King Seiko 56KS 5625-7000
The Suwa interpretation
On the 56, the case maintains its width more evenly along its length. The bezel stands above it, and the inward fold along the lug tops is less emphatic than on the 45. The composition feels flatter and more settled.
The watch
| Reference | 5625-7000 |
|---|---|
| My example | August 1970 |
| Family | King Seiko · 56KS |
| Manufacture | Suwa Seikosha |
| Movement | 5625 · automatic, date |
| Beat rate | 28,800 vibrations/hour · 4 Hz |
| Case | Stainless steel |
| Case width, without crown | 36.8 mm |
| Thickness, including crystal | 10.1 mm |
Dimensions measured on this example.
Small decisions, different presence
Putting the 45KS and 56KS versions of the 7000 case side by side is unusually revealing. Both seem to pursue the same direct expression of planes, light and flatness, but they arrive at distinctly different characters.
The 45 flares more dramatically towards the lug ends and seems to gather the bezel into its case. Its bezel also has a more asymmetric profile than the broader, more evenly ridged version on the 56.
In that comparison I find the 45 more dynamic. The 56 remains a compelling watch in its own right: a clear, unhurried arrangement of surfaces, with the ease of an automatic movement behind it.
