Seiko’s “Cronos” line debuted in 1958, and shared the spotlight as a flagship along with the Marvel and Crown lines. The rivalry between Seiko’s two production divisions: Suwa and Daini, is ever present throughout most of the company’s history, and this is no exception. The Marvel was introduced in 1956, and was a great representation of Suwa’s technical capability. Daini answered back with the Cronos two years later, and it must have made quite an impact as Suwa refined the Marvel even further and introduced the Crown line just a year in 1959. If there’s any doubt as to the benefits of healthy internal competition, these mid-century paragons should certainly remove it. Cronos was minimalism at its finest on the surface, and technical prowess underneath. This example from April of ‘63 is amazing. The dial is a silvery white sunburst with a glossy lacquer finish and polished markers. The hour and minute hands are broad, beveled dauphines with a sloping taper, and a long, slender sweep ticks off the seconds. Just three lines of script are printed in black, and a blued frame surrounds the date aperture. The case architecture is classic and nuanced with sloping, faceted lugs and a beveled inset bezel. At 36mm, it has presence to spare while still maintaining a wafer-thin profile. Considering it’s nearing 60 years of age, its in unbelievable condtion. The etched case back markings are still clear and crisp, and all corners are razor sharp. The Cronos movement is a clean and elegant calibre with no numeric reference, however, it would eventually evolve into the early KS 44. It features a modular calendar mechanism that is stacked right on top of the base movement. The date can be set in a semi-quickset method. Post service it is keeping time to within a few seconds per day, and winds and sets smoothly. A mid-century modern masterpiece, this one will have you waiting in anticipation for opportunities to wear it.

Kvarnsjo Leather Gray Suede Leather with White Stitch

Serviced 8/3/21

Diameter- 36mm

Lugs- 19mm