Grand Seiko 4522-8000 hibeat in steel from 1968 October

Maker: Seiko
Model: Grand Seiko 4522-8000 hibeat
Year: 1968 October
Serial: 801791
Case Material: stainless steel
Case Dimensions: 36mm, thickness 9mm
Caliber: 4522A 25jewels
Service history: May 2026. Currently running at +3.1 seconds/day.
Lug Width: 18mm
Bracelet/Strap: generic Taupe Epsom grained calf strap
Box/Papers: none

The Grand Seiko 4522-8000 is a historically important timepiece produced by Daini Seikosha Kameido factory, a subsidiary of Hattori Watch Company (aka. Seiko). One of the standout features of the Grand Seiko 4522-8000 (and its no date brother 4520) is its slim "grammar of design" case profile. At just 9mm thick, this watch is much thinner than many other mechanical watches of the same era. The case famously was designed by Tanaka Taro, Seiko's first in house designer, and was first introduced in the 44GS - also produced by the Kameido factory. Powering the Grand Seiko 4522-8000 is the high-quality 4520A caliber-developed in-house by Daini Seikosha and arguably the greatest movement made by Seiko. Introduced in 1968, the Hi-Beat caliber 45 was used in both the King Seiko and Grand Seiko models, and is loved by Seiko enthusiasts around the world for its incredible accuracy. The 45 family of caliber's consists of the 4502A, 4500A, 4520A, 4522A, and the 4580. Hi-beat (that is a movement with 36000 bph) movements existed before 1968, most notably constructed by Girard-Perregaux and Suwa Seikosha, but the caliber 45 was designed by Daini Seikosha completely from scratch and in-house. The 45 family of movements represent the pinnacle of Japanese watchmaking achievement as its derivative competed in the 1968 Geneva watch competitions where it swept the mechanical watch category for accuracy beating out Swiss watchmakers.

This particular Grand Seiko 4522-8000 is a fully original example. While the case has likely seen a light polish in the past, it remains well-preserved and still showcases the sharp, elegant lines characteristic of Tanaka’s Grammar of Design. The original silver-white dial is in clean condition, free from any major blemishes. The crystal has been replaced with a new old stock 45GS piece, and both the hands and crown remain original, all in good condition. The case back retains its original gold GS medallion, which shows signs of wear consistent with age. The movement has been serviced by our watchmaker and is currently running at an excellent rate of +3.1 seconds per day.

Ships from Japan