The Seiko Lord Marvel 36000 is renowned for being the first model from the century-old Japanese brand to feature a high-frequency (Hi-beat) movement of 36,000 bph (beats per hour): the manual caliber 5740C, which offers a smooth sweep of the seconds hand and high precision!
Although not the top of the range, the Lord Marvel always featured precise movements and refined finishing, and was aimed at demanding consumers from the rising Japanese middle class in the post-war period (it was a premium line below King Seiko and Grand Seiko). With several versions, the most iconic model is the Lord Marvel 5740-8000, introduced in 1967, with the revolutionary 5740C movement.
It was a consequence of the national mission in the 1960s: to prove that Japan could rival Swiss watchmaking. And the country of the rising sun succeeded, with the Lord Marvel 36000 being part of this effort that would culminate in Seiko's victory in timekeeping competitions in Switzerland. In fact, in 1969, it launched the world's first quartz watch: the Seiko Astron.
This advancement paved the way for the more sophisticated hi-beat calibers that would later appear in Grand Seiko.
This 1968 model features a beautiful dial that has developed a cream-colored patina, giving it greater exclusivity. It has a 35mm diameter steel case, making it an elegant dress watch that symbolizes Japan's technological ambition in the 20th century!