A superb example of the Grand Seiko 6146-8000 Automatic in gold cap finish. This was the first GS housing Seiko's 36,000 bph 'Hi-beat' automatic movement and is rated as one of the finest movements ever produced by Seiko. Apparently only a total of 36,000 pieces of this model were ever produced. The gold capping process is achieved by pressing a 200 micron (approx.0.2mm) solid gold sleeve on to the base stainless steel. Gold capping is is much thicker than gold plating which is normally only 3-30 microns, this gives the watch a very solid gold feel for a fraction of the price. The case and case back are in fantastic condition, never machine polished and the GS medallion is as close to mint as they come. Freshly serviced by our master watchmaker and running at Chronometer grade accuracy.
Movement: Original SEIKO Cal. 6146A - Serial No. 029864. Beautiful condition, screw heads are in good condition, one previous service mark. Hacking & hand wind feature. Fully serviced October 2020, test worn for 24 hours & keeping chronometer grade time during inspection. Please see photo of watch on timegraher for readings, accuracy shown cannot be guaranteed but +/- 10 s/d is our benchmark for serviced watches. Day/date turn over at midnight & quickset works as it should. Not guaranteed water resistant.
Dial: Lovely creamy ivory with very subtle sunburst effect, as near mint as you can get. Gold plated indices and raised, applied gold plated SEIKO and GS logos. Marked Japan 6146 -8020T AD below 6 o'clock
Glass: Original, lightly polished
Hands: Original, near mint. Gold two tone minute and hour hands, gold second sweep hand
Case: Original, unpolished gold cap on stainless steel, some very minor age related wear but no noticeable dings and no signs of wear to the gold cap. Beautiful case back, very well defined markings and close to mint GS medallion
Crown: Well fitted at 3 o'clock, signed GS. Hand winding feature. Quickset working smoothly but as with all vintage watches it is very important not to use the feature between 8pm and 4am as it will break the mechanism
Jewels: 25
Beat Rate: 36,000 bph
Diameter: Approx. 36.5mm
Lug width: 18mm
Band: NOS Genuine Seiko brown leather (box supplied with watch). Original Seiko buckle contemporary to the watch
Year and location of manufacture - July 1968 - Serial No. 870626 - Japan A - SEIKO, Suwa Factory
Thanks for looking, questions welcomed.