King Seiko Hi-Beat – Ref. 4502-7001 – April 1971 – Daini Icon with High-Beat Hand-Wound Movement - freshly serviced

This King Seiko Hi-Beat Ref. 4502-7001 from April 1971 is a classic representative of the late King Seiko generation from Daini Seikosha and an excellent example of the technical and design maturity Seiko had achieved in the early 1970s.

The King Seiko line, as is well known, arose from the internal competition between Daini and Suwa, with Daini traditionally focusing more on classic watchmaking and finely regulated manual-wind movements. The 45 series, to which this model belongs, is considered by connoisseurs to be one of the highlights of this development: slim, precise, and consistently designed for accuracy.

The Caliber 4502 movement installed in this watch belongs to Seiko's renowned 45 series movement family and represents one of the most technically sophisticated manual-wind movements Seiko has ever produced in series. It is a Hi-Beat movement with 36,000 vibrations per hour, which enables particularly high rate stability and fine regulation. Characteristic of the 4502 is its flat construction combined with robust design – a key reason why these calibers were used in both King Seiko and early Grand Seiko models. Unlike many automatic movements of the time, the 4502 deliberately omits a rotor and instead relies on a puristic, precision-oriented manual-wind construction, which is valued by connoisseurs for its direct mechanical feel and ease of maintenance. When well regulated, these movements still achieve remarkable accuracy today, making them among the highlights of classic Japanese watchmaking from the early 1970s.

In terms of design, the watch shows the typical clear Daini language: faceted indices, sharply cut hands, and a finely structured, silver dial with a very beautiful radiance. The case clearly follows the "Grammar of Design" influenced by Taro Tanaka, with clear edges and polished surfaces, without losing elegance.

The overall condition is to be rated as excellent. The case is very well preserved with only minor, age-appropriate traces, and the dial presents itself as exceptionally clean and attractive. The watch was professionally serviced in Japan in January 2026, which is a significant advantage for future use. The original King Seiko crown is present – an important detail for collectors.

The medal originally present on the back is missing, which is common for this reference and market-standard. Particularly interesting, however, is the preserved engraving:
The watch was awarded as a anniversary watch by Nishimura Kogyo company for its 10th anniversary on September 12, 1971. Such engravings give the watch an additional historical dimension and make it an individual historical document from Japanese industrial culture of the post-war era.

The new black leather strap emphasizes the classic character of the watch and fits the overall appearance very well. Weighing only 48 g, the watch wears exceptionally comfortably and elegantly.

Overall, this is a very coherent, technically high-quality, and historically interesting King Seiko, attractive for both newcomers and advanced collectors.

Technical Data

• Brand: Seiko
• Model: King Seiko Hi-Beat
• Reference: 4502-7001
• Year of manufacture: April 1971 (Serial number 14xxxx)
• Movement: Seiko Caliber 4502 (Manual-wind, Hi-Beat 36,000 A/h)
• Functions: Hour, minute, second, date
• Case: Stainless steel
• Diameter: approx. 36 mm (without crown)
• Height: 8.9 mm
• Lug width: 18 mm
• Lug-to-Lug: approx. 41.2 mm
• Strap: new black leather strap
• Weight: approx. 48 g
• Crown: original signed King Seiko crown
• Special features: Anniversary engraving "Nishimura Kogyo", 10 years, 12.09.1971; Medallion missing (typical for model)
• Service: January 2026 in Japan
• Condition: excellent vintage condition

Warranty (used)
This is a used item. The limitation period for claims for defects (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.

Note
As this is a used watch, no water resistance can be guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.