During the 1960s, Seiko experienced a significant advancement in their watch development compared to the simpler lineup they had in the 1950s. Most mechanical watches during that time operated at a steady rate of 18,000 beats per hour. However, Seiko introduced higher beat rates of 19,800 and even 21,600 beats per hour. Fortunately, a watch's accuracy depends on more than just the beat rate, although the ability of the balance to recover from shocks is crucial. Seiko introduced the Diashock solution and the 360-degree dual wind rotor early on.
 
The low beat Lord Marvel 5740A was first introduced around 1959, while the high beat Lord Marvel 5740-8000 was manufactured between 1967 and 1978. The high beat 5740C is considered the third generation of the Lord Marvel model and represents the pinnacle of that line.
 
Although Seiko was always at the forefront of watchmaking, they were not the first to achieve the ultimate beat rate in watches. In 1966, Girard-Perregaux developed the automatic 32A movement with a doubled beat rate of 36,000 beats per hour (10 beats per second or 5 Hz). This movement was an upgrade of the manual wind AS 1687/1688, made automatic through a collaborative effort by watch companies Doxa, Eberhard, Favre-Leuba, Girard-Perregaux, and Zodiac.
 
In response to this European development, Seiko introduced the Lord Marvel 36000 in 1967, which was entirely developed in-house. Seiko efficiently utilized the existing low beat hand-wind 5740B caliber movement that was already used in the Seiko Crown 560 since 1959. However, Seiko did not add any additional complications or a hacking mechanism to this watch since it was intended as a pure experiment with a beat rate of 36,000 beats per hour. It lacked a day-date feature and an automatic module.
 
That same year, Seiko also released a fully equipped version of the Grand Seiko with a beat rate of 36,000 beats per hour, featuring the newly designed 61GS caliber. In 1968, Seiko's rival Daini division launched the "Grand Seiko killer," the King Seiko hand-wind 45 caliber. This caliber was also later used in subsequent Grand Seiko models.