Birthday Watch March 1971! Seiko King 44-2000AD DAINI 25J Mechanical Watch (OH)

A BIRTHDAY WATCH IS A WATCH THAT WAS PRODUCED THE SAME MONTH AND YEAR AS YOUR BIRTHDAY.

Make: Seiko
Type: Mechanical
Model: King Seiko 44KS
Year of Production: March 1971
Movement: 4402
BPH: 18,000
Number of Jewels: 25
Hand and Dial: 3D Gold-Filled Baton Indices with Dauphine Hands
Width: 36mm
Lug to Lug Height: 45mm
Thickness: 11.5mm
Lug Width: 19mm
Bracelet: Bear Brand Vintage Expendable SS Gold Bracelet
Pouch / Box: Brand-New EVA Type Zipper Pouch

According to most reliable online sources, the Seikosha DAINI factory produced the first King Seiko in 1961 to compete with the Grand Seiko made by the Seikosha SUWA that made its debut in 1960.

The first King Seiko was manual winding, 25 jewel movements which is this 44KS that debuted in 1964 and is a mechanical 18,000 BHP with a snap-down case-back. The 44KS is in fact a 4402 movement. It was so good in design, accuracy and reliability that it was adopted and installed into the world's first Grand Seiko and named 44GS that became the all-time great Grand Seiko and a highly Collectible.

It is fact that even though DAINI and SUWA were "friendly competitors," they did share many movements due to the insatiable demand.

Seiko ceased production of the King range in 1975 to allow the emergence of the Grand Seiko as the undisputed high-end Seiko timepiece.

So, for Seiko Collectors and Vintage fans, this is the FIRST generation King Seiko 44KS DAINI AKA 44GS in NEAR MINT condition. This is a highly favoured Collectible especially in Gold-Filled format.

This super scarce March 1971 King Seiko has a beautiful Ivory-White sunburst dial, 3D 14K Gold-Filled Baton Indices and Dauphine Hands are all in NEAR MINT condition after undergoing a thorough cleaning.

Its oversized King Seiko cylindrical shaped gold-filled case also underwent a deep cleaning and buffed as best as possible albeit a few minor scratches that are barely noticeable to the naked eye. The gold medallion located on the case-back is present and in NEAR MINT condition. The mineral crystal was replaced and is in mint condition.

The Seiko signed crown is located at the traditional 3H position and is nicely tucked away to prevent damage or snags.

Its movement was carefully stripped and meticulously cleaned via ultrasonic immersion, oiled, re-assembled and calibrated on 7 October 2023. In short, it was given an overhaul and not a general servicing and should be able to operate unhindered for the next 5 to 10 years thereby providing the owner peace of mind.

Equipped with the highly prized 44KS movement, it has 25 Jewels and operate at 18,000 beats per hour (BPH) giving it excellent accuracy and longevity. The time-grapher, after 60 hours of calibration, shows superb readings i.e. rate of -1 seconds every 24 hours and amplitude of 295 in a straight and centered line! Such readings are truly exceptional even by brand new modern automatic watch standards whereby the acceptable tolerance is -20 to + 40 seconds a day! This is a testament to the quality, excellent power reserve and longevity for such a vintage timepiece, the meticulous care provided over the years, and of course the painstaking calibration conducted.

The case width and height are approximately 36mm (without crown) and 45mm respectively. The lug width is 19mm and the bracelet can accommodate wrists up to 20.0cm; thus, this watch is suitable for men and the modern women.

A hi-quality Bear Brand vintage expendable gold-electroplated SS bracelet comes with the watch. The Buyer is provided the option to choose a different design and coloured strap from my array of straps should he / she wishes to do so.

To the best of our experience and knowledge, everything within the case including the crown is 100% Seiko original, thereby the timepiece is considered in stunning condition, what with its age of 52 years being taken into consideration.

Due to its age, this timepiece has not been water-resistant tested.

The pictures provided show the watch in NEAR MINT condition, and the movement within squeaky clean and well maintained. It has also been demagnetised to improve parts reliability, minimise wear & tear, and improve accuracy. The only drawback is the lack of documentation and original box, so an after-market box / case is provided.

Bear in mind that this watch has seen many of the previous owners’ ups and downs in life, and should be cherished and preserved for the next generation to savour such engineering beauty.

Yes, there are many other same / similar models in the market, BUT none as beautifully aged and as well maintained as what you see here. Hence, it is a no-brainer that this one-of-a-kind watch will make an extremely beautiful birthday present for special someone born in the month of March 1971! Another no-brainer is the fact that the value of this watch will appreciate over time.

Do also bear in mind that it will cost between S$ 180.00 to S$ 200.00 for a proper overhaul, an estimated S$ 80.00 to calibrate (depending on watch condition), and S$ 100.00 to clean and polish including tightening of bracelet links - these costs do not apply when purchasing this timepiece. So, if anyone was to sell such a timepiece at a low price yet claim that it has been serviced, one has to ask what kind of servicing was conducted, if any.

This is a highly COLLECTIBLE FIRST GENERATION GOLD-FILLED King Seiko 44KS in NEAR MINT condition, so, be unique and wear something that is almost impossible to source.

This is a must-have for the Seiko die-hard fan, and in fact, any serious watch collector!