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05-16-2017, 01:38 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-25-2017, 11:21 AM by Collectionist.)
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The first automatic King Seikos were the 5626-7000 KS and the 5626-7040 KS chronometer, grandly decorated with gold medallions on the case back. The design of the 7000 is clearly based on the manual-wind 45 caliber King Seiko, however it features a one-piece monobloc, opened by removing the bezel and glass rather than a screw-back. Also, perhaps more importantly, it has an external regulator, accessed via a small screw between the lower lugs. The 7000 and the 7040 seem to have been produced in fairly large numbers for the Japanese market between 1968 and 1971, the 7040 being the most widely produced chronometer model.
Now, here is where it starts to get interesting. There are some rare design variations, other than the regular 7000/7040. One can find maverick kings! They come with the same 7000 indication, as in this example, but with stubbier indices, hands and sometimes multi-surfaced lugs. Other evidence of these kingly escapades is given by the cushion-type, the square, or the otherwise fashionably 70s case. However, one of the most interesting cases (pun intended) might be the “Blocky” 7000 of the late sixties.
This one adheres fully to Tanaka's Grammar Of Design and fits right in between the glitzy KS 562x Vanacs (colourful dials, chunky hands and hour markers and faceted crystals, but never medallions) and the regular lot. But, because this KS is fairly unknown some refurbishers decide to “juice it up”. For those in the know this results in a particular type of horological horror – the sickening attraction to brand new wrongness, or just a plain crudely done hack job.
So, good or bad, dials get repainted (to black of course), hands get their brushed appearance polished, indices are redone with paint or chrome. Sometimes the crystal even gets a Vanac vibe – facetted glass that certainly does not belong on the non Vanac KS.
Last but not least, the case and everything else may be polished to perfection. Yes it really is. But generally this gives the case that slightly droopy liquid metal look, with somewhat soft edges that reflect light ever so slightly differently.
So, there is a price to pay for these resurrected pieces. Not only horological dismay but upwards of a 1000 dollars. The work done has got to pay right? Right.
Now, here is where it starts to get interesting. There are some rare design variations, other than the regular 7000/7040. One can find maverick kings! They come with the same 7000 indication, as in this example, but with stubbier indices, hands and sometimes multi-surfaced lugs. Other evidence of these kingly escapades is given by the cushion-type, the square, or the otherwise fashionably 70s case. However, one of the most interesting cases (pun intended) might be the “Blocky” 7000 of the late sixties.
This one adheres fully to Tanaka's Grammar Of Design and fits right in between the glitzy KS 562x Vanacs (colourful dials, chunky hands and hour markers and faceted crystals, but never medallions) and the regular lot. But, because this KS is fairly unknown some refurbishers decide to “juice it up”. For those in the know this results in a particular type of horological horror – the sickening attraction to brand new wrongness, or just a plain crudely done hack job.
So, good or bad, dials get repainted (to black of course), hands get their brushed appearance polished, indices are redone with paint or chrome. Sometimes the crystal even gets a Vanac vibe – facetted glass that certainly does not belong on the non Vanac KS.
Last but not least, the case and everything else may be polished to perfection. Yes it really is. But generally this gives the case that slightly droopy liquid metal look, with somewhat soft edges that reflect light ever so slightly differently.
So, there is a price to pay for these resurrected pieces. Not only horological dismay but upwards of a 1000 dollars. The work done has got to pay right? Right.
I can't imagine why anyone would fall for these obvious refurbs. I have seen many an over polished watch from Montre 48 on the Fleebay. They are always missing the sharp edges that all seiko watches have. How difficult can that be? Not to mention the brushed/polished combo that Seiko excels in.
x1
