Before buying a KING SEIKO reissue! What's Good? What's Bad?

Seiko produced a masterpiece with the new King Seiko range. The KSK reissues. However, after having lived with the watch for 8 months there are a few things I would change if I could. A first hand Owner's Review.(model SPB283J1)

[@Ivan-NZ]

I bought this watch with a burgundy dial, I paid full price, and for me it was ultra luxury. But I couldn't believe how beautiful the watch was when I saw it in person. The watches that I like cost from 7 thousand euros and up, that's why I didn't even think about buying any kind of watch. And then I saw him... Yes, it would have been right if they had put a better mechanism in it, it would have been just right if it cost half as much, but the look and build of it is something that surpasses everything else. I haven't regretted it for a single moment, I enjoy it every day.

[@perfectwrist23]

Well that makes me feel better about mine! Thanks for feedback. Everything is relative and Seiko have got so much right with this watch

[@watchillaax]

Agree with you, it is a beautifully designed watch for sure, but these new reissues are just nowhere near its predecessors in terms of movements. The 44A movement found in the 44KS line from 1967 had a high grade hand wound movement. Mine still runs like a Chronometer.

[@perfectwrist23]

Im starting to think the best option is an older original in good condition, with money saved going to a full service. Thanks for that

[@danielday7033]

Great video. I cab appreciate the fact that you gave it 8 months time before you gave a critique. Stunning timepiece! I just purchased a King Seiko 1966 ( my birth year) 44KS. Near mint condition from Japan...unfortunately, I am deployed and will have to wait until I get home to enjoy it. Cheers, and enjoy your KS reissue.

[@perfectwrist23]

Wow those 44KS are special. Check my SOTC, I have a last year KS high beat on there, no date, quite rare, review coming. Thanks again

[@jonboy8181]

Those long lugs and that bracelet combo is just so amazing.

[@perfectwrist23]

It's awesome

[@adk7962]

Very cool review. Not a lot of people out there who would spend so much time with a watch before making a video. It’s a stunner or a watch! Thanks!

[@perfectwrist23]

😊

[@borismedovar9968]

If you want a small seiko it's either 1700$ king seiko or 2500$ quartz grand seiko. They issued a new 37 mm seiko 5, though I didn't really like a dial and a shape of the watch.

[@perfectwrist23]

Yes

[@stephenmorrissey1254]

I bought a birth year King Seiko for my 50th birthday. Good option if you can find one that has your birth year and month.

[@perfectwrist23]

Yes the originals are worth hunting out, even if they then need a service. Good option

[@elfinbeelabsinfo5672]

I am not a guy but I like this King Seiko model. It is beautiful. I like the dark purple one though. Agree with the design of the watch on the wrist. Very fitting. I have seiko watches in both 4R and 6R movements. I think both of them have similar problems though. My alpinist on the 6R runs the best. But the 4R on the pressage seems to be running a bit off if you don't wear it daily and rely on the winding on most days.

[@perfectwrist23]

Thanks for that. The purple dial is new I think , with a different case and a higher grade movement still. Very expensive if its the one I'm thinking of

[@elfinbeelabsinfo5672]

@@perfectwrist23 you should check out the purple dial. The dial colour appears to change according to different lighting conditions, varying from an almost black in colour to dark blue.

[@khphou]

Thank you very much your review. I wish there was a date window.

[@perfectwrist23]

Oooooh no...the symmetry

[@khphou]

@@perfectwrist23 😁😂

[@superdad4324]

I have 4 watches with 6r35. I had very similar experience on 3 of them. The accuracy on them is all over the place. Mine mainly run slow even 30s slow per day. After service and regulation they tend to perform better, however nowhere near as accurate and consistent as my 4r or nh series watches. The power delivery isn’t great probably due to the longer power reserve. Seiko just came out with the next revision of this movement 6r55. Hopefully this shall address the issues with them. I have contacted Seiko Uk with the advice being just wind them 80 times to start off than 20 to 40 each morning. This did not fill me with confidence nor it resolved the issues. I have contacted Seiko Hungary as well, they have stated regulating the watch will help but indeed this is more of a common occurrence with the 6r movements than the 4r but they can’t say, that it is a faulty design. Luckily I have bought most of mine second hand for 50 to 60% of its original price.

[@perfectwrist23]

Good information there. Thanks. I suppose if we love the watch we accept its frustrating quirks

[@philspencelayh5464]

After seeing shed loads of nh35 powered watches I bought one. Time is within Seikos very wide tolerances but all over the place. I've just assembled a watch with a new nh35 and this time it's consistently +2s to +3s / day. Considering the dubious quality control of many Seiko watches you may just have been unlucky with your watch. I have a powermatic 80 which is very like a 2824 but with much longer power reserve. My 2824 does +2 to 3s/day but as long as kept in use the powermatic 80 can run a week with and is still correct at the end, (does vary with temperature extremes) my theory is that the watch is always nearly fully wound so the amplitude doesn't change. Could be something like that going on with your Seiko.

