King Seiko watch 5625-7040 Hi-beat Superior Chronometer Officially Certified 1969

SPECIFICATION

Reference : King Seiko 5625-7040
Movement : 5625 Hi-beat
Age : Nov 1969
Case Size : 36mm
Case Thickness : 10mm
Lug to Lug : 42mm
Lugs : 18mm
Condition : used Seiko watch
Box & Papers : No
Case Material : Stainless Steel
Warranty : 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS TO MENTION

• In wonderful pre-owned condition, with light wear 
  
• Case and bezel have some light scratches and marks
  
• Fully serviced Hi-beat movement
  
• 'Superior' model 
• Two tiny freckles on the dial
• Upgraded metal quickset gear
  
• KS signed crown
  
• Paired with a brand new signed Seiko black leather strap DX02A
  
  

Seiko has recently rekindled the Kings Seiko range, showing the acclaim that this timeless watch is held and can be owned at a fraction of the cost of the new models, which really does mean you can pick up something so cool.

A BIT OF  TRIVIA

Introducing the exceptional Vintage King Seiko, a true masterpiece from the 1970s that showcases Seiko's dedication to precision, craftsmanship, and design. As a top-tier product and internal competitor to the Grand Seiko, the King Seiko was created to challenge the Swiss watch industry and establish Seiko's presence in the international market. With ultra-accurate Chronometer-rated movements that propelled Seiko to victory in the Swiss Chronometer Competition, a mirror-finished case featuring a unique design, and the expert craftsmanship that ensures a durable, timeless classic, the King Seiko epitomizes the very best in Japanese vintage dress watches. This reference 5625-7040 date only chronometer King Seiko houses a Hi-Beat movement running at 28,800 bph, a testament to Seiko's mastery of watchmaking technology. Drawing from the knowledge and expertise gained while developing Chronometer-rated movements for observatory competitions, Seiko crafted a durable and precise timepiece that stands the test of time.

The King Seiko line was conceived and developed originally by the Daini Seikosha division as a luxury hand-wind watch to compete with the Suwa-developed Grand Seiko line.  Any aspiration on the part of Daini Seikosha that it should be regarded as the equal of Grand Seiko was never realised, with Grand Seiko consistently presented in all of Seiko’s catalogues and marketing as the zenith of the Seiko Universe from 1960 until its demise in 1975.  For the first seven years of its existence, the King Seiko evolved slowly but steadily through a series of beautiful hand-wind models, all of which powered by variations of the 44-series movement, itself a refined development of the Cronos 54A movement, dating from the late 1950s.  In 1968, Daini replaced the 44 family with the thoroughly modern high-beat hand-wind 45 calibre, undoubtedly one of Seiko’s finest hours.  That movement would go on to serve both King Seiko and Grand Seiko watches until 1973.

Curiously though, the first automatic King Seiko was developed not by Daini but by Suwa Seikosha.  The high-beat 56 series calibre would go on to power an enormously diverse range of King and Grand Seiko models (as well as a myriad of Lord Matics in low-beat form) and would become arguably Seiko’s most successful automatic movement.  Stung into action, Daini developed its own automatic high-beat King Seiko calibre in the form of the 52 series but that movement would have a relatively short life, its birth in 1971 coming just as the quartz revolution was starting to flex its muscles.

The 5625-7040, in common with the 5626-7000, featured a monocoque case design, with the movement accessed via the dial aperture in the case rather than the more conventional approach via a removable screw-down case back.  These unibody cases featured a removable hatch between the lower lugs to allow external fine regulation adjustment.  However, in 1973, the 5626-7040 design was updated, with the unibody case changed to a conventional screw-down caseback design and the external fine adjustment feature was lost.  This evolution of the 7040 was recognised in a change to the model number to 5626-7041.  In all other respects, the external appearance on the wrist was identical.

King Seiko Superior; The standard watch was chronometer rated (not by COSC, but by Japan Chronometer Inspection Institute JCII), but they could do better than ‘just’ chronometer rated.  Seiko also differentiated those watches that performed to the higher ‘AA’ accuracy grade which was aligned with the then Grand Seiko standard which since 1966 had been defined at -3 to +6 secs/day. Some examples met this higher ‘AA’ grade and were marked both on the dial and on the case back with the words ‘Superior Chronometer’.

OUR THOUGHTS

This King Seiko is a beautiful vintage piece, but on the wrist it feels and looks like a modern watch, its not out of place in any setting. This superior model is as good as it get from a 56KS, with an ultra accurate chronometer rated Hi-beat movement that has been freshly serviced, you can enjoy and flaunt this watch for many years to come.