Model: LJAK600; 4S28-5010
Year: November 1995
Features:
The Theme. The most European-looking Seiko you’ve ever seen. Breguet-style indices, elegant blued hands, small seconds subdial, and all wrapped up in a tonneau case with an onion crown? I wouldn’t blame you for double and triple-checking it says Seiko on the dial. It also says Laurel too though - a clue that this watch doesn’t have to take a page from Seiko’s normal playbook.
The History. In the early 1910s, K. Hattori & Co. began importing Swiss calibres, likely from A. Schild, and fitting them with their own enamel dials and cases. These Swiss-Japanese hybrids bore the Laurel name for a decade, until a devastating earthquake in 1923 destroyed Kintarō Hattori’s Seikosha factory. When the factory was rebuilt a year later, Hattori honoured its workers by changing the name of the watches to Seiko.
The Influence. Hattori’s 1913 Japanese-made enamel dial is dripping with Swiss influence, because, frankly put, it’s all the world knew at the time. Your choice of watch was Swiss or Swiss. But Hattori hoped to changed that, and piece by piece he did. It would take 43 years, but Seiko eventually produced their own in-house movement, and now they’re arguably the most vertically integrated, or “in-house” across all sectors, watch company in the world. They grow their own quartz crystals - what more do you want?
The Design. The similarities between the 1913 Laurel and the 1995 Laurel are obvious: Breguet indices, elegant blued hands, small seconds subdial - while the tonneau case is absent, the onion crown is there. The Swiss motifs, as seen in the 1995 LJAK600, aren’t a casual design choice - it’s a historical reference to Seiko’s origin story as a watch company.
The Metals. Despite its historical connections, the LJAK600 stands strong on its own merits. It’s a deep-value piece that is granted an affordable price point due to its relative obscurity. The case is 925 Silver, and the bezel is 18kt Gold. Is precious metal plating really that impressive? No, which is why I’m happy to report the case is solid silver, and the bezel is solid gold.
The Hands. They’re heat-blued, and having spent hours filming them in macro for the upcoming video, I can confirm the finish is absolutely flawless.
The Caseback. The Japanese inscription is celebrating the 1996 10-year Anniversary of the the Osaka Hilton. Given the immense cost of the LJAK600 on its release, I suspect this watch was given to a very senior employee at Hilton - presumably a Manager or Director.
The Movement. The movement powering it is the 28,800bph "Hi-Beat," part of Seiko’s iconic 4S family. With the LJAK600, you’re not forced to choose between form and function - it’s as sharp in performance as it is on the wrist.
Condition: In great condition in general, but the solid 18k gold bezel has some marks on it. They’re fully visible in the various pictures. If it was your style, they could easily be buffed out. You wouldn’t even need to see a watch specialist - a jeweller could restore the gold bezel back to perfection!
Scope: No box or papers, so it will be packed in a secure leather travel case.
Movement: 4S28 Manual Wind 28800bhp, 24 Jewels
Dimensions:
- Case Width: 34.0mm
- Lug to Lug: 43.0mm
- Case Thickness: 9.8mm
- Lug Width: 18.0mm
