King Seiko 45-7000

Thanks for joining me in my search for the perfect dad watch. My thoughts on this have changed multiple times during my journey, taking into factor: cost, size, function, bracelets, straps, colors, and every tangible thing I could think of. But after all that, I realized theres more to it: it’s a feeling, a love… a crush. That rush when you put on a watch that seamlessly matches anything in your monochromatic wardrobe. And that’s how we ended up here, with a collection of watches that rivals most pawn shops, with a blog composed of my personal opinions and amateur photography skills.

So let’s get to it with watch #1, the big one, the first of many offerings to answer that quest: to find the holy grail of dad watches. This is the King Seiko 45, 45-7000 to be precise. When people think of King Seiko, if they’ve ever even heard of it, this is the watch that comes to mind. I won’t bore you with a history lesson on King Seiko, or even explain why the word “king” can’t be found anywhere on the watch. Instead, I’ll start with the fact that this specific watch is perfect, and by perfect I mean perfectly worn down. In its prime, it was black-tie worthy: with sharp edges, perfect shine, and a pristine dial. This watch has none of that, its edges are round, its gold is wearing off and even the dial has some flakes as if it’s finally getting wrinkles after 60 years. But that’s exactly why I think it could be a great selection for the perfect dad watch. While it was great in its prime, it’s been refined; it may have a beer gut, it may drive a mini van, it may even rock cut off Jean shorts and a fanny pack. Long gone are the days of dunking a basketball or hitting a home run (even though he’ll tell you he’s still got it). That’s exactly what I expect of a dad watch. It should be something that could be passed down, not as an heirloom like a weird china plate collection, but like a weather torn, sun faded ball cap.

However, unlike a ball cap, this watch still has one final secret.. the back. The beautiful, high beat, precisely finished movement inside it that, with a little love, keeps almost perfect time. This isn’t your pull start, push lawn mower, this is the zero turn, high performance, Japanese-made machine that beat out all but one Swiss company in the 1968 Observatory Chronometer Trials.

So there you have it, page one in the book of dad watches. I’d give this watch a 5/5 for Dad Factor; but don’t take this as a recommendation, it’s just some dudes opinion. I don’t want you coming back and blaming me when your wife finds out you fell in love and bought one.

Till next time, this Dad of Watches needs to put the kids to bed.