King Seiko KSK 44KS Reissue Review

[@tlerew12]

You'r video led me to buy mine in Colorado.... I have it on my wrist today, number 2992/3000! So pleased. Thank you!

[@rodsalvador3608]

Not many people geek out over King Seiko, so I'm loving this! I gifted my vintage KS 56 to my mom (she loves vintage Seiko). Nothing like a vintage KS or GS from the 60's. You could tell Seiko were out to prove something to the world with the Lord Marvels, KS and GS, and this KSK reissue is a beautiful homage to that spirit.

[@josecarlos11]

Been wearing mine for almost 2 months now, I LOVE IT. Such a great watch, congrats on yours. I bought mine in Vancouver

[@situation_zero]

Seiko is having a great year. They are succeeding in elevating the brand.

[@joshuadarrington.]

Facts, closing the distance on rolex

[@andrewf5390]

Great review. I’ve had my eye on this since it came out, but the price was just too high for me to justify on a dress watch that I just won’t wear every day. I work in a semi-formal setting (slightly above business casual) and do wear dress watches to work maybe two or three times per week, but I’m just as likely to wear a field or dive watch. Fast forward two years and a Seiko dealer that I’ve bought a lot from offered me their display model (can register as new) at 50% off. At that price, I just couldn’t refuse and ordered it yesterday. I am so excited as I used to own and wear a very well-preserved 1967 model 44-9990, which is the very watch that this one is based on. At 37mm with no date window the vintage was pure perfection on the wrist, but when I was offered almost double what I paid for it, I ended up selling it on and have regretted it since. The new one at 38mm is sort of a mixed bag. On my 7.25” wrist the 37mm original looked great and so does this one, with each having aspects that I prefer over the other. I don’t usually like a date complication, but with the bigger dial size I think it was a good choice here. Also, while I thin overall the 37mm case size better captures the 1960s feel (as it should being a 1967 model), the 20mm lug width on the new one opens up so many more strap and even bracelet (I love these on Milanese mesh) option while keeping the lugs in perfect proportion to the case. Finally with an outstanding (not to mention new and modern) automatic movement with barely any thickness penalty, combined with modern water resistance (50 meter is just fine for anything short of watersports) makes a far more useful watch that has all of the mid-60s cool, without the usual niggles of owning a vintage watch. The fact is that while vintage watches can be reliably worn every day, just like vintage cars they require a bit more care in handling, as well as more frequent and often more expensive service. I own a 1956 Omega Constellation (35mm pie pan) that I also really enjoy, but tend to limit to the occasional evening out or special work day. My other dress watch is a Glashütte Original Sixties, and this King Seiko actually compares very well that watch that came at double the price. The GO has a nicer dial finish (GO is rightly famous for their exquisite dials), but the King Seiko has far nicer case polishing (both are fully polished). The King Seiko also has a nicer sapphire crystal and a more modern, if not as nicely finished movement (GO has a display back showing off the GORGEOUS Caliber 39). While the GO movement is much fancier in decoration, the Seiko is a more advanced and more capable movement. The GO only winds in one direction and has a roughly 40 hour power reserve, while the Seiko 6L35 winds in both directions and and runs a bit longer. Both have similar accuracy, but the Seiko is considerably thinner and tends to run more consistently accurate as the power reserve runs down (the GO is slightly more accurate than the Seiko when both have full charge). This is now my favorite dress watch.

[@nikmansol]

I want to buy this …you may have pushed me over the line what a review

[@canonyeo4286]

Glad they brought the king back. The finishing is top notch. Hope they bring back their great watches of the 90's too, e.g. the Baby Credor scvk001/2, Baby GS scvs007, etc. These are gems.

[@underachievingwatchcollect1878]

Beautiful watch congratulations 🍾! I like the angular lugs and beveled crystal. A very clean and classic dial-Seiko hit a home run. Best regards

[@matlindell5022]

The finishing of the dial is way better than the Wimbledon dial.🤩

[@josevasquez1781]

I got mine on a dark brown short suede strap from W&W and it took on a different feel, its looks more casual and the case pops with so much personality and character. It looks so much different and unique to other watches. Even next to my SLGH003 with the 9AS5 caliber this KS looks fantastic.

[@btmontres1423]

Missed this post a whopping two years ago. Love this timepiece with huge wrist presence, especially as posters have noted from the crystal and high attention to detail. A great timepiece for a little stealth cause if you know you know.

[@jameshoward9700]

Great watch. So glad you like it! Love mine. Excellent movement, stunning design, high quality, natural strap, world beating crystal. Designed by a bonafide genius. Put these things together and don't you have a bit of a bargain? Nothing this good until JLC or Blancpain (or GS). And you'd be lucky to find anything this well designed/finished from them. I'd prefer no date, but whatevs. White Birch ain't close, but let's wait until that movement comes to a great design - it will. BTW, totally holds its own in your collection!

[@engineer_wannabe]

Amazing review Uptick! I had almost forgotten about this reissue over the past few months with the lockdowns and W&W etc. Then I saw your previous unboxing/teaser video. I have the vintage 44-9990 and wanted to eventually add this piece. Thank you for rekindling the fire....I think...lol Also thank you for shattering the White Birch for me lol 😅

[@TheLumeRoom]

Quite expensive but very refined. Love that medallion on the case back and I want to shave with the handset 👌🏻

[@ocb05]

I believe the crystal is called Boxed instead of domed. Very costly to make.

[@theJade]

I love the shape of this case. Quintessential grammar of design.

