Grand Seiko 4520 8010, 1970s

Dealer description — S.Song Watches

It is no secret anymore that Grand Seiko produces one of the best watches in the world, both in terms of movement quality and craftsmanship. Looked down for a long time for being Japanese and not Swiss, discerning collectors are past this farcial thought and have accepted the true reality. While modern Grand Seikos now enjoy this status, a little less known is the fact that Grand Seiko has been producing watches like this for a long, long time. Introducing the Grand Seiko 4520-8010, this is a vintage piece from the ’70s and is defined by its unique cushion shaped case that is crafted in 18k yellow gold. This reference is perhaps the pinnacle of vintage Grand Seiko, both in terms of rarity and sheer quality. What immediately stands out is the linen texture of the front of the case that shimmers with reflections of light and makes for a stunning dress watch. The feel of this watch is remarkable- one is able to tell the quality of this piece straight away by holding it, with a nice heft brought on by the solid gold. Moreover, this example comes in pristine condition, with its linen texture still sharp and displaying strong, preserved bevelling. The dial displays no damage and looks as good as the day it came out of the factory. Powered by the Calibre 4520A, it was a highly accurate movement produced by the then Daini Seikosha company. Many consider this era to be of Grand Seiko’s greatest and it is not hard to see why. On top of this, they didn’t make many of this reference and the 4520-8010 is one of the grails of vintage Grand Seikos.