Vintage King Seiko watch 5626-7041 Chronometer Officially Certified 1973 Serviced

SPECIFICATION

Reference: King Seiko 5626-7041
Movement: 5626 Hi-beat
Age: June 1973
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 great pre-owned condition, with light wear from use 
  
• Case and bezel have some light scratches and marks
  
• Sunburst white dial
  
• Fully serviced Hi-beat movement
  
• English and Kanji day wheel
• Upgraded metal quickset gear
  
• KS signed crown
  
• Paired with a unworn black leather strap
  

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.

KING SEIKO 5626-7041

The King Seiko reference 5626-7041 represents one of the finest expressions of Seiko's pursuit of precision during the 1970s. Introduced in 1973, it succeeded the earlier 5626-7040, retaining the same elegant, angular design while adopting a more conventional screw-down case back in place of the original monocoque construction. This subtle revision made servicing easier without altering the watch's distinctive appearance, allowing the 5626-7041 to remain in production until the King Seiko line was discontinued in 1975.

Powered by the highly respected Seiko Calibre 5626B, the watch features an automatic, hi-beat movement operating at 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement was officially certified as a chronometer by the Japan Chronometer Inspection Institute, reflecting the exceptional standards of accuracy that Seiko was achieving during this period. Smooth winding, reliable performance, and refined engineering have made the 5626B one of the most admired Japanese movements of the era, and it remains a favourite among collectors today.

Measuring approximately 36mm across, the 5626-7041 embodies the sharp, architectural styling that defines vintage King Seiko. Facets, broad lugs, and polished surfaces create a striking interplay of light, while the clean dial design emphasises legibility and understated elegance. The result is a watch that feels every bit as sophisticated today as it did when new.

THE KING SEIKO

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.

OUR THOUGHTS

The 5626-7041 marks an important chapter in King Seiko's history. Produced during the final years of the collection, it reflects the intense rivalry between King Seiko and Grand Seiko, with both lines competing to showcase Seiko's finest watchmaking capabilities. Although Grand Seiko ultimately became the company's flagship range, many enthusiasts consider the 56KS models to offer comparable quality, exceptional value, and some of the most distinctive case designs to emerge from Japan's golden age of mechanical watchmaking