased in the later models.
Setting itself apart from the Grand Seiko with its rounded overall design, the King Seiko 1st is characterized by a sharp, edged design. It features an ultra-thick 100-micron gold plating that exceeds the Grand Seiko 1st, and is powered by a legendary movement that thoroughly pursued precision and durability.
Many Seiko movements have relatively simple structures, designed to make each individual part durable and robust.
Additionally, to stabilize precision, the balance wheel is supported by a double-bridge system, and mechanisms have been devised to make rate adjustment simple.
This particular piece comes with a highly valuable original King Seiko 1st buckle and crocodile strap.
In most cases, not only the strap but also the buckle has been replaced with a third-party version, so the inclusion of these original parts alone is sure to provide great satisfaction and value.
The King Seiko First has a particularly strong, masculine impression among Seiko watches, an aura that remained strong in later products.
King Seiko's goal of manufacturing more practical and robust wristwatches may well have been a reflection of it being a top-tier item for men at the time.
Although the King Seiko brand disappeared for a time due to brand consolidation, it was revived in 2021, the 140th anniversary of Seiko's founding.
Currently, the lineup centers on reissue models, but since the first model has yet to be reissued, it is highly likely that this KS First will be reissued in the future.
If it is reissued, a price surge for the original model is inevitable, making this the perfect time to buy.
The earliest models in particular are difficult to obtain. Don't miss this opportunity!
