Seiko - Lord Marvel - χωρίς τιμή ασφαλείας - 5740-8000 - Άνδρες - 1968

Presented for auction by Second Vintage

The Seiko Lord Marvel 36000 stands as a monumental achievement in Japanese watchmaking, proudly housing Seiko's first true high-beat caliber. Introduced in the late 1960s, the 5740C movement beats at a blistering 36,000 vibrations per hour, offering a mesmerizingly smooth sweep of the seconds hand and exceptional chronometric stability. This particular example, encased in an elegant gold-plated silhouette, captures the essence of Seiko's mid-century design language with its sharp dauphine hands and faceted applied markers. The Lord Marvel represents a pivotal moment in the brand's history, paving the way for the legendary Grand Seiko and King Seiko high-beat models that followed, making it an essential piece for dedicated enthusiasts of vintage horology.

Brand: Seiko
Model: Lord Marvel
Reference Number: 5740-8000
Serial Number: 892339
Movement: Manual winding, Caliber 5740C, 23 Jewels
Dial: Champagne dial with applied faceted indices, exhibiting a distinct and even stardust patina spotting across the surface
Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown)
Case Material: Gold Plated (SGP) / Stainless Steel Caseback
Production Year: September 1968
Condition: Good vintage condition with honest case wear and striking dial patina

Dial and Hands
The champagne dial features a captivating, age-consistent stardust patina, presenting as an even distribution of fine spotting across the entire surface. This natural aging process gives the watch a unique character without detracting from its legibility. The dial is adorned with applied, faceted gold-tone baton indices, each detailed with a central black stripe for enhanced contrast. The applied "SEIKO" logo sits proudly beneath the 12 o'clock position, while "LORD MARVEL 36000" and the Suwa Seikosha factory symbol are sharply printed in black above the 6 o'clock marker. The dial text at the very bottom edge reads "JAPAN 5740-8020T AD". The gold-tone dauphine hour and minute hands, also featuring black central stripes, remain crisp and sharp, complemented by a slender, sweeping seconds hand that traverses the patinated dial with high-beat fluidity.

Case and Crystal
The 35mm gold-plated case retains its classic profile, characterized by elegantly sculpted lugs and a refined, slim bezel. The case exhibits honest signs of vintage wear, with localized fading, minor marks, and some softening on the gold plating, particularly along the lug edges and the knurled crown, consistent with its age and use. The case flanks show light superficial scratches but maintain their original architectural lines. The watch is fitted with a domed acrylic crystal that presents cleanly, offering an unobstructed view of the dial beneath. The stainless steel screw-down caseback is remarkably well-preserved, with clear and deeply engraved factory markings, including the reference number 5740-8000, the serial number 892339, and the "SGP BACK ST. STEEL" designation.

Movement
Powering this timepiece is the historic Seiko Caliber 5740C, a 23-jewel manual-winding movement renowned for its 36,000 bph high-beat escapement. The close-up images reveal a clean and well-preserved movement, with crisp engravings of the caliber number and jewel count on the bridges. Exhibiting remarkable accuracy and consistency, performing brilliantly for a vintage timepiece, the timegrapher results show an excellent deviation of +6 to +10 seconds per day. The mechanical architecture remains a testament to Seiko's engineering prowess during the golden age of mechanical watchmaking.

Strap
The watch is paired with a dark brown leather strap featuring a mock-crocodile pattern. The strap is detailed with striking yellow contrast stitching along the edges, complementing the gold tones of the case and dial. It is secured with a standard gold-tone pin buckle and exhibits light signs of handling.

Condition
This Seiko Lord Marvel is presented in good vintage condition. The dial shows a highly distinct and naturally occurring stardust patina, adding significant vintage charm while retaining all original print and applied furniture. The gold-plated case displays expected, honest wear, with some fading of the plating on the high-wear areas and lug tips. The stainless steel caseback remains crisp and highly legible. The movement is clean and running exceptionally well, making this a highly wearable and historically significant collector's piece.

Dimensions
Case Size: 35 mm (excluding the crown)

Remarks
The Lord Marvel 36000 is an essential reference for any serious collector of vintage Seiko, offering the brand's pioneering high-beat technology in an understated, dressy package. The unique stardust patina on this specific example ensures that no two watches will ever look exactly alike, providing a truly individual ownership experience backed by serious mechanical pedigree.

History
Seiko introduced the Lord Marvel line in 1958 as their top-tier luxury offering before the creation of Grand Seiko. By 1967, the Lord Marvel 36000 was launched, making history as Seiko's first ten-beat-per-second watch. This innovation was crucial in Seiko's quest for chronometric supremacy, allowing them to compete with and ultimately dominate the Swiss observatory trials. The 5740C caliber laid the groundwork for the legendary high-beat movements that would later define the pinnacle of Seiko's mechanical achievements, cementing the Lord Marvel's status as a true horological milestone.

Payment and Shipping
Payment must be completed within 1–3 days after purchase.
Your watch will be professionally and very securely packaged, and shipped with tracking and insurance for your peace of mind. We ship via fast express service, with typical delivery in 1–4 business days (destination dependent).
Note that with vintage watches, minor signs of wear, aging, or imperfections may be present and are considered normal for watches of this age.
Please review all photos carefully before bidding. We strive to photograph each watch from multiple angles for the most accurate representation. The photos form an important part of the description.
If there are any concerns of functionality or defects after delivery, make sure to contact us within 3 days of receiving the watch so we can assist you.
As with all vintage watches, water resistance is not guaranteed.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us after the auction ends.

/ Second Vintage

SKU: SEI-SLM-0040