So. Five card stud, nothing wild, and the sky's the limit.
Introduction
Firstly I want to thank everyone for the very kind messages received since the announcement last week that I will no longer be publishing content to this Substack from July 1st (well, to be strictly accurate, from June 29th).
Rather than reply individually as the messages came in, I thought it probably best to give things a little time to “breathe” - just because I haven’t replied to everyone individually does not mean that I’ve not read the comments and very much appreciated them.
With regards to what will happen to this ‘stack, certainly it is my intention to keep all the existing content online, and I will have to remove all paywalls on the content since there will no longer be any tiered subscription levels come July 1st.
The one thing I’m not entirely sure how to handle is the chat side of things. Ideally, I’d like to leave it open and functioning, but again - with the inability to have any tiered subscription levels, it would have to be open to all (close to 3,000) subscribers. One thing I certainly won’t have any time for is moderation of the chat, and there is the danger of course that it would rapidly descend into chaos.
Because of the removal of tiered subscriptions, chat is currently available to all, and anyone can start a new thread. Although given how quiet it is “over there” at the moment, I’m not entirely sure people have realised!
Let’s take a look at this week’s featured auctions on Yahoo Japan.
Jean-Luc Picard
Grand Seiko 5646-5010
If you’re looking for something a little different from the standard 56GS fare, then the 564x-5010’s are certainly worth a look at.
There are a total of four variants in the same “TV”-style case, and seen here is the 5646 day-date version with the sunburst blue dial and stick indices. Launched in the first volume of the 1973 Seiko catalogue, for some reason these were almost immediately dropped from the range (at least, if we are to assume what is in the catalogue represents what is in the range), and made no further appearances.
As with so many vintage Seikos of the era, the original blue colour of the dials almost always fades away to a dark grey colour, but this example does seem to have retained much of its original saturation.
Unfortunately, the watch is not photographed well, and the lighting and focusing could well be hiding all sorts of issues with the case, so it’s a bit of a crap shoot as to whether or not the case is in as nice condition as the dial. Probably the most positive spin on the condition of the case is given by this shot -
- where it would seem to suggest the case has retained its sharp lines, but then a later photo shows this…
… where things look somewhat softer, to say the least.
If you do fancy taking a punt on this one, do note that - as is so often the case with the 5646 movement - the day/date mechanism is broken and will require a fix at service.
Grand Seiko 5722-9990
It’s probably fair to say that this “transitional” 57GS variant with the later “Diashock” dial and the earlier 5722-9990 caseback with lion medallion is not the most sought after of the series.
Parking the 43999’s to one side, I suspect most collectors would be wanting the “purer” variants of these 57GS’s, where the dial seen on this watch is cased in the later GS medallioned 5722-9991 case, or the case seen on this watch is accompanied by the “Chronometer” dial.
There is nothing wrong with the dial/case mix as seen here though - examples in this configuration can be found from December 1965 all the way through to December 1966, and whilst the seller has obfuscated the case serial number, I very much expect that it will indicate production within that timeframe (it looks like it may well start 67, indicating production in July 1966).
Note that all case/dial combinations of this type that I have seen opened up have the later 5722B movement, and all but one example that I have seen have the finely knurled crown as pictured on this example.
The reason that I am highlighting this auction should be obvious once you take a look through the photos - the case is in absolutely superb condition with extremely crisp lugs and an very well preserved caseback. One question mark is whether that discolouration on the medallion is the result of some degradation, or possibly is actually the final remnants of the caseback protection sticker.
What would you put your money on?
The only significant negative aspect that I can see on the watch is that there is a stain right in the middle of the dial, which may be sufficient to put off some, but at least it will be mostly hidden by the hour and minute hands for significant portions of the day.
There is some other very minor spotting on the dial, but I don’t think that should detract from the enjoyment of having this watch strapped to your wrist. Apparent flaws in the printing seen in the above screenshot are I believe actually a result of scratches on the crystal, which I’m sure any collector will be looking to replace.
I think with this one the condition of the case trumps the dial issue, and with it being not the most highly sought after of 57GS variants, this should make for a great pick-up for someone.
Grand Seiko 6156-8020
There was a super example of this quite rare reference that slipped between newsletters in the last week of May (it was listed on Friday evening with the auction closing on Tuesday for 176,000 Yen), and whilst this one isn’t quite as good, I think it still merits a mention.
