Grail Watch Reference

A Reference Library for Watches from Grail Watch

  • Movement Database
  • Grail Watch Blog
  • The Watch Files Podcast
  • Reference Documents
  • About Grail Watch
  • Email
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Powered by Genesis

You are here: Home / Movements / Seiko 4500

Seiko 4500

Last Update: February 2, 2020

Brand:Daini Seikosha, Seiko
Family:
Daini Seikosha 45 Stream
Height:
Jewels:
Reserve: hours
Frequency:36,000 A/h
Winding:Hand winding
Diameter:
  Complications:
Hands:Central Hour Hand, Central Minute Hand, Central Seconds Hand
Distinguishing Technical Characteristics
Hand-Winding
Balance Bridge
Balance
Balance at 3:00
Production: 1968 – 1972
1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

Cal. 4500 was a hand-winding Hi-Beat movement produced by Daini Seikosha from 1968 through 1972 for their King Seiko watches. It was an upgrade over Cal. 4420 thanks to the 10 Hz (36,000 A/h) speed. The closely-related Cal. 4520A was used in Grand Seiko models and was tuned and finished to a slightly higher standard. The similar Cal. 4502 added a date mechanism.

Seiko 45 Stream Overview

Throughout the 1960s, Seiko had two internal operations competing for watchmaking supremacy. Suwa Seikosha, formed in 1959, focused on high-end men’s watches and originated the Grand Seiko line. Daini Seikosha, the historic watchmaking operation for Hattori Seikosha, developed the alternate King Seiko line before creating the famous Grand Seiko Style with the 44GS of 1967.

In 1968, both Suwa and Daini produced a Hi-Beat movement fit for a Grand Seiko watch. The Suwa 6100 stream was an automatic while the Daini 4500 was hand-wound. Both were used in Grand Seiko models until the decline of mechanical watches in that line around 1975.

The Daini Seikosha 4500 stream replaced the respected but slow-beating 4400 stream in King Seiko and Grand Seiko models. The move from 5 Hz to 10 Hz had been a singular technical challenge for Daini, both from a design and metallurgical standpoint. But the movement featured other technical advances as well, including an “instant” date change mechanism.

Compared to the Suwa automatic movement, Daini’s 4500 stream was more elegant in design, with a classic hand-winding look and full balance bridge. It was also notably thinner, giving Daini’s watches a desirable design differentiator.

CalibreProductionApplicationDateNotes
Cal. 45001968-1972King SeikoNo
Cal. 45021968-1973King SeikoYes
Cal. 4520A1968-1974Grand SeikoNoSome tuned for Observatory Chronometer use
Cal. 4522A1968-1972Grand SeikoYes
Cal. 4580 VFA1969-1973Grand SeikoNoVery Fine Adjustment, limited production

Related Posts

Daini Seikosha 45 Stream

Seiko 4580

ETA 2893-2

Seiko 4502

Seiko 3819A

Seiko 4522