If you’ve been following Seiko’s recent releases, especially the revival of the King Seiko line, you’ll notice a familiar pattern. Many of the new models orbit around a select group of originals. And if you’ve found yourself drawn to the modern KS1969 Series, it’s worth remembering the watch that inspired it all: the King Seiko 45KS Ref. 4502-8010 Chronometer Date.
 
The 45KS represented the evolution of the King Seiko chronometer lineage, following the earlier 4420-9990. By this time, King Seiko chronometers were independently certified by the Japan Chronometer Inspection Institute (JCII), established in December 1968, to performance levels comparable to Swiss chronometer standards of the era.
 
At the time, chronometer grade meant a mean daily rate across five positions within -1.0 to +10.0 seconds per day, which is equivalent to Seiko’s highest internal “A” grade accuracy. This independent validation allowed Seiko to proudly print “Officially Certified” on the dial. But the 4502-8010 is more than just its movement.
 
Design-wise, it stands apart. The 8010’s lugs are short and muscular, with sharply angled case flanks that taper downward into a convex, pebble-like silhouette. The hands are unique to the chronometer variant, retaining the signature central black stripe of the 45KS line, yet rendered straighter and less sword-like than standard models. Variations also existed within the reference, including examples like this one, fitted with a black minute hand instead of the standard configuration.
 
If the KS1969 series has caught your attention and you’re curious about its origins, this unworn example is the definitive way to experience the source.
 
Ships from Tokyo, Japan.