CaliforniaJed[Purist]
5145
Grand Seiko, New and Old
Sep 06, 2013,22:54 PM
I posted recently about succumbing to the new Grand Seiko reissue of the 44GS. The news of the release from Basel caught my attention. In photos, the sexy lines and amazing finish drew me in. Then KIH recently posted about it and its fantastic handwind movement, and I was hooked. A few weeks ago I found one and bought it. I finally had a chance to take a few pictures. I must admit that the case is amazingly reflective, and my amateur photography skills were not up to the challenge.
As thrilled as I am to have gotten the 44GS, I have discovered that that Grand Seiko's are addictive. Our friend, Cazalea, is a walking example of that fact. Well, I have been bitten by the buy as well.
Meet the 61GS (on the right). It arrived today from Japan!
This vintage 61GS is a really neat companion for the new 44GS. It houses the acclaimed hi beat Cal. 6146A movement, which features an automatic 36,000 beat movement and day and date complications. This one, I'm told, is from 1969. The condition is fantastic, and in the few hours I've owned it, accuracy appears to be fantastic as well. (I'll tty to update that later.)
The two cases are very similar, as are the dials. (A note on the 44GS - you can see a deployant buckle on mine. It came with a tang buckle, but I sourced a Grand Seiko deployant for it to go with a high gloss gator strap I had.)
They are amazingly similar, considering they were made 44 years apart.
I feel like I am just getting my feet wet with Grand Seiko. I am fairly giddy to have found this 61GS in the condition it is in. I must thank KIH, who graciously answered many questions about it as I was considering the purchase.
Best,
CaliforniaJed