Vintage Seiko King Quartz watch 5855-8010 Sunburst dial 1977

SPECIFICATION

Reference: King Quartz 5855-8010
Movement: Quartz 5855
Age: October 1977
Case Size: 35mm
Case Thickness: 8.5mm
Lug to Lug: 41mm
Lugs: 19mm
Condition: Used Seiko watch
Box & Papers: No
Case Material: Stainless Steel
Warranty: 12-Months Warranty

 POINTS TO MENTION

• In fantastic pre-owned condition, with light wear from use
  
• Case and bezel have some very light scratches and mark
  
• Sunburst dial
• Serviced Movement
• New battery fitted
• Date only model
• Quartz signed crown
  
• Paired with an unworn blue leather strap
  

THE WATCH

The Seiko King Quartz 5855-8010 is part of Seiko’s premium quartz lineup from the late 1970s, a period when the brand was aggressively advancing quartz technology and competing at the very top of the market. It belongs to the King Quartz range, which sat just below Grand Quartz in Seiko’s hierarchy and was known for combining strong accuracy with refined case and dial finishing.

This model is powered by the Seiko 5855 calibre, a high-grade analogue quartz movement produced during Seiko’s early quartz boom. While not Twin Quartz, it is still regarded as a precise and durable single-crystal quartz movement, designed for long-term reliability and consistent daily accuracy. One of the genuinely clever hidden features of the Seiko King Quartz 5855-8010 is the way the seconds hand behaves when the crown is rotated while in the closed position. When turned clockwise, the seconds hand pauses momentarily for approximately one second, while rotating the crown counter-clockwise causes the seconds hand to advance by two seconds. The 5855 series is commonly associated with Seiko’s focus on building robust, serviceable quartz watches rather than disposable designs.

In terms of design, the 5855-8010 features a stainless steel case around 35mm, giving it classic late-1970s proportions. The dial is clean and restrained, with applied baton indices, a framed date window at 3 o’clock, and a subtle sunburst dial. The overall aesthetic reflects Seiko’s “Grammar of Design” influence, emphasizing sharp lines, symmetry, and readability.

Today, the 5855-8010 is appreciated by collectors for its understated design and historical significance rather than high monetary value. It represents a transitional moment in watchmaking, when quartz technology was still new enough to be prestigious, and brands like Seiko were defining what precision timekeeping would look like for decades to come.

A BIT OF TRIVIA

The 5855 belongs to what collectors sometimes call Seiko’s “serious quartz” era. By the mid-1970s, quartz was no longer experimental, but it hadn’t yet become disposable. Movements like the 5855 were built with proper metal gear trains and robust construction, reflecting a time when quartz technology was still treated as premium engineering rather than mass-market convenience.

One interesting aspect of the King Quartz line is its position in Seiko’s internal competition during the quartz revolution. Alongside Grand Quartz, Lord Quartz, and Superior Quartz, King Quartz helped Seiko segment its rapidly evolving quartz offerings, with each tier representing different levels of finishing, accuracy, and prestige. This structure made even quartz watches feel like part of a traditional luxury hierarchy.