[@pablox3783]

Your collection (from what i saw) is 👌🏼... I agree with you on every aspect about this watch. For me Its such an honest office watch. Understated Class.

[@CTizer]

This product line is so underrated, we may never see anything like this from seiko at this price anyway ever again. It bombed bad! But this watch is a near masterpiece. If they converted that 6l movement into a no date/ manual wind system- it would do this so much more justice and PLUS : they would have finally, a manual wind movement worthy for the alpinist laurel reissue, King seikos and higher end presages.

[@richardsmith2473]

If it's good enough for Raymond Blanc, its good enough for me!

[@puff0086]

The essence of Seiko...

[@ultraman1red]

I ended up buying one after seeing this video.👍🏽

[@evh4611]

Stunning. But i will stay with my Grand Seiko SBGW001 instead. I have to, because i just purchased a Seiko SPB143 two weeks ago

[@speedzero7478]

That's a very nice date change. I can't help but feel, this should be a permanent line of watches for Seiko.

[@UptickWatchReviews]

Knowing Seiko, it might happen but at a lower price point and removing it the King... ok, it’s a Presage then

[@josevasquez1781]

@@UptickWatchReviews I agree, presage is the Seiko new bridge watch in terms separating lower price tier to GS. I believe Seiko presages will hit the 4-5K at some point because the GS spring and mechanical prices are climbing.

[@bernardolhgc]

The 44KS is beautiful! Your collection deserves a better watchbox...

[@tibchy144]

This is a really beautiful watch.

[@Kairosdex]

The logo on the buckle looks awesome

[@paultowns9880]

Thats a beautiful watch. Wear in good health.

[@Ten.to.one.handmade]

I’d say the finishing is pretty much on par with my GS sbgk005, however I’ve put more hairline scratches on my new KS and than in the 2 years I’ve had my GS. I have a feeling the scratches are actually in the Diashield coating or something?

[@playbackvintagehifihunter9669]

Hi do you still own?

[@Theultimateclimber]

Great review🤙🏻 Thank you!

[@cedshred1676]

A friend of mine just told me he’s about the pull the trigger on one of these! I sent him the link to this video.

[@patrickfrench1569]

Nice pickup, Uptick. When you see it blend in so well with the other beauties in the box, it truly does punch up in the value stakes. Avagoodwk’end dude. 🍻

[@wuyeah1980]

The indices at 12 is right on the money! That asking price makes me hard to pull the trigger, congrats to you though.

[@shawnlavigne9069]

Nice. I think it is worth every penny.

[@timlerew5824]

How does it sit on your wrist? Mine is about 6.75in; If it fits well, I will buy, but I can't try it on first.

[@ocb05]

6.5 inch wrist here, fits 100% well.

[@entroheat]

Awesome watch no doubt punches above its price in quality

[@PMSCOTT68]

Stunning

[@kevinmccalister8197]

Superb! Dial looks like my SBGR251. (edit = model number mistype)

[@h111551]

I was offered one at 20% off but I could not get over the intrusion of the calendar window. Although many King Seikos did have date complications, the expression of the grammar of design is best without the intrusion of a date window. While Taro Tanaka, Seiko’s first industrial designer hire who started in 1959, is famously associated with the grammar of design, what became known as the grammar of design was already in practice at Seiko by 1959 at both the Suwa and Danai facilities. I will wait for either a reissue without a date complication or just look to the vintage King Seiko market.

[@christopherliang6879]

Perfect watch besides the movement (which is fine for itself but not good enough for the price). However since this is a limited edition and the finishing is superb it is worth it

[@MartyP-lr7vw]

Just love this watch ! reminds me of the Sportsmatic.

[@enriqueali]

Beautiful watch! Love it! 😍😍😍

[@phantomphotography7392]

It's good you saved $300 on the purchase because you can swap out a watch strap more worthy to be on such a beautiful watch.

[@hammalamiri12]

The strap is a highlight on these models. So supple and elegant one of the best quality gator I’ve ever seen. But yeah if you have a better alternative alligator strap do let me know

[@mikefry5704]

Very nice enjoy PS just saw you the Patek travel time my grail Enjoy

[@bobzuidema3560]

It might just be the least expensive of your collection what is shown in this video but only the Patek can compete with it looks if you ask me. People say that no watch is perfect but this one comes pretty darn close. To be completely honest, I would never thought that I would consider buying a 3K watch... up until now that is....

[@danielk8046]

Very nice.

[@deej9367]

There was a limited release of 3000 in 2020. So are they releasing another run of 3000 in 2021?

[@JayandSarah]

No. It can't be ordered any further and production was closed. The next model comes out in 2030 for the 150th.

[@carlosraygoza9153]

Gorgeous watch. Also I don't think it's a "W" on the crown for water resistant.. It looks more like a crown for King Seiko

[@fatwhitetuna6659]

It's a true beauty! Does anybody know if you can get a metal bracelet to rep0lace the leather strap?

[@UptickWatchReviews]

Don’t think so but honestly I like it on the strap. It’s so classy I even kinda sort of really enjoy it more than my Pateks (don’t tell anyone)

[@vjsseafoodmountgravatt9568]

I have found that the oem Seiko Alpinist bracelet fits mine, it also looks great on the Uncle Seiko beads of rice bracelet which was designed to fit the omega seamaster 300. A couple of photos are out there on instagram, I have just ordered the Uncle Seiko bracelet a few weeks ago- it looked brilliant.

[@newtonlee7849]

Are there mens all steel Credor models that are comparably priced? Wouldnt they be better than the KS?

[@ph69jbl]

All of them are jdm :)

[@mike_dunno]

8:11 well thats just not true