Showing posts with label King Seiko. Show all posts
Showing posts with label King Seiko. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Something is not right with this 56 King Seiko

5626 or 5625? Or Matrimony of the two?

I bought this watch through an ebay auction. It was early on when I was still fresh and naive in the affairs of collecting vintage watches.... Well, I am still fresh and naive today..... From the superficial, it looks like a legitimate 5626 King Seiko. 5626 KS is the epitome of automatic King Seiko. 


This 5626 KS has a gold capped case measuring 37 mm excluding its crown and with a thickness of 10.5 mm. The lugs are thick and give a distinctive looks to the 56 KS. The lugs are 18 mm apart. 


There is a regulatory adjusting screw between the lower lugs. The crown is KS signed as well. 


This watch has a monocoque body i.e. the case is of a single piece. To have access to the movement, once must open through the top mineral glass. If you look at the back case, you would notice that this case is actually meant for 5625-7000. 5625 is a date only watch, whereas this is a day-date 5626 and it is clearly stated on its dial. 


This watch also missing the gold medallion at its case back. Below is a photo that I found to show how's an original beauty looks like......


Despite the obvious flaws, this is still a pretty much lovely timepiece. The flat white silver dial with applied gold linear hour markers is as classic as any watches can get.


Apart from the gold emblems of Seiko and KS wordings, the dial has a gold window frame at three o'clock position for the watch's day-date functions. On the dial, it is stated this is a high beats automatic watch and with a Daini logo.  


This watch has gold dauphine hands highlighted with black lines centrally and a long slim gold sweeping second hand. 


This watch is powered by a 25 jewels 5626 movement beating at 28,800bph. The 56xx calibre was made by the Suwa branch of Seiko.  


When I look at this watch, I see functionality and simplicity. Nothing exaggerated.... This is a timeless beauty with a faded makeup and with slightly noticeable wrinkles......



Thursday, February 13, 2014

Remembering the time: King Seiko 5246-5010

King Seiko ~ TV shaped

The previous post was with the President.... So today I am going to party with the King...... Here is a 1970's Television set.... During the time, TV came in a cheaper version of Black and White screen or more expensive Colour set.


Below is a vintage King Seiko from January 1973. King Seiko (KS) was produced in 1960's till 1970's by Daini Seikosha Co., as an internal rivalry to the Grand Seiko (GS) by Suwa Seikosha Co. This KS 5246 has a retro looking 1970's TV shaped case. I think the case is gold capped or gold filled. The case is measuring 35mm x 39mm and has a thickness of 9mm.


Its crown is unsigned and is gold plated. It has a semi sphere shape and is quite easy to wind and adjust time. 


This watch has a protruding acrylic crystal. I don't really know how to describe the dial. The current colour maybe due to aging process. It is still a gold dial with slightly darken brown.


The dial has nice gold Seiko and KS emblem. This watch has gold baton hands with a black highlighter. The day-date window has an elevated golden frame surrounding it. The day disc is in English and Chinese language. The blue character showed day six or Saturday.  


From my research, this 5246-5010 was originally equipped with a gold bracelet. The time I received this one, it is with a inferior leather band. I have since replaced with a brown colour classic looking Italian Cowhide strap with a gold-plated buckle.


This classic has a snap-on solid stainless steel case back with the movement and case number 5246-5010 on it. The case back also marked the country of its origin and with a Daini logo.


Behind the case back lies a high grade Seiko 5246 automatic movement with hand winding capability and hacking function. Both the day and date can be quick set and advance instantaneously at midnight. 


Calibre 5246 is a 25 Jewels movement beating at 28.800 bph, The 52KS calibre is the first automatic Hi-Beat KS. Although the 52KS may have lagged in the frequency race against the 36,000 beats GS, but it held its own in terms of accuracy and durability. 


Currently Grand Seiko has been crowned as flagship models of Seiko watches, but in no way that a King Seiko is anything less than a Grand Seiko......


Below is a vintage advertisement of King Seiko 52 (It is for a different variant thou).