Here we have a very rare new old stock, complete set Grand Seiko. It dates to October 1967 and is the reference 6141-8000, having the 36.5mm stainless steel case with the gold capped top. It has the silver sunburst dial with the mirror polished baton hour markers. It features the applied ‘Seiko’ logo with the ‘GS’ also applied. It is signed ‘Grand Seiko’ below, with the day date window at 3 O’clock. The frame is applied with the mirror polished finish. The hands are elegant in the gold tone, with the black striping to the centre. The central second hand tapers neatly. The dial is signed to the base with the ‘Japan 6146-8000t AD’ model signing. The case has the angular design with the brushed finish to the top and bottom, in-between the lugs. It has the mirror polished bezel, top and sides. The crown is signed with the ‘GS’ logo. The Steel screwback has the original film with the model signing and gold medallion to the centre. To the inside of the caseback is the model signing. The Grand Seiko calibre 6146A is inside. It is an automatic calibre with the hi-beat rate of 36,600 BPH. 
 
A very rare find. It is a new old stock full set. It has the inner box with wrapping paper, outer box, original strap and buckle, hang tag and signed paperwork. The original film is on the case back.
 
The condition allows this watch to be enjoyed in the same way the first wearer would have, when they put it on their wrist. It is a true testament to the quality of the design that it still amazes you today.
 
This is an early dial variation, one of the few vintage Grand Seiko to have it fully spelt on the dial. This reference was also produced in stainless steel, with the Gold capped variation being less common. 
 
The first Grand Seiko watch was released in 1960, built at the Suwa factory, whilst King Seiko were built at the Daini factory. The two-factory set up was intentional, to encourage internal competition to create the best possible watches. 
 
This reference embraces the tenets of Taro Tanaka’s ‘Grammar of Design’ school of thought. Tanaka was a key influence in Seikos design throughout the 1960s, developing the ‘Grammar of Design’ theory to inspire the design language for Seiko watches of the period. He is cited as the first trained designer to work for Seiko, beginning in 1959. 
The ‘Grammar of Design’ was a set of rules to follow when design or proposing a new watch. It laid out that the shape of any new case was not to be ‘traditionally round’. It also emphasised the need for surfaces and angles of the case and dial to be flat, to reflect the light. The surfaces were also mirror finished, to further enhance the interaction with light. The dial and crystals were designed to avoid visual distortion, allowing a pure view of the watch. 
 
The 61GS series of automatic, hi-beat movement was introduced in 1967 to 1974. 
This was the second generation of GS automatic movements, after the short lived 62GS which was produced from 1966 to 1968. 
 
The 61GS was Japans first automatic 10-beat (36,600 BPH) movement. The 10-beat improved isochronism, achieving greater stability and accuracy in the face of positional differences and external disturbances. 
The watch also featured the Magic Lever, a winding mechanism developed by Suwa Seikosha. This shortened the winding period and allowed for a longer power reserve.
 
The watch is modelled on a 7” wrist circumference.
Full condition report below. Please see the images as these compliment and aid the description provided below.
 
Dial:
The dial is original and is in perfect condition. 
 
Hands:
The hands are original and are in perfect condition.
 
Glass:
The crystal is original and is in excellent condition, with only some light marks from storage.
 
Crown:
The Grand Seiko crown is original and in perfect condition.
 
Case:
The case is stainless steel with the yellow gold capped bezel. The case is in unworn condition with only light marks from storage. There is tarnishing to the gold capping with age, which has been left. This is removable.
 
Case back:
The case back is steel and is in perfect condition with the original blue film. 
 
Strap:
The watch comes on its original Seiko leather strap, with Seiko gold plated buckle. The strap has deteriorated to the rear with age.
 
Movement:
The movement is a Gand Seiko 6146A. It is an automatic movement with a jewel count of 25 and a hi-beat frequency of 36,000 BPH. It has hacking seconds with the quick set day and date. 
 
The movement is in good condition and is running well. It is keeping time to within +8 seconds a day. It has an amplitude of 300 degrees and a beat error of 0.1m/s.
 
Case Dimensions:
Case width: 36.75mm
Case width with crown: 38.7mm 
Case length: 35.7mm 
Case length lug to lug: 43.5mm
Case Depth: 12.15mm
Lug width: 18mm