Seiko Superior 9481-5000 (December 1980)

[croolis]

A rather uncommon example of Seiko's 5 second per year twin-quartz movement in the Superior grade .. Seiko Superior are one step above the Grand Quartz models, these were seriously expensive back in the day and even today are as accurate as the best you can get excepting watches using an external time source.

I can't begin to describe to you how beautiful the finish on the dial of this watch is .. there is a sort of snowflake effect on the dial itself, this continues on the bezel and bracelet. The hour markers and hands are polished like jewels.

I'll take some better photos when I have proper light available tomorrow.

[HiBeat]

Yes my 9943- Seiko Grand Quartz was rated at +/- 10 sec per year (though nowhere near that these days) whereas this Seiko Superior Quartz was rated at +/- 5 sec per year.     Both are amazing claims.

Mine has a similar textured surface to the dial that is mesmerizing and draws me to the watch.  

[croolis]

hello hibeat,

I have also just received a Grand Quartz with the same movement and dial as yours, different hands though .. unfortunately this one 'shows the right time twice a day' and a new battery did not get it going. The mechanical part of the movement is fine (it spins on a magnetic activator thingie) so it's most probably an electronic problem ..

The Grand Quartz texture is different to that on the Superior, the Grand Quartz has an even granularity to it (for lack of better words) while the Superior has a sort of 'snowflake' effect to it. The level of finish on the Superior dial eg. the polish on the markers is also higher than the GQ.

here's a pic ..

(the King Quartz is also a new arrival)

[funkster]

Lovely HEQ's guys.
I've been looking for a Superior for ages - a rare beast!

[solex]

Just found a 3883-7000 on the bay, only $2340

[cobrajet25]

Jan 10, 2015 15:08:49 GMT -8 solex said:

Just found a 3883-7000 on the bay, only $2340

That's $2200 more than I paid for mine.



I got one of those early 1980s Twin Quartz models as a BIN straight from Japan last year.  Not my style, but I think I paid something like $25??

[Groundhog66]

What makes them "Superior grade"?

[croolis]

Jan 11, 2015 8:11:03 GMT -8 Groundhog66 said:

What makes th.  "Superior grade"?

it's the movement firstly, these movements came in 3  Grades .. King 20s/year, Grand 10s/year and superior 5s/year.
The 3rd digit is 2, 4 and 8 respectively.
The finishing both of the movement and the case and dial is of a very high level.

Price-wise a Seiko Quartz Superior was about twice as much as a Grand Quartz and 3 times a King Quartz with similar specification..
Around 150,000 yen back in 1980, very serious money!