What happens when you run the serial through a decoder?
It’s a December of 1970’, literally number 1 of the production for that year and model, the OP will never get that lucky again with that variant. And as someone pointed out it will never start with “00”. Keep it because coincidentally I watched a bunch of interest on Seiko groups today about that watch.
I'll listen to you guys and keep it
However, is 0D0001 number 1 for [The Whole 1970], or is 0D0001, number 1 for [December 1970]?
I always assumed it's #1 for [December 1970]?
Otherwise they cap themselves at only 10,000 watches every year, makes more sense that it's 120,000 watches every year instead
So there might be a 0O0001 out there?
The reason for me wanting to return it is the broken emotional connection and the misrepresentation and the faulty assumptions that came with them, being a start with 0 person, I kinda assumed January was 0, and this was the #1 for 1970
I'm starting to wish that I hadn't said anything about the "D", but I suppose someone else would have mentioned it. 😬
Read what @Power90801 said above.
it’s the first of the year and made in December. Serial numbers start at the start of the years production.
I think he explained it as being made the year before but not in that year until December.
make sense?
Your idea is actually 10k per month. Your forgetting the month in the serial.
Haha, not at all, thank you, it was a good ride
The idea your friend proposed is actually 10,000 watches per year claiming that the month in the serial is just there for the information (or maybe even lifetime of the model)
While I don't know anything conclusively, basically the current claim is, as an example, there can't be watches with serials "110048" and "120048" - as one would indicate a #48 watch made on January 1971 (let's say 1971) - and #48 watch made on February 1971 - but I think both exists
So what I'm saying is, did they really produce so few watches that, 10,000/year was enough and the #cap of the serial was enough, 120,000 makes more sense and the last 4 digits only being unique for that Year+Month+Model combination
So unless there is consensus, the only thing certain is that this watch was the #1 serial in 1970/December - Ultimately, since it's either 1970/October or 1970/December for a nice serial, it's what I originally committed for without engaging my brain and senses 😁 (Thinking 0 was January and I was getting the January)
Your thoughts, was this a good buy?
After reading the Japanese, I found out that the warranty card is the store's own warranty card.
It's not a Seiko warranty card.
I will transcribe what I can read in Japanese.
保証書
品名 キングセイコー
品質 15型 17石
個番号 S.S.45-70101
機械番号 000001
品？番号 140-1000
お買上日 昭和 46年 2月 7日
お買上げの時計は充分検査してありますが、もし6ヶ月以内に
自然故障を生じたときはお手数ながら本証をご提示下さい。
株式会社 安心堂
Warranty
Product name King Seiko
Quality 15 type 17 stones
Individual number S.S.45-70101
Machine number 000001
Goods? Number 140-1000
Date of purchase February 7, 1971
The watch you purchased has been thoroughly inspected, but if it is within 6 months
If you experience a natural failure, please present this certificate.
Anshindo Co., Ltd.
I feel a bit like I'm mad, but I don't have any regrets, none - Honestly, whenever I see an oddity, something aged and unique, I lose control, buyer's remorse kicks in, but this time, I'm excited
Paid $1000+ for this watch, has the unique serial of 000001 - It's a used and enjoyed watch by the looks of it, but obviously very well preserved - I do wonder if the papers are the original papers, but honestly, doesn't matter, it's a 50 year old watch in good condition anyway
I do hope that 50 years from now, you'll see my grandchildren on Antiques Roadshow selling this thing for an unbelievable amount 😀
Now I need to sell my daily driver beloved Stowa Pilot to offset the blow
Before Omega's, I was originally keen on collecting King Seiko's, my brother joked that I should buy one since my initials are K.S. too - I bought 3, didn't like the automatic ones much, but my handwind is a forever keeper - this one I'll preserve as a collection and investment piece
Your thoughts, was this a good buy? (I was looking for a buckle when I saw this, quite the coincidence, the buckles itself are worth close to $100, the watch in this condition is $400+ easy, so in a way, worst case scenario, I paid a $500+ premium for this unique package deal this is, I tell to myself)
I don't know what 15 and 17 could stand for - or the 46 2 7 in the papers - there is no original date that I can see, so maybe the papers from an aftersale, I can't tell since I don't know Japanese
But the 140-1000 could be for 140.000 yen, which I vaguely remember to be their MSRP - a NOS 5626-7040 sold for $1400 - which was disappointing since that was the MSRP too, that's where I remember the value from, but I'm probably mistaken
I'll probably take the 0D0001 as it was not meant to be and try to back off, I'd still buy it if I realised the 0D0001 - but I'd probably pay $300 less 😁
Honestly I regret so so so so many of my recent purchases but I don't regret this one
If money was no object, I'd 100% buy this anyway, as it's not a random watch for me, it's a watch I care about
It's not a "Grammar of Design" watch by the way, that might be the only shortcoming, so instead of being a "Japanese Tank" - it's more like a "Japanese Hovercraft" 😁
I suspect I overpaid somewhere around $200 - the condition of the watch/dial makes it $500-ish, the buckle is $80+ - the box/papers/tag the bundle probably bumps it $100 - the rest paid for the serial
