A Watch So Rare, You Didn’t Know It Existed
That could apply to 3 of 5 watches in today's newsletter!
The Precursor
A very watch heavy newsletter this week, with watches ranging from hard-to-come-by to I-didn’t-even-know-this-existed. Thematically, they’re all over the place this week, but hopefully that means there’s something interesting for everyone!
Seiko “Lapita Rainforest” Brightz / 4S27-00B0
Limited Edition 1 of 40. A grail so elusive, it’s barely Googleable. Seiko is renowned for their limited releases, but these usually come in editions of 1,000 or more. To find a release this small, you’ll need to turn to some very exclusive Grand Seikos, and even then you’re searching for air so rarefied that the prices get noticeably punchy:
Released in 2005, the Seiko “Lapita Rainforest” Brightz is shrouded in equal parts mystery and misinformation. The exact reference number remains unknown, with its name derived from an engraving on the caseback: Lapita Rainforest Edition. The widely accepted story is that this watch was produced in partnership with a charity dedicated to preserving the rainforests of the Lapita region in Oceania. The number of pieces made has been the subject of debate - some say 40, others claim 50.
In attempt to demystify this watch, I reached out to Seiko in Japan. They kindly replied, but all they could immediately confirm was watch was 1 of 40, not 50. However, they did promise to take my questions up the chain, in a bid to hopefully find someone who worked on or near the original project. Given Seiko has a large number of “lifer” employees, I’m optimistic the right person will be located!
The dial is a lush shade of green that I’m probably obligated to call “rainforest green”. It’s rich, deep, and features sunken subdials textured with a dotted pattern. Six sword-shaped hands oversee the intricately designed dial. The cushion-shaped case is crafted from solid titanium, with a bezel made from solid 18-karat gold. Powering the watch is a 28-jewel, 4S27 “True” GMT movement.
The frog at 4 o’clock is the obvious highlight. I should probably name him at some point - any suggestions?
As you might have noticed, the watch features two crowns. The 24-hour hand moves gradually with the passing hours and is controlled, in conjunction with all of the hands, via the crown at 3 o’clock. The main hour hand, however, is independently adjustable using the secondary crown at 2 o'clock, jumping one hour at a time. This makes it a "True" or "Traveller" GMT.
Designed for frequent travellers, this type of GMT allows you to set the 24-hour hand to your home time zone. When travelling, you simply adjust the main hour hand using the secondary crown without hacking the movement, allowing the watch to remain accurate regardless of time zone changes. Perhaps the most well-known example of this complication is the Rolex GMT Master II.
I’m particularly fond of the square, cushion case. This was a hallmark of Seiko’s Brightz collection in the early 2000s, seen in models like the SAGN, SAGJ and SAGV series. Sadly, Seiko hasn’t returned to this case design much since. The strap, made of green leather, is a perfect match for the case. It has ends moulded to curvature of the case, giving it the fit of a metal bracelet.
Pricing this watch has been tricky due to its rarity. It has appeared at auction twice in the past five years (as far back as my auction scanner can look in Japan), selling for ¥679,000 and ¥801,000 ($4550 and $5350). However, both of those examples had damaged dials and were missing the original strap, buckle, box, and papers.
The watch is available to buy on our website now.
Not only is it in near-flawless condition, but it also includes the original box and papers. The case remains unpolished, with the original brush marks visible across the titanium. Brace yourself for the price!
Credor “World Baseball Classic” GCBG975 / 4S77-00B0
From one limited dial to another. While not as limited as the Lapita Rainforest, Credor produced 110 of these watches in 2006 to commemorate hosting the inaugural World Baseball Classic (WBC). If you have a Rainman-esque memory for numbers, you might notice this shares the same model number (4S77-00B0) as the Credor Pacific we featured last week. Whereas the Pacific paid homage to Japan’s ancient maritime history, today’s piece celebrates Japan’s modern passion for baseball.
I won’t dive into the specifications and complications here - if you’re interested, you can read all about them in last week’s newsletter by clicking here.
For those that don’t know, Japan went on to win the 2006 WBC, which has led many in Japan to crown this piece the “Winners Watch.” The most recent 2023 WBC final offered a tantalising and normally impossible match-up: Los Angeles Angels teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout going head-to-head. Ohtani triumphed, helping Japan secure victory over the US in the final. Unfortunately, this remains the only World Baseball Classic watch Seiko has ever produced.
I understand this watch won’t be for everyone, and it’s likely to find its new owner in Japan. However, I wanted to give Western diehard baseball fans a chance to see - and perhaps own- a truly unique piece of sporting history.
The watch is available to buy on our website now.
It is unworn, near-mint condition, and comes with the full box, papers and tags.
Seiko “Crescent Moon” Le Vent 1F20-5J60
The first Seiko designed by a woman. Sayoko Yamaguchi, an internationally renowned Japanese model and actress, was commissioned by Seiko in the ‘90s to work on a collection specifically designed for women, by women. The resulting watches were released under the Le Vent brand, and the collection later featured contributions from other Japanese fashion icons like Minako Yokomori.
In recent years, the notion of a “man’s watch” or “woman’s watch” has begun to fade, with enthusiasts embracing great design regardless of the intended gender. While I may not have the confidence to pull off the Crescent Moon Le Vent myself, that hasn’t stopped both men and women from eagerly hunting down these rare pieces whenever they surface.
The watch is available to buy on our website now.
In good condition, and on the original leather strap. Some minor age marks on the dial.
Seiko SZSB007 “TiCTAC”
A greyscale, minimalist Alpinist inspired design. Released in limited numbers, exclusively in Japan in 2019, the Seiko SZSB007 “TiCTAC” offers a greyscale, minimalist take on the classic Alpinist design. It almost feels like the result of a selective breeding experiment between an Alpinist and a vintage Rolex Explorer - and I’m all for it. This retro-inspired, JDM piece is not only highly affordable but also comes with the added bonus of confusing Western Alpinist lovers who have most likely never seen this watch before.
The watch is available to buy on our website now.
It is unworn, near-mint condition, and comes with the full box and papers.
Seiko “Chocolate” SARC019
A delicious looking dial. A hand-crafted, chocolate enamel dial, with applied indices and sunken sub-dials. The case is mirror finished, and the crystal is double domed to create distortion around the edges of the dial, reminiscent of vintage watches. The onyx crown, typically seen in high-end Credors, and exhibition caseback put a playful twist on an otherwise serious piece.
Inside is a 6R21, which is essentially a “Hi-Beat” upgrade to the more standard 6R15 movement. With 28,888 bph, 29 jewels, and the circular day-date complication with power reserve. Released in the mid-2000s, exclusively in Japan, this now discontinued SARC019 isn’t easy to find in the West.
The watch is available to buy on our website now.
It is great condition. No box or papers.
Don’t forget to follow my Instagram to see all of the watches above in full cinematic glory.