WATCH & JEWELRY /
WATCH NEWS
December 30, 2020
Limited to 3,000 pieces. King Seiko "KSK" Design Reissue Model | SEIKO
SEIKO | SEIKO
A Limited Reissue of the Landmark King Seiko Design, Commemorating SEIKO's 140th Anniversary
To commemorate SEIKO's 140th anniversary, the "SEIKO 140th Anniversary Limited Edition King Seiko 'KSK' Reissue Design," which inherits the design of the historical model of King Seiko—a brand that led the Japanese high-end mechanical watch market after its debut in 1961—will be released in a limited quantity of 3,000 pieces, sequentially in Japan and overseas from January 22, 2021 (Friday).
Text by OZAKI Sayaka | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi
A Watch Reimagined for Today, Inheriting the Design of a Historical Model
In the late 1950s, SEIKO, aiming to usher in a new era for Japanese-made mechanical watches, re-examined the performance required of watches and successively developed groundbreaking models imbued with its unique philosophy in movement design and aesthetics. One culmination of this effort was the Grand Seiko, born in 1960, which represented the pinnacle of Japanese-made watches, grounded in the essence of watchmaking. The King Seiko, introduced the following year in 1961, was a model that, alongside Grand Seiko, drove the evolution of high-end mechanical watches.
2021 marks the 140th anniversary of SEIKO's founding and the 60th anniversary of King Seiko's birth. To celebrate this momentous anniversary year, the King Seiko design reissue model is revived with modern technology.
The second-generation King Seiko, known as "KSK" and released in 1965, was chosen as the base model for this design reissue. It was highly praised for its practical advancements, such as water resistance, which the first model released in 1961 lacked, and a hacking second mechanism that allowed for precise time setting.
In terms of design, this model established King Seiko's originality through its dignified yet soft aesthetic, along with its sharp, angular case and crystal shape. The distinctive thick lugs and the low center of gravity, which contribute to excellent wearability and practicality, are inherited by the reissue model. Furthermore, the multi-faceted indices that emit a sharp gleam, the bold, long hands, and the unique cross-section and top surface of the 12 o'clock index, which features a lighter cut, are also reproduced as faithfully as possible.
On the other hand, the case diameter has been increased from the original model's 36.7mm to a contemporary 38.1mm. A new box-shaped sapphire crystal with a wider bezel was developed to replicate the silhouette of the acrylic glass from that era. While retaining the dignified yet soft atmosphere of the original model, unprecedented improvements in visibility and scratch resistance have been achieved.
In addition to these carefully reproduced details of the original model, the delicate SEIKO logo on the crown and the "W" mark, which signified its water resistance, as well as the buckle, feature the dynamic SEIKO lettering. The display layout on the case back and the yellow gold-colored medallion, featuring a crest mark inspired by the shield—an icon of the King Seiko brand—also evoke the original model, with "KSK" design elements inherited throughout.
While the original model was equipped with a manual-winding movement, this timepiece features the Caliber 6L35, SEIKO's slimmest automatic movement at 11.4mm, enabling a slim profile with excellent wearability.
<King Seiko> SEIKO 140th Anniversary Limited Edition King Seiko "KSK" Reissue Design
- Ref. | SDKA001
- Movement | Automatic (Caliber 6L35)
- Power Reserve | Approx. 45 hours
- Case Material | SS
- Case Diameter | 38.1mm
- Water Resistance | 5 bar
- Price | ¥385,000 (incl. tax)
- Quantity | Limited to 3,000 pieces worldwide
- Sales | January 22, 2021 (Friday)
