Unlike the first GS, the first KS features a “flat”, not “convex” dial (it was the first-ever Seiko to adopt such design), the King Seiko naming is printed and less refined than the engraved one found on the GSJ 14070 instead (which turned to “Carved”, “Raised” and “Printed” along the way). An excerpt from the 1963 brochure showcasing either the Grand Seiko and the King Seiko “The First” proves how different the price point was (photo credit: Adventures in Amateur Watch Fettling).
aimed at engineering no other than the “perfect watch”, the King Seiko‘s mission was somewhat different, in that it offered premium luxury watch quality at a more affordable price point than its Grand Seiko sibling (photo credit: Here is why you won’t find any date display or hacking on any first release or a chronometer certification, despite the tests carried out at the Kameido factory ensuring a close-to-chronometer standard. 39, announcing the launch of a new premium watch, the King Seiko. Pictured below is an excerpt from the 1961 Seiko News magazine, no. Once placed one alongside the other, both timepieces are closer to each other, much more than you’d expect. Back then, here is the story of the quest for excellence between two Seiko factories, whose common goal was to craft the best possible Japanese watch, either in performance and refinement. The latter was also acclaimed as “The First” by enthusiasts, despite not providing any “Chronometer” certification. A year later, Daini Seikosha revealed their first high-end Seiko, the King Seiko. It was the first-ever Japanese wristwatch to meet the standards set by the Bureaux Officiels de Contrôle de la Marche des Montres. The calibre 3180 ensured a running accuracy within +12 and -3 seconds per day and a 45-hour maximum power reserve. In 1960, Suwa Seikosha unveiled their first Grand Seiko Chronometer, named “The First” the GSJ 14070 equipped with the glorious calibre 3180.