Vintage King Seiko 5625-7000 Hi-Beat Automatic 1969 Silver Dial serviced UK warranty

SPECIFICATION

Reference: King Seiko 5625-7000
Movement: Calibre 5625 Hi-Beat
Age: October 1969
Case Size: 36mm
Case Thickness: 10mm
Lug to Lug: 41mm
Lugs:18mm
Condition: used Seiko watch
Box and Papers: No
Case Material: Stainless steel
Warranty: 12-month mechanical warranty (UK only)

POINTS TO MENTION

• In great pre-owned condition, with light wear
  
• Case and bezel have some light scratches and marks
• Sunburst dial
• Fully serviced Hi-beat movement
  
• Upgraded metal quickset gear
  
• KS signed crown
  
• Gold medallion is in wonderful condition
• Paired with an unworn black leather strap
  

THE WATCH

These early automatic King Seikos have a recognisable character of their own. The 5625-7000 brings together the elegance of a silver sunburst dial with a beautifully shaped stainless-steel case, the watch a remarkable presence for its size. The applied hour markers, framed date window and understated KS emblem complete a design that feels every bit as considered today as it did in 1969.

Inside beats Seiko's calibre 5625, part of the celebrated 56KS family developed at Suwa Seikosha, the same factory responsible for Grand Seiko. Running at 28,800 vibrations per hour, this Hi-Beat automatic represents a fascinating period of Japanese watchmaking, when mechanical precision and thoughtful design were being pursued with extraordinary determination.

A BIT OF TRIVIA

There is an unexpected turn in Seiko's history here. When King Seiko was born in 1961, it was the creation of Daini Seikosha in Tokyo, while its great rival, Grand Seiko, came from Suwa Seikosha. The two factories belonged to the same company but were fiercely competitive in their pursuit of mechanical excellence. So imagine the surprise when Seiko introduced its first automatic King Seikos in 1968, and the new 56KS was actually produced by Suwa, the very factory behind Grand Seiko! This 5625-7000 belongs to that pioneering generation, appearing in Seiko's 1968 Japanese catalogue. A King Seiko built by the Grand Seiko side of the family. We rather love that little piece of watchmaking history.

OUR THOUGHTS

The contrast is what makes this 5625-7000 work so well for us: a soft silver sunburst dial surrounded by the strong angles of its stainless-steel case. The applied markers and framed date give the face just enough detail, while the case carries much of the personality.

There's also the calibre 5625 to appreciate. We've serviced the movement and upgraded the quickset to a metal gear on our bench, addressing a familiar weak point in the 56-series. It is a handsome early automatic King Seiko, with the sort of practical workshop attention that matters to us.