Vintage King Seiko 4502-7001 watch Hi-Beat 1971 Stainless steel

SPECIFICATION

Reference: King Seiko 4502-7001
Movement: Manually wound 4502
Age: January 1971
Case Size: 36mm
Case Thickness: 9mm
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 great preowned condition with light wear
• Case and bezel have some light scratches and marks
• Sunburst dial
• Fully serviced manually wound movement
• High Beat movement 36,000 BPH
• The gold medallion is in great condition
• KS sign crown
• Paired with an unworn grey leather strap

The King Seiko 4502-7001 is powered by the acclaimed hand-wound Calibre 4502A, part of the legendary 45-series movement family. Running at a high-beat frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz), it was engineered for exceptional accuracy and remains one of the finest movements produced by King Seiko. The calibre also features an instantaneous date-change mechanism, displayed through the framed date aperture at 3 o’clock.

Housed in a stainless steel case, the 4502-7001 perfectly embodies the sharp, disciplined design language for which King Seiko became renowned. Its crisp angular surfaces, broad facets, and meticulous finishing create a strong architectural presence on the wrist, reflecting light with remarkable precision.

The clean dial design further enhances the watch’s refined character. Applied hour markers and sharply faceted dauphine hands complement the case's geometric styling, while the absence of lume preserves the purity and symmetry of the layout. The result is a watch that balances technical excellence with understated elegance, remaining as striking today as it was when first introduced.

A BIT OF TRIVA

The inter-corporate competition between Grand Seiko and King Seiko in the 1960s and '70s is a story that has fascinated all who have heard it. At that point in time, Seiko had two factories to create watches. Grand Seiko was produced at the Suwa factory; King Seiko was produced at the Daini factory. The rationale between having these two separate factories was to promote internal competition in order to build the absolute best watches possible. This 1970 King Seiko is an excellent example of exactly that.
The 45 King Seiko is the first 10-beat watch manufactured by Daini Seikosha Kameido Factory.

The 45 Kings became the new-generation 10 beat, thin high-end machines that were released and officially certified by the Japanese Chronometer Inspection Institute (Est 1968) As for the manufacturing method, the watch was assembled separately from the normal line, carefully adjusted and inspected before being cased.
The case features large lugs, and the linen dial is a wonderful design that gives a simple yet powerful impression. It is a masterpiece of its time, and still today its awesome.

OUR THOUGHTS

The King Seiko 45 stands as one of the defining achievements of Seiko's golden age. At its heart is a high-beat, hand-wound movement operating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, celebrated for its precision and engineering. Created during the fierce rivalry between Seiko's Suwa and Daini factories, the 45 series reflects an era when innovation and craftsmanship were pushed to their limits. With its crisp case design, exceptional movement, and growing appeal among collectors, the King Seiko 45 continues to be regarded as one of the finest vintage watches Seiko has ever produced.