eBay
GRAND SEIKO
OBSERVATORY CHRONOMETER from 1968
SUPER RARE - 4520-8020 (one out of 73!)
NO RESERVE!



If you  are looking at this, you know what you want.

Let me explain the brief story of this super precious model.

1. Observatory Chronometer

Before COSC, there was Observatory Chronometer certified by the astronomical observatories such as the Neuchatel, Geneva, Besancon, and Kew Observatory (to be perfect, there was BO Chronometer standard – effort led by Rolex? - between those two). There were also “Observatory Chronometer Competitions” at those observatories every year until 69 or 70 when quartz movements became prevalent.


This Observatory Chronometer testing and certification was far tougher than today's COSC. For example, average daily deviation must be within +/- 0.75 sec, while COSC requirement is -4/+6 sec., thermal variation must be within +/- 0.20 sec. per day while COSC requirement is +/- 0.60 sec., etc.... and the duration of the test was 45 days while COSC's is 15 days.

The standard was so high that the manufacturers typically sent the movements specifically built for that purpose alone to the observatory for testing. It is like F-1 cars in that the car is expected to last only for one race, but not for everyday use. The only manufacturers who sold the actual movements/ watches which passed the observatory chronometer testing are Girard-Perregaux, Waltham (pocket watch), and SEIKO.


The well-known (thus legendary in a way) movements created for this competition were Peseux 260, Zenith 135, Longines 360, Girard-Perregaux 32A and SEIKO 45. But other than GP and SEIKO, those movements which actually passed the competition were never sold to the public, meaning that the ones in the market were made with the same spec (but not necessarily as finely tuned) as the examples that passed the competition, not the actually certified ones. 670 GP 32A movements actually certified were sold to the public in late 60s and so were 223 (some record says 226) SEIKO 45 (4520 and 4580) movements.


Further, 

2. SEIKO's challenge to Observatory Chronometer Competitions

As you may know, there were, and still are, TWO SEIKO watch manufactures – back then they were called “Dai-Ni (the second) SEIKO-sha” and “Suwa SEIKO-sha” respectively. Why “the second” is because the original (=first) SEIKO-sha was created to make clocks and The Second SEIKO-sha (“sha” means “company”) was created to make wrist watches. And “Suwa” is the name of a region in Nagano prefecture, which is almost center of the long main island of Japan and still the home of today's Japanese precision manufacturing such as SEIKO Epson. Why “Suwa” is because The Second SEIKO-sha had to evacuate Tokyo due to the escalating bombing on Tokyo during late WW II period, and set up a new factory there. They picked Suwa because there had been a supplier there in Suwa. And by the twist of fate, the newer factory of The Second SEIKO-sha in Suwa and that supplier merged and created “Suwa SEIKO-sha” in 1959, an entity separate from the The Second SEIKO-sha in Tokyo.


Today, “The Second SEIKO-sha” in Tokyo is called “SEIKO Instruments Inc. (SII)” and “Suwa SEIKO-sha” is “SEIKO Epson”, respectively. SII is the subsidiary of SEIKO Holdings and owns Morioka SII in which they have “Shizukuishi Watch Studio” – today's main factory of the mechanical Grand Seiko (see the past report by SJX and me earlier this year). On the other hand, SEIKO Epson is now itself an independent company and listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange, as does SEIKO Holdings, independent of each other. There is no cross-holdings between those two entities (I am sure the founder's family, The Hattoris, own both).


SEIKO Epson is now far more famous for its printer products, but makes Grand Seiko as well – mostly quarts and Spring Drive. The Spring Drive Minute Repeater this year and Sonnerie before were both created by SEIKO Epson team, under the brand “Credor”. No wonder why it is based on the Spring Drive watch movement, NOT mechanical watch movement. As I said before, Grand Seiko aims to be the world's best “practical” wrist watch brand (thus, most are automatic and, for some, a bit boring design), while Credor aims to be the world's best dressy watch brand (thus, bells and whistles and sometimes bling bling). Technically speaking, SEIKO Epson is just one of the suppliers for SEIKO Watch Corporation, a SEIKO Holdings company which sells SEIKO products including Grand Seiko, Credor, etc. And it is interesting to know that this Suwa SEIKO-sha, now SEIKO Epson, is the one who created the first Grand Seiko (mechanical, of course), if I may add.


