Good. For a moment there I thought we were in trouble

Introduction

Apologies for the rather brief introduction, and descriptions on the listings in this, the antepenultimate Friday newsletter, but I have a train to catch (one that hopefully any modern day Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid will not be robbing!).

So let’s get stuck in with no delay…

---

Butch and Sundance

The first Grand Seiko with raised logo dial

It’s hardly surprising that the prices being paid on Yahoo Japan for less than ideal examples of the first Grand Seiko continue to rise when you see the prices being charged by Japanese dealers.

Overnight, BQ watches listed a “late” raised logo dialed first Grand Seiko for 715,000 Yen (which I think puts into context the superb value offered by the example currently at The Tokei Club which is priced at “just” 629,000 Yen).

The auction for the above watch closes in about 10 hours time, and whilst the dial clearly has some issues, for collectors after an example of the first Grand Seiko who are not prepared to pay the asking prices from dealers and willing to take the risk when purchasing from Yahoo Japan, this is where the ‘bargains’ are going to turn up, and you will always have to compromise on something.

It’s sobering to think that when I started collecting these several years ago, the price that the listing has reached at the time of writing - 186,555 Yen - would have bought you an immaculate example of this reference from a dealer.

---

Grand Seiko 6146-8009

Just in case there was any chance of missing it, the seller of this watch (who is the same collector who had a number of watches featured in the newsletter a couple of weeks ago) highlights on the first photo in this listing exactly what it is that makes this such an intriguing variant of the 6146-8000 in cap gold.

Flipping the watch over…

… and we see that the -8009 case code is not a typo, and even more intriguingly, rather than being marked as “Cap Gold”, the case states that the watch is made from “Base Metal”.

The reason is that this 6146-8009 was created for the export market (almost certainly the US, although I don’t believe it has been seen in an export or US catalogue to date). One of those little nuanced variants in the vintage Grand Seiko back catalogue for the truly seasoned collector to be interested in acquiring.

Overall the watch is in good condition, although there does appear to be some light staining on the dial, and certainly the cap gold case would have been somewhat sharper when the watch was new.

---

Grand Seiko 4520-8000 Cap Gold

Is it just my imagination, or are we seeing more and more examples of cap gold cased vintage Grand Seiko with extensive surface patina? For some reason, 4520-8000’s seem to be turning up more frequently than other references.

This kind of patination is usually a sure-fire indication that the watch has not had any attempt at reconditioning, and certainly here the case looks to be particularly sharp. That well defined case is accompanied by a clean dial (although there does possibly appear to be a very minor staining left of the 3 o’clock index), and I suspect this one will do very well.

Remember - if you don’t like the patination, it can be removed relatively simply with regular jewelry cleaner, and without dulling those sharp caselines.

I may well go for this one myself!

---

Grand Eiko 5646-7030

A perennial favourite around these parts, the 5646-7030 is always sought after for its sand textured dial.

Caseback medallion aside, the case looks to be in superb condition on this example, and what initially looks like very slight dial degradation at the periphery is actually - I think - caused by very small chips on the edge of the crystal.

---

Grand Seiko 6145-8000 cross dial

Those who were scared off by the strong bidding on the example of this reference’s day-date 6146 sibling that sold in a full set a couple of weeks ago may well want to take a close look at this cross dial 6145-8000.

It looks to be in superb condition, with just about the most well defined lugs you could hope to wish for on a 61GS -

---

Grand Seiko 4520-8000

Not the best example of this highly desirable reference that you would hope to come across, but certainly a very wearable one (abeit not on the strap that accompanies the watch!).

---

E.H. Harriman

Grand SEiko 43999 SD dial

A you know what from you know who.

---

Redone coloured dial summary

I close with the usual copy/pasted reminder to steer clear of any vintage Grand Seikos with coloured dials similar to the above. This is not a comprehensive photo - there are many references that get this “treatment”, so be careful out there.

---