60's Seiko Champion,,,

[ricardopalamino]

Happy New Year to All....

 

Late last year I acquired this Seiko Champion watch and case . I am not exactly sure of the production month and year because the Seiko Production calculator I usually use seems to be down for a while . I do know that it's from the early 60's because it has the older style model number on the back that I was told was changed in the middle 60's and also from the following information from the Seiko Branding Dictionary :

 

 

- Champion: (Sub-brand) - The Champion was Seiko's low end handwind watch introduced in 1960 in 17 and 19j versions. The Champion evolved with the Champion Calendar (1962), the Champion 850 (1963) and the date version Champion 860 (1964). The Champion also existed in a few specialised versions, of which the Champion Alpinist is the most famous. 

 

 

The following information was provided by the seller :Year and location of manufacture: Japan SEIKO Kameido factory in 1960s..Crown: Original "S" signed

It has some marks of oxidation...

I have been looking for an appropriate watch band fitting of this watch and I came across and installed this vintage Kalb Cashmere watch band that has a nice textured buckle .

The watch  has engraving on the back in Japanese with the number 20 that leads me to believe that it was a presentation watch . I will get the inscription translated and post it here later .

 This watch band is a dream on the wrist...VERY soft and supple .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Davey57]

That is very smart and I think the strap suits it perfectly. I love leather straps but find some are just that little bit too thick or stiff.

I like the dial, uncluttered without the date window. It's intriguing to know what the inscription says.

[ramrod]

another beauty. so simple and clean, too. a classic look with those dauphine hands. and also a nice choice on the strap. it looks like a brick color. i'd like to know the date of this one, too.

as much as i love old watches (and i have a lot of them) i really miss the lume. it seems out of place on a dress watch, but i still like having it on a watch.