The story
King Seiko watches from the 1970s represent a pinnacle of Japanese horological craftsmanship, blending precision engineering with elegant design. The first King Seiko was produced in 1965 as a premium line by Seiko, launched to compete with Swiss luxury watches, showcasing exceptional quality and innovative technology. The 1970s marked a transformative era for Seiko, as the brand embraced quartz movements, which revolutionized the watch industry and solidified its reputation for reliability and accuracy.
Characterized by their distinctive styling and robust construction, King Seiko watches often featured striking dials, polished cases, and meticulous attention to detail. The production of King Seiko watches took place in two main factories: Suwa and Daini. Collectors and enthusiasts today value these watches not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their historical significance, as they embody a crucial period in the evolution of watchmaking that bridged traditional mechanical craftsmanship with modern advancements.
This King Seiko's dial was in an extraordinary state. It's difficult to comprehend what exactly happened to it to create such a combination of damage. Bear in mind that the King Seiko was one of the top end Seikos during the 1970s, and Seiko was arguably at it's most world-dominant. This would have been a valuable watch at the time. In Japan there is also a significant sub-culture of taking great care of watches, which means that it's possible to buy very cheap and ordinary watches from 40-60 years ago that are in almost new condition (sometimes even with original instructions, price stickers etc.).
These factors make it even more surprising that a KS dial managed to sustain such a large amount of punishment. The dial is stained and weathered, as thought it had been underwater but also has had some physical holes in it, as thought it has been shot; yet somehow the SEIKO logo and the indices are relatively untouched. What happened to this thing?
The dial was acquired on it's own (presumably the case, crystal and movement did not survive the ordeals), so that it's endurance could be celebrated. This required an acquisition of a suitable donor watch, which may be the only time in history that a donor watch has been intentionally downgraded, however the sheer violence on the dial was captivating.
It was that violence which inspired the eventual design. The surface, with it's pitts, holes and weathering was reminiscent of the walls of buildings in war torn areas, with the green staining already resembling the point at which nature begins to return and moss reappears.
In britain, the poppy flower symbolises remembrance of those who fell in conflict, so these were simply placed in front of the background, not to hide or disguise the damage but to honor it and as a homage to the losses of war.
The name, God Save the King, refers to the common mantra of British Soldiers during the two world wars in 20th century, but also the specific, incredible journey of this King Seiko which has somehow made it to this point and has now been restored to a working watch and an art piece.