A Watch Collecting Dilemma

Seiko 5626-7111

I support my watch collecting financially by buying and selling watches but there is a big problem with that. It is often difficult to sell a watch.

As a small business owner for many years (retailing) my retirement nest egg was a little on the small side, so collecting what can be expensive items has its challenges. Fortunately I have reasonable craft skills (ex-woodworker with mechanical skills) and can rejuvenate a neglected timepiece so it is closer to its original condition. The inherent quality in many of our timepieces over the last century makes that possible. Watches are pretty amazing pieces of technology.

So what is the problem? The watch shown in the lead photo is a King Seiko from 1973. It is a desirable, quality watch from Seiko’s “luxury” era (the 60’s and 70’s) but when I make my daily watch selection it rarely features. The deep blue dial is very rare but a little boring, at least in strong sunlight, and so it is consigned to the list of watches that I should sell.

The selling process goes something like this - I take multiple photographs, showing this watch in its best possible light, research its unique place in watch history, and formulate a list of reasons of why this is a most desirable purchase. You can see where I am heading here.

The Seiko KS 5626-7111 is indeed a unique watch. It came towards the end of Seiko’s King Seiko era (they stopped making King Seiko’s in the mid 1970’s, and resurrected the brand again in 2020). In the late 1960’s King Seiko’s and Grand Seiko’s led the Japanese manufacturer’s charge as a significant competitor to Swiss watches including high end Chronometer standards.

"I love that"

King Seiko’s were definitely fine watches and this particular one has one very attractive quality. When you take it out of the watch case after a long period of inactivity, by the time you get it on your wrist it has started running. This finely balanced watch movement requires just one swing of the automatic rotor to spin into life. I love that.

At the time of writing this article, the KS 5626-7111 is on my wrist, and looking pretty special. Yes the blue dial is a little boring out in the sun, but in low light it looks truly beautiful. The black leather strap is a great match and the whole look is perfect for dimly lit rooms, high-back leather lounge chairs, fine red wine, and maybe a cigar. Can I let it go? (To be continued).