Seiko King Seiko

Seiko is one of the most significant vertically integrated watch manufactures on the planet, but back in the 1960s, the company did things a bit differently. 

For roughly ten years, Seiko operated two different factories: the Suwa factory, and the Daini factory. Neither parts nor knowledge were shared between the two facilities, which the brand did on purpose in order to promote internal competition. Suwa is where the Grand Seiko line — and subsequently, the Grand Seiko company — was born, while Daini is where King Seiko came to life.

King Seiko, however, was not to survive. It, along with Grand Seiko, were shut down in the 1970s to make way for quartz timepieces. But while Grand Seiko was revived back in 1988, King Seiko remained dormant for decades.

Until now, that is. In 2020, just in time for Seiko’s 140th birthday in 2021, the brand revived the King Seiko name with a special run of 3,000 watches — a modern take on the KSK from 1965. Dubbed the SJE083, this new watch celebrates the KS legacy by retaining legendary designer Taro Tanaka’s ‘grammar of design’ principles, enlarging the case slightly but retaining the original proportions. A fantastic example of Japanese industrial design, it’s a relatively straightforward timepiece whose appeal is completely in the small details.

This particular SJE083 is housed in a 38.1mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, and a polished bezel. Angular, multi-faceted, and Zaratsu-polished, it’s this case that makes the watch stand out in a sea of similarly styled dress watches from other brands — even those from Seiko itself. Outfitted with a sunburst silver dial with applied indices, a matching ‘dauphine’ handset, and a handy date window at 3:00, it’s powered by Seiko’s slim, automatic Calibre 6L35 movement with 45 hours of power reserve, and comes paired to a signed, black crocodile strap with a signed steel pin buckle. 

Truly, there have been few recent dress watches that pique the interest of vintage watch enthusiasts more than the SJE083. 

Once you try it on, we’re sure that you’ll agree!

For over 140 years, Seiko has been cranking out innovative and impeccably engineered watches at every price point, from entry-level Seiko 5s to world-class haute horlogerie pieces under the Grand Seiko brand. Underpinning the company’s efforts has been the mass production of reliable and accurate movements paired with a wide array of case and dial configurations.
Founded in 1881 by clockmaker and businessman Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Japan as “K. Hattori,” Seiko began importing Western timepieces and selling them in the local market. In 1892, Hattori changed the name of the firm to Seikosha (“house of exquisite workmanship”), which was further altered to “Seiko” in 1924. Following the Second World War, during which Seiko produced watches for the Japanese military, the company began its streak of innovations based upon affordable, in-house movements and Japanese savoir faire. These included myriad dive watches such as the famed 6105 and the fan-favorite 6139 chronograph.

Later, in 1969, Seiko would go on to produce the Astron, the world’s first quartz watch. This technological innovation was followed by the Seiko Kinetic in the 1980s, which married quartz accuracy with automatic, self-powering functionality. Today, Seiko’s product offerings are vast, including dress watches, dive watches, chronographs and much more, all of which are powered by in-house movements comprising different types of technology.

Despite a move toward luxury positioning and pricing in the brand’s modern offerings, vintage Seiko classics can still be had at incredibly reasonable prices today, making them a favorite entry point into the vintage watch world for myriad collectors. From their availability in post exchanges on military bases around the world to their fame from films such as Apocalypse Now to their presence at six Olympic Games, Seiko watches are deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the contemporary collector.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.