Grand Seiko Taiyo... the most beautiful of all

Taiyo ref: 43999
Taiyo means Sun... ever shining, ever bright... full of radiance... Arguable the most beautiful Grand Seiko ever produced during the 1960's till now. The first of second model Grand Seiko made in 1963,1964 only. A total of 81,000 units of Cal.430 and 5722 were produced.
My taiyo was produced in 1963 by SUWA SEIKOSHA. The taiyo is powered by a chronometer (Seiko internal Chronometer declaration) 35 jewels low beat 18,000 bph Cal.430 movement. It is called self-dater because it has quick set date function. Taiyo is the highest quality masterpiece of low beat GS.

My taiyo is in stainless steel case with screwed-on bottom and is said to be waterproofed at 50 meters. It also has the original "Gold Lion" medallion clearly engraved, Original signed crown W seiko, Wide lugs, Plastic crystal. Factory original pearl silver dial signed "SEIKO Chronometer, Grand Seiko, Diashock 35 Jewels" and "MADE IN JAPAN, 43999TD" printed at the bottom. It has a "TAIYO" symbol on the dial that only can be found in the early model.

My first automatic GS: 6245-9000

Grand Seiko 6245-9000

1st Generation Automatic GS made from 1966 through 1968. This particular piece was made in 1966 at SUWA SEIKOSHA. This is a new old stock I acquired from Japan. Cal.6245A is a 35 jewels automatic movement with date function running on an Amplitude of 19800/h.

What is unusual about this GS is the crown is at 4 o'clock position and it is plain without sign of GS or W seiko.Produced at Suwa Seikosha. The case design is also somewhat odd if compared to other GS. One of the beauty of this watch is it has a Gold Lion Medalion at the back. My 6245 has an uplined silver frame to highlight the date and has a silver dial that shine with enchantment.

This was originally sold as a Seikomatic Chronometer but because of Chronometer appeal 1966, the name was changed to 62Grand Seiko. Only a few were produced, so it is difficult to find today. Can be considered super rare.... I am pretty priviledged to have one in new mint condition. I am actively looking for the 6246 39 jewels day date edition... may be years before I can hunt one in good condition down. Wish me luck!

My first Valjoux 72

I bought this from ebay. The seller is from Switzerland... after making payment, the watch arrived a week later...

Hmmmm the legendary valjoux 72... the same mechanism that is used in the ultra famous Paul Newman's edition Rolex Daytona 6263 and subsequent 6264... also in some of the prestige brand like Breitling, and Tag Heuer.

I thought of using this movement and trying to find Rolex 6263 casing and dial... Yeap try to be smart... just want to spend a few bucks and making a watch worth RM 100,000 +++ Aparently this wet dream does not come true, after enquire about the price for the genuine 6263 casing and dial... I decided to maintain this watch as it is... Jean Perret the authentic piece... Isn't that bad... the moral of this whole saga is don't force it... everything has a purpose in life...

My first GS, 4520-8000

Grand Seiko 4520-8000

This is a brand new unused Grand Seiko produced in 1968/69 by Daini Seikosha Co., Ltd. It was loaded with the best quality hand winding Movement - 25jewels, hi-beat 36,000bph 4520 A. 4520A was initially Grand Seiko Observatory Chronometer and has GS standard official approval. Some of the 4520A has Astronomical Observatory Chronometer official approval. How I wish this one has...... Astronomical 4520A is a Legend and will cost around ??????? This is my first ever Grand Seiko! All original except the leather strap... but the buckle, crown all signed GS. It even comes in original GS Paulownia wood box.

My love for Avantgarde Seiko

To compete with the european mainly swiss at the luxurious watch market, Japanese biggest watch maker Seiko comes up with Grand Seikos, King Seikos and Credors. Lexus in the watch industry.... it is on the same path with Mercedes Benz (Rolex), BMW (Omega, Breitling)... but still a distance to go if really want to challenge the crème de la crème The Rolls-Royce (Patek Phillipe), Bentley (Vacheron Constantin, Audersmars Piguet, Girard Perregaux, IWC)...

Personally I think the Top grade seikos is superb in quality and value for money. But in recent years the price has soared because of high demands as more and more people gets to know about it.

I first came to know about Grand Seiko and Credor from watch magazine during the late 1990's when Seiko decided to revitalised Grand Seiko that has ceased production in late 1960's. I read more about GS, KS from two guys... one is a bug guy from Malaysia.... the famous Roachman Dr. Wayne Lee and his Japanese friend Mr. Seiya Kobayashi.

GS, KS give me the impression of simple, uncomplicated, distinctive.... Only true watch lovers will notice your wristwatch... Beauty is in the eyes of expert....

Watchopenia, my chronograph 7733

These are my collection of vintage chronograph using valjoux 7733 movement. Valjoux 7733 is a manual winding 17 jewels movement. Most are swiss made, some from Russia too. The movement has a frequency of 18000 A/h and a power reserve of approximately 45 hours if fully wound. The Valjoux 7733 is a movement circa in the 60s. Production ceased in the 70s. A lot of chronograph movements found today are based on the Valjoux 7733.

YEMA YACHTINGRAF REGATTA HERREN CHRONOGRAPH, 1967

Montres Yema is a watch manufacturer founded in 1948 in Besancon, France. They claim that their watches "stand out from the rest by virtue of their specific design and technological characteristics".Yema distinguished itself in the very beginning by creating the first automatic chronometers manufactured entirely in France, and became famous for the technical qualities and sports characteristics of its watches.

Tissot Seastar Chronograph 7733

Stainless steel Tissot watch produced in 1970's.

Watchopenia, the word

"Watchopenia"... Sorry no such word in any dictionary or any language.... I am fully responsible for making up that word. It is a combination of 2 English words: watch and schizophrenia. It means a severe form of mental disorder towards watch.

In medical terms, Penia also means lacking of or deficiency of.... so in this case is a severe deficiency of watches!

Symptoms

Whoever diagnosed with this condition will experience alienation or complete social withdrawal when watch is involved. The patient will hallucinate and have delusions on different watches....

Prognosis

With each watch acquired the prognosis will be getting worse.....

Treatment

Temporary syptomatic relief with purchase of new watch... Dosage of watch depends on the complication of watch, the beauty of the movement, casing, dial and etc....

Summary

Basically watchopenia is a disease for those who is "coo-coo" with watches.