Grand Seiko 61GA VFA 6185-8010

Grand Seiko 61GS VFA 6185-8010 Palladium

Founded in 1960 with the sole intention of challenging the idea that Swiss watchmaking was the be-all and end-all of the watchmaking industry, Grand Seiko has endeavored to create some of the most technically astute and wonderfully crafted timepieces possible. Launched in 1966, Grand Seiko came out with their own certification, "Grand Seiko Standard." With a daily deviation of between -3/+5 seconds, it was more accurate than Swiss chronometer testing, which was -1/+10 seconds per day. Following this new standard, two even more accurate standards were created, which Grand Seiko decided to bring to life by launching the VFA collection (Very Finely Adjusted) in 1969. Created under highly rigorous conditions and regulated to within -2/+2 seconds per day, these watches were blisteringly accurate for their time and even came with the guarantee of accuracy to within a minute a month for the first two years of ownership - extremely impressive even by today's standards. An important piece of Grand Seiko's original mission, these VFA timepieces are extremely rare on account of their short three-year production run and relatively lengthy life causing them to be lost to the sands of time. Offered here we have a VFA ref. 6185-8000 manufactured in 1968. An exceptionally rare model from the VFA collection made from a palladium-silver alloy with a rare hand-hammered texture along its case edges and bevels along the front edge of its lugs, the ref. 6185-8000 is one of the most celebrated models from within the revered VFA collection. Originally offered with a blue dial, this example’s display has aged to black, in line with the majority of VFA examples that remain. Brand : Grand Seiko Dimensions : 37mm Model : 61GA VFA Movement : Automatic cal. 6185 Reference : 6185-8010 Bracelet : Leather strap Year : Circa 1968 Condition : Good Material : Palladium and silver alloy Included : Watch and box Dial Color : Black THE DIAL Aging from blue to black over the decades, this example's dial perfectly suits the black oxidization that can be seen spotted across its 37mm palladium-silver alloy case. THE CONSTRUCTION Polished across some of its surfaces, and hand-hammered across others, this VFA's angular palladium-silver alloy case is perhaps one of Seiko's most visually interesting and distinctive of the era. TIMING MACHINE READOUT This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.