The vintage Seiko Mickey Mouse Mechanical watch: A collector's item in the making!
Joshua GrilletThe meeting of two powerful worlds
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Walt Disney and watchmaking, a long love story
The first Disney watch was created in 1933 in Connecticut during the Great Depression in the Waterbury Clock Company workshop under license from Ingersoll. And guess what? Mickey sells!
This inexpensive watch saved the watch company from bankruptcy. It sold for $3.25, or about €55 today.
Finally, in 1944, the company became insolvent but was transformed into... Timex Corporation!
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Over time, collaborations have followed one after another with brands such as Bradley, Swatch, Nixon, Gerald Genta, Citizen, Bulova, Invicta, Pulsar, Lorus, and Seiko, to name but a few. Some are successful, but others are exceptional!
Special mention goes to the Gerald Genta Retro Fantasy Mickey Mouse in its Golf version, with its superb mother-of-pearl dial, retrograde jumping hour system, and 36mm steel case. Released in the 1990s, you'll need to spend at least €6,000 for a model like this!
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Rolex, Omega, and Oris watches often feature a “Mickey dial.” It's important to note that these companies have never collaborated with Walt Disney. These dials have been repainted or added to by Filipino or Indian artists. Hats off to them!
The Seiko Disney Time collection from the 1970s
At Seiko's Suwa factories, low-cost watches with common features are subcontracted: a chrome or gold-plated case (3 sizes) and a common movement, the Seiko 50 mechanical hand-wound 7-jewel movement. Among the less exciting customers are the Japanese holding company Tomony and a brand called School Time. Not very exciting. However, one collaboration stands out: Disney.
The history of this range is extremely unclear. Created in the 1970s, it is said that these watches were sold in Tokyo Disneyland souvenir shops. Given that the park opened in 1983, this theory seems rather vague. I think the purpose of this collection was to promote the future opening of the park in Japan. If you have any further information, please don't hesitate to contact me.
These watches were sold exclusively in Japan (Japan Domestic Market) at a price of ¥2,000, or approximately €55 today, like the American Ingersoll version. These surprising pieces were only really discovered in the rest of the world in the 2000s thanks to the internet and e-commerce.
These watches are quite difficult to find. Few have left their homeland, and even fewer are in satisfactory condition.
Mickey: the most common, but probably the easiest to wear.
Minnie : Plutôt courante, c'est une pépite dans sa version plaqué or
Mickey & Minnie: We are entering the realm of very rare Seiko Disney watches, which is a shame given the lack of originality in the hands on this one.
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Bongo, king of the circus
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Bongo & Lulubelle
Winnie the Pooh
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Donald Duke
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King Louie from The Jungle Book
The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland: my holy grail, extremely rare!
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The Seiko MGM Collection
Another collaboration with American cartoon giant MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) and its Tom and Jerry license.
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Conclusion
Some of the watches presented here are available in other colors, and I am sure that not all characters are listed. I don't know about you, but I can easily imagine Daisy Duke, Pluto, or even Goofy versions out there. These pieces are particularly rare and remain mysterious, which makes collecting them even more appealing!
What is your favorite Seiko Disney watch?
*All conversions of vintage prices take inflation into account.
This article is part of an ongoing exploration of vintage watches.
I offer independent analysis and private inspections for collectors.
Have a great time on the website!
Joshua Grillet