Seiko Lord Matic 5606-5160 – Automatic – Green TV Dial – January 1974 – 25 Jewels – Freshly Serviced

One of the most characteristic Lord-Matic references from the 1970s: an angular TV case, integrated steel bracelet, and a deep green dial with a Japanese day display.

According to the case number 412014, this Seiko Lord Matic Ref. 5606-5160 dates from January 1974.

It belongs to the phase when Seiko began to make its high-end mechanical lines significantly bolder in design. Instead of classic round dress watch proportions, the 5606-5160 received an almost square "TV Case," an integrated steel bracelet, and an intensely green dial.

It is precisely this combination that makes this reference one of the most typical Lord-Matic watches of the early to mid-1970s today.

Lord Matic – Seiko's Upscale Mid-Range

The Lord Matic, or LM for short, was positioned as a premium mechanical model family starting in the late 1960s.

In terms of quality, it was placed significantly above standard everyday Seiko models, without reaching the aspirations and pricing of a King Seiko or Grand Seiko.

That is precisely its appeal today: Lord-Matic watches combined technically sophisticated movements with an enormous range of design variations.

While early LM models remained rather conservative, the cases and dials became increasingly experimental in the 1970s. With its angular TV case and integrated bracelet, the 5606-5160 is one of the best examples of this evolution.

The 5606A Caliber

Inside beats the Seiko caliber 5606A with 25 jewels.

It is a remarkably well-equipped automatic movement. Seiko's technical documentation lists the following for the 5606A:

automatic winding,
auxiliary manual winding,
hacking (seconds stop),
day and date,
bilingual day display
as well as a quick-set for day and date.

The movement runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour and is only 4.25 mm high—an elegant construction for that time.

As such, the Lord Matic offers functions that were by no means a given for a mechanical watch in the early 1970s.

Japanese-English Calendar

At the 3 o'clock position is the combined day/date display.

The photo shows the Japanese weekday 木—the shorthand for 木曜日, Thursday.

The 5606A caliber was generally built with a bilingual day ring; Japanese JDM versions typically feature Japanese and English. Seiko's own technical manual confirms the bilingual switching mechanism.

The Japanese Kanji in the calendar are particularly attractive to European collectors today because they make the watch's JDM character immediately visible.

Dating: January 1974

The case back bears:

SEIKO
WATER RESISTANT
STAINLESS STEEL
5606-5160
412014
JAPAN A

According to the standard Seiko serial number system, this means:

4 = Year ending in 4
1 = January

Since the Ref. 5606-5160 clearly belongs to the 1970s, this results in January 1974 as the plausible production date.

The Green Dial

The true eye-catcher is the deep green dial.

Depending on the lighting, the hue ranges from a vibrant emerald green to a darker green at the edges. Comparable 5606-5160s are explicitly described in the trade as green gradient / emerald green.

In addition, it features:

applied gold-colored baton indices,
matching gold-colored hands,
a gold-framed day/date aperture
and the applied LM logo.

The warm gold tone provides an exceptionally strong contrast to the green.

This gives the watch a much more luxurious look than an ordinary Seiko from this era.

TV Case – Japanese 1970s Design

The stainless steel case features the typical almost square shape of this reference with slightly flared flanks.

Such cases are today mostly referred to as a TV Case—an allusion to the shape of television screens from that era.

The construction feels significantly larger and more present on the wrist than its width alone might suggest.

The integrated steel bracelet is particularly important: case and bracelet form a visual unit, giving the watch a remarkably cohesive and architectural appearance.

This design language is typical for the early 1970s and makes the 5606-5160 much more distinctive today than many classic round Lord-Matic references.

Steel Bracelet

The watch comes with a matching aftermarket stainless steel bracelet.

Additionally, 2 spare links are included, allowing it to be adjusted to a larger wrist circumference.

Freshly Serviced

Another significant advantage of this specimen:

The watch is freshly serviced.

The mechanical movement was professionally serviced in Japan in July 2026, meaning this is not just an unchecked, roughly fifty-year-old automatic watch.

Professional maintenance is particularly relevant for the 5606 caliber, as the complex calendar mechanism in particular can cause problems in long-neglected examples.

Condition

The watch is in an attractive, authentic vintage condition.

The stainless steel case shows age-appropriate signs of wear and minor scratches. The angular case shape remains clearly defined.

The green dial presents itself exceptionally well and possesses the intensive color depth characteristic of this reference.

The steel bracelet also shows typical signs of wear.

The watch is freshly serviced and technically maintained.

Additional bracelet links are included.

The actual condition is shown unretouched in the product photos.

Collector's Appeal

The 5606-5160 combines several features that make it particularly interesting within the Lord-Matic family:

the high-quality caliber 5606A with 25 jewels,
manual winding and hacking seconds,
bilingual day-date calendar,
a striking green gradient dial,
the characteristic TV case
and an integrated steel bracelet.

Added to this for this specific piece are the fresh service and the inclusion of additional bracelet links.

This reference has clearly arrived in the collector's market and is correspondingly sought after.

Technical Data

Brand: Seiko
Model: Lord Matic / LM
Reference: 5606-5160
Serial Number: 412014
Production Date: January 1974
Movement: Seiko 5606A
Winding: Automatic and manual
Jewels: 25 jewels
Frequency: 21,600 bph
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, hacking seconds, weekday, date, quick-set for day and date
Calendar: bilingual, Japanese/English
Case: Stainless steel
Case Shape: TV Case / rectangular
Dial: Green gradient/sunburst dial
Indices and Hands: gold-colored
Bracelet: Stainless steel, model-specific / integrated style
Additional Links: included
Case Back Markings: WATER RESISTANT · STAINLESS STEEL · 5606-5160 · JAPAN A
Origin: Japan
Service: freshly serviced

Warranty (Pre-owned)

This is a pre-owned item. The limitation period for claims for defects under statutory warranty is 12 months from delivery.

Note on Water Resistance

The "WATER RESISTANT" marking on the case back refers to the original manufacturer's specification when new.

Due to the age of the watch, current water resistance cannot be guaranteed.

To protect the movement and calendar mechanism, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.