Grand Seiko - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVI Geneva Saturday, November 5, 2022 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Grand Seiko
    Year: Circa 1960
    Reference No: J14070GS
    Movement No: 301'062
    Case No: 3'511'171
    Model Name: Grand Seiko "The First"
    Material: 14K gold-filled
    Calibre: Manual, cal. 3180, 25 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Gilt Seiko pin buckle
    Dimensions: 35mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Grand Seiko presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    The present timepiece is the archetypal representative of what is today considered one of the greatest mechanical line of watches - and arguably the greatest non-Swiss mechanical line of timepieces - to ever grace the face of the earth: the Grand Seiko.

    Ref. J14070 was developed with a single goal in mind. To use Seiko’s own words, “the idea was to build a watch that would be as precise, durable, easy to wear and beautiful as humanly possible”. Developing of the watch started of course years earlier, in the 1950s, and the results of their efforts - cal. 3180 - was a technological achievement, sporting an accuracy of +12/-3 seconds per day and a power reserve of 45 hours. It was the first Japanese calibre to meet the extremely strict “Standard of Excellence” of the Bureaux Officiels de Contrôle de la Marche des Montres - the Swiss authority on watches.

    Such is the iconic stature of this first Grand Seiko, in the modern era there have been more than a dozen references that are referred to as “reissues”, closely adhering to the original design - although none feature the “Chronometer” text under the logo.

    No wonder then, that an original example of the vintage reference - in production for just three years from 1960-1963 - is regarded as an essential foundational piece in any vintage Grand Seiko collection.

    The present watch is a superlative example of the “raised logo” dialed variant of the Grand Seiko, with a particularly clean dial, and a case that retains its sharply defined lugs - features that are all to rare to find on examples of these 60 year old watches today.


    Offered together with its fascinating - and ultra hard to find - original box, outer packaging and original buckle, the present piece is an incredible value proposition for the connoisseur of fine timepieces.

31

Ref. J14070GS
An early, fine and collectible gold-plated wristwatch with center seconds and presentation box, the first Grand Seiko model ever released

Circa 1960
35mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed

Estimate
CHF5,000 - 10,000 
€5,100-10,300
$5,000-10,000

Sold for CHF20,160

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East
+41 22 317 81 81
AGhotbi@phillips.com
 

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva
+41 22 317 96 63
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XVI

Geneva Auction 5 - 6 November 2022