1964 Seahorse - any info?

[DanS]

The owner of a local watch/clock repair store always has some vintage pieces in his display so I try to stop by now and then. Yesterday he had this for sale, and it looked interesting so I picked it up. It was filthy and the crystal was badly scratched, but luckily it cleaned up well and the dial looks clean after polishing the crystal. . The case and case-back engravings are pretty well preserved and the hidden crown is an interesting feature. Running pretty well, but judging by the internal photos, it obviously deserves a service. 

The dial reminds me a lot of a 62mas (see side-by-side photo below), although it has a white rehaut with minute markers. Honestly, the white ring on the dial is an odd design choice, but overall it seems like an interesting piece of history. The "waterproof" marking and seahorse logo indicate how the watch was marketed at the time, but there don't seem to be any really serious waterproof features. Just a snap-back. 

I'd love to learn anything you know about this model/reference.  Cheers!

[inboost]

DanS - Wow, that side by side photo says it all! Looks like a dress 62MAS all the way to me. Have you found any similar photos of the model that confirm the concerns you have about the white minute ring? How about a perusal though some of the Seiko catalogs of the day?

www.theseikoguy.com/catalogs/

Inboost

[DanS]

Thanks for the reply. It's apparently not a common watch, but I have found a few other examples with the white chapter ring, and also a different no-date version without the chapter ring (dial more like the 62mas) that seems a little more common. I'm pretty confident the watch is original. I was just saying that it's a bit funny looking.  :-)

Other examples:
watchcharts.com/listing/3886885/1960-seiko-7625-8960-sea-horse-watch-rare-gray-dial-beads-rice
watchcharts.com/listing/1551444/vintage-1964-seiko-sea-horse-black-dial-automatic-wristwatch

[HiBeat]

It’s a real beauty !  Both are really.   What a pair!

The white chapter ring is totally correct.  I have a few other early 7625s with the same.

There was also a similar dial sleeper watch 6601-8830 that is hard to find but worth your pursuit.
photo courtesy of Fratello Watches:

[DanS]

Oct 14, 2021 5:52:06 GMT -8 HiBeat said:

It’s a real beauty !  Both are really.   What a pair!

The white chapter ring is totally correct.  I have a few other early 7625s with the same.

There was also a similar dial sleeper watch 6601-8830 that is hard to find but worth your pursuit.
photo courtesy of Fratello Watches:

Yes, exactly! That's the no-date version I was referring to. I totally missed the fact that it is a different reference. But now I notice that the case is completely different, crown position different, etc.

[trilo]

Great find, looks stunning!

[SeikoSoMatic]

I really like the silver chapter ring / dark dial contrast in these models. Here's an example from 1969.

[DanS]

Oct 15, 2021 1:39:54 GMT -8 SeikoSoMatic said:

I really like the silver chapter ring / dark dial contrast in these models. Here's an example from 1969.

That's a nice one!