Grand Seiko 4522-8000 hibeat in steel from 1969 January

Maker: Seiko
Model: Grand Seiko 4522-8000 hibeat
Year: 1969 January
Serial: 910286
Case Material: stainless steel
Case Dimensions: 36mm, thickness 9mm
Caliber: 4522A 25jewels
Service history: June 2026. Currently running at +2.6 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 Grand Seiko 4522-8000 is as a fully original example in excellent condition. From our assessment, the case appears to remain unpolished, retaining its sharp facets and well-defined edges, with the refined proportions and lines that embody Tanaka’s Grammar of Design. The original silver-white dial remains in excellent condition, showing no significant blemishes or noticeable discoloration. The crystal has been replaced with a new old stock 45GS crystal, while the hands and crown are believed to be original and remain in very good condition. The case back still features its original gold GS medallion, which is especially well-preserved with crisp details. The movement was serviced by our watchmaker in June 2026 and is currently performing exceptionally well, running at approximately +2.6 seconds per day.

Ships from Japan