There’s a joke among collectors in Japan that only the Yakuza would wear a watch as garish as the Seiko Galante. Sadly, like gangsters the world over, the Yakuza are boring and wear gold Rolexes - but I certainly understand the sentiment behind the joke.
You might not have come across the high-end Galante series until today. And that makes sense, as it’s about as not-for-everyone as a Seiko can get.
For those of you completely unfamiliar with the buying process in Japan, please consult our “How To” Guide for buying in Japan.
↳ Brazen · Ends Saturday, 25 July
The Description. The Galante is incredibly garish, not just in its overall design but also its dimensions. At 42mm wide and 16mm thick, the SBLA005 will not be slipping under every cuff. But for anyone brave enough, Galantes are easily the cheapest spring drives on the market - and in spite of its perceived flaws, I will concede its curved second hand is utterly mesmerising when gliding across the dial.
The Condition. Looks to have lots of hairline scratches across its polished surfaces. Seiko will happily refinish it for a modest fee, if that’s your thing. Full box and papers too.
The Functionality. In working order. A service for the 5R spring drive will likely set you back $700.
FromJapan Link: Seiko “Galante” SBLA005
A spring drive for just over $1,000 is an unreal proposition. Plus, you get to join the club of presumably less than 100(?) people that own Galantes outside of Japan!
↳ Rare Sight · Ends Sunday, 26 July
The Description. There are actually two for sale as I type this, which is unusual to say the least. Beyond the fact it’s a rarely seen Arabesque Grand Seiko, the caseback engraving marks Idemitsu’s - one of Japan’s largest energy suppliers - 60th anniversary. This is particularly significant, because it’s one Seiko’s earliest bespoke designs, as the engraving isn’t just on the caseback, it’s completely replaced the standard 6146-8010 caseback layout. As a result, it’s incredibly sought-after by collectors.
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