The King Seiko line was originally created by Seiko’s Daini Seikosha division as a luxury hand-wind watch to compete with Suwa’s Grand Seiko. Interestingly, the first automatic King Seiko models were developed by Suwa, using the now-renowned high-beat 56 series calibre. This movement would go on to power a wide range of both King and Grand Seiko models, cementing its place as one of Seiko’s most successful automatic movements.
The 5626 calibre, first introduced in 1968, was housed in a monobloc case with gold medallions and an external regulator. By 1971, Seiko transitioned the design to a screwback case without medallions, maintaining the same angular silhouette but removing the external regulator in favor of a cleaner construction.
Offered here is a King Seiko 5626-7111 from 1973, featuring a sharp case crafted under Taro Tanaka’s Grammar of Design principles. Its silver sunburst dial is paired with minimalist stick indices and classic dauphine hands, presenting a timeless elegance. Inside beats the high-grade 5626 automatic, running at 28,800 bph with a quickset day-date function.
This example remains in good vintage condition. Clear crystal, small light aging signs on the dial, and the unpolished case shows few hairline scratches while preserving its crisp edges. Serviced movement with the original day/date wheel has been replaced with a steel one to ensure reliable long-term operation.
A fine representative of the automatic King Seiko line, this 5626-7111 combines Seiko’s design philosophy with the technical excellence of the 56 series.
