Grand Seiko 4520-8000 July 1970
SKU:
£0.00
per item
- MODEL: Grand Seiko 45GS from July 1970
- REFERENCE: 4520-8000
- DIAL: Original White JAPAN 4520 -8000T AD
- CASE MATERIAL: Stainless Steel
- CASE DIMENSIONS: 36x41x9mm
- LUG WIDTH: 18mm
- CRYSTAL: Plexi glass
- CASE BACK: Screw-in Stainless Steel + Custom display back
- MOVEMENT: Seiko Manual wind 4520A 25 Jewels
- Manufacturing date: October 1967 - 070535
- Service History: Serviced ±20s/day
- Strap: NOS Seiko replacement with original signed GS buc
Sold out
Lovely 4520-8000 45GS from October 1967. By GS standards a somewhat humble reference but as the ultimate winner of @thegrandseikoguy knockout cup to celebrate the Vintage Grand Seiko 60th Anniversary in 2021 it obviously ticks just about all the boxes of the ‘Grammar of Design’ ethos that Seiko is now so well known for. This particular piece has a lovely clean dial/ indices/ handset and the case was refinished by @lapinist_watchrestoration so is razor sharp and only been worn a couple of times since. It comes with its original buckle and was serviced last year.
The story of Seiko and the Observatory competitions in Switzerland
By the early 1960's the Swiss were in a league of their own as other watchmaking countries such as Germany, France, Britain and the US began to fall behind in terms of quality and accuracy. Seiko saw this as an opportunity to prove their worth as makers of world class chronometer grade movements and in 1964 began participating in the annual competition for accuracy hosted by the Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland. Seiko’s results for the first year were disappointing but by the 1967 competition Seiko had won second and third places. For reasons unknown, Neuchâtel cancelled it's competition and the interest shifted to Geneva. A year later, Seiko demonstrated the best accuracy ever recorded, dominating the observatory competition for mechanical movements. Within four years Seiko had taken the world’s No. 1 spot, sending shock waves through the watchmaking establishment. The results seem to have disturbed the Swiss watch making giants greatly and are still not widely recognised today. For reasons unknown by 1968 both competitions had been cancelled for good.
In 1959 Seiko brought on board Taro Tanako, a recent design graduate and the first trained designer to be hired by the brand. Tanaka’s approach was holistic, and from then on the Seiko design studio moved beyond dials to encompass the entire watchmaking process. According to him, the main problem was making Seiko watches - especially the brand’s high-end Grand Seiko and King Seiko lines - stand out above their competitors. Tanaka wanted to outshine the Swiss, figuratively and literally. The Grammar of Design philosophy guided Seiko’s design practices from 1962 all the way to the late ‘70s, and while it may have started in the premium lines, it soon trickled down throughout the brand all the way to the Seiko 5 line. Tanaka’s touch (in case design at least) can be seen in many of the most iconic classic models from the period, including the Lord-Matic, 6139 Pogue, 6138 Bullhead, cushion-case 6105, and countless others, playing a major part in shaping Seiko's contribution to the world of watch design.
The story of Seiko and the Observatory competitions in Switzerland
By the early 1960's the Swiss were in a league of their own as other watchmaking countries such as Germany, France, Britain and the US began to fall behind in terms of quality and accuracy. Seiko saw this as an opportunity to prove their worth as makers of world class chronometer grade movements and in 1964 began participating in the annual competition for accuracy hosted by the Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland. Seiko’s results for the first year were disappointing but by the 1967 competition Seiko had won second and third places. For reasons unknown, Neuchâtel cancelled it's competition and the interest shifted to Geneva. A year later, Seiko demonstrated the best accuracy ever recorded, dominating the observatory competition for mechanical movements. Within four years Seiko had taken the world’s No. 1 spot, sending shock waves through the watchmaking establishment. The results seem to have disturbed the Swiss watch making giants greatly and are still not widely recognised today. For reasons unknown by 1968 both competitions had been cancelled for good.
In 1959 Seiko brought on board Taro Tanako, a recent design graduate and the first trained designer to be hired by the brand. Tanaka’s approach was holistic, and from then on the Seiko design studio moved beyond dials to encompass the entire watchmaking process. According to him, the main problem was making Seiko watches - especially the brand’s high-end Grand Seiko and King Seiko lines - stand out above their competitors. Tanaka wanted to outshine the Swiss, figuratively and literally. The Grammar of Design philosophy guided Seiko’s design practices from 1962 all the way to the late ‘70s, and while it may have started in the premium lines, it soon trickled down throughout the brand all the way to the Seiko 5 line. Tanaka’s touch (in case design at least) can be seen in many of the most iconic classic models from the period, including the Lord-Matic, 6139 Pogue, 6138 Bullhead, cushion-case 6105, and countless others, playing a major part in shaping Seiko's contribution to the world of watch design.
