{"product_id":"vintage-king-seiko-5625-7120-hi-beat-1971-charcoal-grey","title":"Vintage King Seiko 5625-7120 Hi-Beat Automatic 1971 Grey Dial serviced UK warranty","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSPECIFICATION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReference:\u003c\/strong\u003e King Seiko 5625-7120\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMovement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Calibre 5625 Hi-Beat automatic\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 1971\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 37mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Thickness:\u003c\/strong\u003e 11mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLug to Lug:\u003c\/strong\u003e 41mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLugs:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18mm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e Used Seiko watch\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBox and Papers:\u003c\/strong\u003e No\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCase Material:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stainless steel\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWarranty:\u003c\/strong\u003e 12-month mechanical warranty (UK only)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePOINTS TO MENTION\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn great pre-owned condition, with light wear \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCase and bezel have some light scratches and marks\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVertically brushed dark grey dial\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDial has minor marks at the edge of the dial beneath 3 o'clock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully serviced Hi-beat movement\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpgraded metal quickset gear\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKS signed crown\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold medallion is in good condition\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePaired with an unworn grey leather strap\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE WATCH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dial does something rather clever: from one angle it looks almost black, and from another its fine grey texture comes alive. Against the silver hour markers, the broad shoulders and crisp lines of the King Seiko case look sharper still.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Seiko introduced the automatic 56KS family in 1968, it came from Suwa Seikosha, the factory better known for Grand Seiko, rather than the Daini factory where King Seiko had begun. That makes this more than a handsome early-seventies design. It reflects the competing approaches to mechanical watchmaking within Seiko at the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA BIT OF TRIVIA\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe timing of this King Seiko is particularly interesting. In October 1971, Suwa Seikosha was still producing fine mechanical watches like this 56KS, despite having helped change the watch industry forever with the launch of the Quartz Astron in December 1969. That first quartz wristwatch cost 450,000 yen, roughly the price of a small car in Japan at the time. So, while Seiko was pioneering an entirely new way of keeping time, its watchmakers were still building beautifully engineered mechanical movements beating at 28,800 vibrations an hour. Two very different approaches to watchmaking, both coming from the same remarkable Japanese manufacturer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOUR THOUGHTS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dial is what makes this King Seiko rather special. That deep grey, vertically brushed finish changes character as the light moves, sometimes appearing almost black before revealing all that fine texture. We particularly like how it works with the strong lines of the case and those beautifully defined hour markers. The grey leather strap complements it nicely, too. And there's something reassuring about knowing that the 56-series quickset has been upgraded to a metal gear on our bench, addressing one of the familiar weaknesses of these movements. A striking King Seiko, but one that rewards a closer look rather than demanding attention.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Past2PresentWatches","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62822348095875,"sku":"KS1013WO","price":575.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0783\/2397\/4423\/files\/King-Seiko-5625-7120-front_5.jpg?v=1792750019","url":"https:\/\/past2presentwatches.com\/products\/vintage-king-seiko-5625-7120-hi-beat-1971-charcoal-grey","provider":"Past2PresentWatches","version":"1.0","type":"link"}