Understanding the Collectability of Seiko’s SD Watches

The Seiko Marvel was the first watch to bear the Special Dial (SD) logo when it started production in June 1956. This timepiece was outfitted with a 17-jewel movement and initially was without the SD logo but instead featured “17 jewels” and “anti-shock” or “diashock” printed above the 6 o’clock index.

That said, have you ever heard of the SD? Well, the Seiko SD is a type of watch dial that is designed and produced by the world-renowned watchmaker Seiko. These dials are designed to be stylish, modern, and eye-catching and are some of the most sought-after dials for Seiko watches.

Today, we’re going to delve into the collectability of these dials to help you understand just how sought-after and rare Seiko watches with the Special Dial were:

Understanding the Collectability of Seiko’s SD Watches

In Japan, many people are unaware of the different Seiko dial variations of the SD, AD, and ED logos. When these models were first released, the SD dials were more expensive than the other two, making the price difference at least ¥1,000 (which is equivalent to over ¥16,000 or USD 150 today). However, for the current models, such as the Liner or Gyro Marvel, there is no major price difference between the three variations.

That said, the Grand Seiko First model is a highly sought-after collectible because of its unique design. Some of the dials made in 1963 have an AD logo instead of the standard SD logo. The AD logo gives the dial a sunburst finish instead of the traditional cream white of the SD version. This makes the AD GS1st even more desirable due to its rarity, making it more collectable than the SD variant.

The King Seiko First SD variant is another sought-after item among collectors. In Japan, replacement dials with the KS1st AD textured design are quite common. It’s widely believed that these dials had a flaw that caused them to fade to a purple hue over time. Seiko noticed that some of the KS1st watch dials had this defect, so they quickly gave out free replacements in the form of AD dials. Several older collectors support this story, remembering a time when Seiko did a “recall” of KS1st. Even though it is uncertain if this is true, it is clear that there are much fewer KS1st SD dials than AD dials, making them desirable to collectors.

In addition to the previous watches, the Grand Seiko has released several watches with an “SD” logo in tribute to the original GS1st. The most recent and impressive of these is the SLGH002, released for the 60th anniversary of Grand Seiko. It features a unique dial and case design, as well as the innovative 9SA5 movement with its impressive dual impulse escapement. There are a few other modern Grand Seiko models which also have an SD logo.

Conclusion

As you can see, the Special Dial is quite rare and collectable to many, but of course, this also means they can get quite pricey. Regardless, if you’re looking to invest in a Seiko watch, perhaps one with a special dial can suit your needs. But you can also mod your watch to rock special, unique dials to show the world your character through your special timepiece.

Seiko Mods are experts in designing and manufacturing sapphire crystals and various other custom parts for Seiko watches. If you are looking for mod parts for your Seiko watch in the UK, check out what we offer!