The cap gold “Special” only ever featured in the range in 1972, appearing in both the regular and “Special Luxury” catalogues of that year.
As is very common on the cap gold cased references, the caselines here have softened up a little, but the lugs are still pretty well defined. Certainly the dial isn’t going to be one for the perfectionists - there are a few minor spots here and there, and some blotchiness between the 4 and 5 hour markers - but this is a watch that is almost certainly significantly older than many readers here, and quite frankly were my face to have survived the last 53 years as well as the one on this watch, I wouldn’t be making any complaints!
The hammer price for the one a little over a week ago is a good marker for this, and I would suggest that if you are interested in picking up an example of this reference, don’t get too carried away and maybe step aside if the bidding gets much above 100,000 Yen.
Grand Seiko 4420-9000 early dial
A couple of weeks ago I referred to this as an “honest” watch in my description, but that auction was cancelled with a winning bid of 203,000 Yen.
For once, it is clear why the watch has been relisted, because the seller has added an additional photo to the new listing.
It turns out that what in the original images looked like just a scratch on the bezel at approximately 12 o’clock was actually a crack -
Clearly the winner of the auction wasn’t happy with this, and the seller was good enough not only to take the watch back, but also to highlight the slightly more serious issue in the new listing. An issue that - in all likelihood - he simply didn’t notice first time around.
This does highlight the perennial risk of purchasing from auctions - whilst for collectors in Japan a return like this might be feasible, for those like us who buy from overseas through proxy companies, a return would be all but impossible.
Adjust your bids this time around accordingly!
Grand Seiko 4420-9000 early dial
I very nearly missed this one and only came across the listing again when I was going through my saved watchlist on Yahoo - it’s been listed in the general Seiko category, not the Grand Seiko one.
Yes the dial has issues, but the case is absolutely superb. Well, except for the caseback medallion.
Argh - why is it so hard to find an example of the 44GS with both an excellent dial and an excellent case?!
Keep an eye on this auction - possibly because it’s in the general Seiko category it might be missed by some, and quite honestly I think it’s getting to the point where we are going to have to accept the fact that if you want a great early dialed 44GS, it may well be worth buying two - one with a great dial, and one with a great case.
A 5646-7010 blue dial at The Tokei Club
329,000 Yen gets you this absolutely superb example of the highly desirable blue-dialed 5646-7010.
The same question that I have asked in the past bears repeating -
If you feel that’s a little on the expensive side and pass on this one, how long do you think you’ll have to wait for another as nice as this to turn up, and what price will it be then?
Stunning, and in my mind, well worth the asking price to a collector. If it’s not sold by the time I head back to Japan in July, I may well pick it up in person.
Q
The first Grand Seiko with raised logo dial
Last week I asked - with tongue very firmly in cheek - “The only question really remaining regarding this listing is - will it still be bouncing around when I come to do the final newsletter on June 28th?!”
Well, I’m actually beginning to think it may well be.
In chronological order -
217,000 winning bid - canceled
253,000 winning bid - canceled
263,000 winning bid - canceled
215,500 winning bid - canceled
The company that runs the selling account shifts (and I am not kidding) 10’s of thousands of watches every single year. Quite why they are so keen on trying to achieve what they believe to be a “fair” price for this particular lot is utterly beyond me.
The first Grand Seiko with print logo dial
Isn’t it odd how none of the 8 dial-side photos in this listing actually shows the dial straight on, and upright?
Me rather thinks the seller is reckoning on people not being able to spot that the dial is a poor re-print since it is somewhat more difficult to notice the font issues when the print isn’t presented upright…
But what is immediately obvious despite the ‘strangely’ angled photos is that the watch has flat hands, and the index at 12 is the longer, thinner, single piece one. Both features that are absolute no-nos for a genuine print dial “First”.
I rather suspect from the spirited bidding so far that some poor soul is going to be tempted to jump the gun and buy this out for the “Instant Decision” price of 500,000 Yen…
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.
Did you get around to checking IG DMs?
Many thanks for all your information, I have only just discovered your most informative page and sorry to hear it will be discontinued.
Keep up the great work you do and all the best in your ventures.
Shane