[@perfectwrist23]

Great comment thanks. The powermatic 80 is interesting. I also built a watch with a fresh nh35 and found good accuracy. There's a lot of variation. Wearing one with at a time fully wound seems to solve most issues

[@carbondragon]

I have 1 watch with a 6R. They're OK but nothing to write home about. I think I'd rather have a Miyolta 9000 series than a 6R and I'd definitely prefer a Sellita. King Seiko used to be one of their BEST, most accurate watches. By that standard, it ought to be a spring drive with a better bracelet and clasp. If Christopher Ward can do a great clasp surely Seiko can too.

[@perfectwrist23]

Yes, lazy profiteering really. Huge pride taken back in the 60s

[@AJB1702]

Thinking of selling a Ball Engineer II and bringing one of these in... but still undecided. Thanks for the hands on overview! Always enjoy your content.

[@perfectwrist23]

Thanks again

[@Stanjara]

Buy Ref. 6190 Serica OMG it's so good. This 6r is trash.

[@perfectwrist23]

Totally different watch

[@Stanjara]

@@perfectwrist23 Sure, enameled dial, lume, chronometer spec, screw down crown, applied indices, original design for 1k... sure. Buy King Seiko... most boring, low spec overpriced watch there is.

[@perfectwrist23]

Don't agree. Its the most stunning watch I have. Very subjective the watch world

[@dmks2146]

I have three 6Rs and all of them go nuts when the power reserve is low.

[@perfectwrist23]

Thanks. As long as its not just mine. Just wear as one watch rather than in a rotation maybe

[@kevingreer599]

Thanks for the excellent review. I think it's better that it isn't a screw down crown. It makes it more inconvenient to wind and set the time, and I wouldn't take a watch like this near the water anyway.

[@perfectwrist23]

Mmmm....Good points. I suppose if I isn't hugely accurate the ability to easily adjust time every 2 days is there. Thanks!

[@bigbodykarate6403]

Seiko Watches are extremely easy to regulate as long as you don't have shaky hands . haven't had a 6R break on me yet i think it might be a skill issue brother .i would practice regulating a beater watch to dial that in . i have been able to achieve 1-2 seconds on 6rs albeit after multiple tries .

[@perfectwrist23]

Excellent. Good to know. I'll keep trying

[@bigbodykarate6403]

​@perfectwrist23 not going to lie , took me like ten tries it can really try your patience honestly cursed out my poor seiko in 4 languages . Never regulate a watch if your drinking to much coffee . . . . Trust me brothers 😅

[@pyronals]

4R is for low end Presage series. Seiko wants to justify charging a grand by adding an upgraded movement (even if they don't), so 4R not gonna happen. Currently they want to upgrade again by adding 6L movement but charging almost 3k.

[@perfectwrist23]

Yep....Shame on them really

[@tony7t2]

SPB387 has lume but also a date window. Don't know if that makes it better looking or worse?

[@perfectwrist23]

Really? I'll take a look. The looks of this one will be hard to better ....update....true enough, but sadly the hands really make these

[@neillupton]

Did you de magnetise it as I randomly had one of my watches randomly running fast then slow, de magnetising it sorted that out. I would not know where to start regulating one..

[@perfectwrist23]

Mmmm I hope not.

[@ericarghirudis3462]

very good video.just subscribed. this watch is on my radar since it first came out but I'm afraid with the 6r movement. do you think it's possible to swap for a nh 38/ 4r ?

[@perfectwrist23]

Thanks for watching. It would swap, but really it is down to luck if you get an accurate one. The push pull crown makes it easy to reset every 3 or 4 days if need be and wearing it every day keeps it fully wound which helps

[@ericarghirudis3462]

@@perfectwrist23 thanks. I'm also after the alpinist spb 241/243, but heard too many horror stories about the 6r movement

[@Desperate4changing]

Thank you

[@perfectwrist23]

Enjoy

[@Desperate4changing]

It's such a beautiful watch and I agree with your feedback. Perhaps they could of used a better movement but that would have simply raised the price even more!

[@paulschalk4812]

☂️😎🙏🙏🙏

[@seanhickling7340]

It's a very nice looking piece but WAY overpriced. It would be a good buy at £700. In fact no seiko is worth over £700 and I'm not talking about Grand Seiko as they have been a completely separate company since 2017. Although their bracelets are truly shocking considering their price. If you want an accurate seiko movement you have to look at other brands using them because seiko couldn't give a damn about regulation.

[@perfectwrist23]

It's a shame

[@dsadik666]

Not just wrong. the market literally proving you wrong. Seiko has been doing very well selling seiko luxe $ 700-5.5k usd range.

[@seanhickling7340]

@@dsadik666 Just because people are silly enough to overpay for something doesn't mean I'm wrong! There are far better quality and value for money brands at way less of a price point. Saying that; it's your money, spend it how you want. I'll continue getting far better watches for a damn sight less 👨🏻‍🦲👌🏻

[@dsadik666]

@@seanhickling7340 you're calling millions of people "silly". The Alpinist is a great deal for the movement and total package. Is there such a bad decision it wouldn't be making tens of millions of dollars

[@seanhickling7340]

@@dsadik666 Whatever you say. 'a fool and his money are soon parted'.

[@ElberGalarga22]

The new king seiko movement detonates if u over wind them so be careful it!

[@perfectwrist23]

Thanks