Back to the topic of SEIKO's challenge to Observatory Chronometer Competitions... SEIKO had accomplished the domination and top status in the domestic market and they naturally aimed at the next step. The Observatory Chronometer Competitions were said to be “International” but there had been very few non-Switzerland brand participants. In 62, SEIKO asked Neuchatel Observatory if it is okay for SEIKO to participate and the reply was “Participation from Japan is welcome”. In 63, Suwa SEIKO-sha participated in the small quartz division and did okay at 10th place. In 64, both Suwa and Dai-Ni participated (separately) in the mechanical wrist watch division and the results were not great, 144thand 153th place respectively (considering the fact there were 500th or 600th place made by the Swiss veterans, these results were not that bad). One of the reasons of this result was later found to be the magnetization. They also concluded that it has to have “Hi-Beat” and fine adjustment to improve accuracy. Now both SEIKO teams know what to do to improve and from the next year on;


1964 – 
Dai-Ni: Zero example prized*, Best of the submitted examples - 153th
 , award – none
Suwa: Zero example prized, Best of the submitted examples – 144
th, award – none
(Example top: Zenith, Series (total of the best three examples) Top: Omega, Second: Omega)


1965 – 
Dai-Ni: 2 examples prized, Best of the submitted examples - 124th
 , award – Series 6th
Suwa: 1 example prized, Best of the submitted examples – 125
th, award – none
(Example top: Zenith, Series (total of the best three examples) Top: Zenith, Second: Omega)


1966 – 
Dai-Ni: 23 examples prized, Best of the submitted examples - 9th
 , award – Series 3rd
Suwa: 9 examples prized, Best of the submitted examples – 104
th, award – Series 6th
(Example top: Zenith, Series (total of the best three examples) Top: Omega, Second: Omega)


1967 – 
Dai-Ni: 36 examples prized, Best of the submitted examples - 4th
 , award – Series 2nd
Suwa: 26 examples prized, Best of the submitted examples – 12
th, award – Series 3rd
(Example top: Omega, Series (total of the best three examples) Top: Omega, Second: Dai-Ni SEIKO)


(*”prized” means the score was within 20th
 place (there were many same score examples).


1968 – 
After Suwa submitted its competition examples, Neuchatel declared the Competition would be suspended (later it was announced that the SEIKO examples dominated the Competition by taking 2nd
, and 4th - 8th places). So, both SEIKO teams submitted to Geneva Observatory instead – Best of the submitted examples – 4th (1st to 3rd were quartz movements), in fact from 4th to 10th were all SEIKO, which means that SEIKO movements dominated from the Top to 7th place in the mechanical watch movement division. Total wrist watch division – of course, 1st place.


As you could see, SEIKO team has advanced its technology and skill quite fast to become competitive in the global watch industry. Why Neuchatel stopped the Competition can now only be a speculation, but it continued to issue certificate “Observatoire Astronomique et Chronometrique Bulletin de Marche” to those passed its rigorous test. (Dai-Ni or The Second) SEIKO did continue to improve its movements and also to submit its examples.


1968 – submitted 103 Cal. 4520, 73 passed and certified. -> THIS IS ONE OF THESE.

1969 – submitted 30 Cal. 4580, 25 passed and certified.

1970 – submitted 150 Cal. 4580, 128 passed and certified.

(By Dai-Ni SEIKO-sha)



So, you now have opportunity to acquire the HISTORY of true watchmaking.


No box, no paper, buckle/ strap are not original.  As far as I know, the dial has been reprinted, but very well done, as you see in the photos.


This is a vintage watch, so please bid ONLY if you understand that this is not a brand new watch.  There are slight scratches, and such, but other than that, this is in minty condition.  Runs +30 sec per day now.  Good watchmaker may be able to regulate much better.  


Payment: Paypal to Japan cannot exceed JPY1,000,000 by regulation (you can verify that fact), so in such cases, I will ask you to bank wire.  If below JPY1,000,000 equivalent, you can pay via Paypal.  Anyway, please wait for my contact.  I can give you many international references done by bank wire - please ask.  Once the auction is finished, I will let you know of the bank info, and you give me your shipping address.  I will ship it out as soon as the money is confirmed via FedEx + ParcelPro insurance.  I am a long time eBayer with perfect rating.


I am letting this go only because I need cash, unfortunately.  So, my loss is your gain.  Now JPY is weak, it is good time for you USD earners to buy from Japan :-))


I have many many international references and look at my eBay rating as well.  Bid with confidence.  You will never regret getting this if you are into great vintage watches. 


Price ball park: I have seen this in the used market only once - the price was JPY4.5mm! (about USD40K).  But this one, you be the judge......  The reserve price is reasonable far below the ball park it should be (still a bargain, IMHO!).  Ask me any questions you may have before bidding or committing.


FREE SHIPPING via FedEx + ParcelPro Insurance from Japan.


Thanks for looking and good luck.


*will be away during the week of Feb. 13th, so shipping will take place during the week of Feb. 20.


On Feb-03-17 at 13:10:26 PST, seller added the following information:

Additional Note: As pointed out by one potential bidder - please note that the movement number has been ERASED by the photo editing software.  It IS inscribed on the bridge.  So, please do not worry about that!