Seiko 44-9990
The 44-9990 is the second-generation King Seiko, known as the 44KS, made by Daini Seikosha from about 1965 to 1968. It has no date. Inside is the hand-wound caliber 44A, with 25 jewels, 18,000 bph and hacking seconds. The case has flat, faceted lugs. The dial in these photographs reads KING SEIKO and 25 JEWELS over the Daini mark, with an applied SEIKO, a textured double index at 12, applied batons, dauphine hands and the dial code 44-9990R AD at the bottom edge. The submitter dates this example to November 1967. On any 44-9990, check that the lug facets are still sharp and flat, because polishing is what most often takes value out of these cases.
| Caliber | 44A |
|---|---|
| Years | 1965 to 1968 |
| Line | King Seiko |
| Function | Dress |
| Case size | 36.5mm |
| Lug width | 19mm |
| Factory | Daini |
How do I date a King Seiko 44-9990 from its caseback?
Read the first two digits of the six-digit serial. The first is the last digit of the year and the second is the month, 1 to 9 for January to September and O, N and D for October to December. The year should fall inside the reference's run of roughly 1965 to 1968; the submitter's example is from November 1967.
What movement is inside the King Seiko 44-9990?
The Daini caliber 44A, a 25-jewel hand-wound movement at 18,000 bph with hacking seconds and no date.
