Seiko Lord Matic 5606-7012 – January 1974 – Cal. 5606, 23 Jewels – Original Band – Serviced

Technically, the Lord Matic sits just below King Seiko and Grand Seiko – and this example from January 1974 is from the late production phase, when the series had found its form.

The case back is embossed with SEIKO, WATER RESISTANT, the serial number 413193, JAPAN E, the reference 5606-7012, and STAINLESS STEEL.

The Lord Matic in the Seiko lineup

Seiko introduced the Lord Matic in 1968 to bridge the gap between the everyday Seiko 5 and the prestige lines King Seiko and Grand Seiko. The claim was "everyday luxury": a technically sophisticated automatic movement in a flat, understated case, built for daily wear and not for display.

The 23-jewel caliber 5606 is one of the best Seiko ever made in this class. It offers automatic and manual winding, a hacking seconds feature, and quick-set day and date – features that were not standard even in Swiss watches of this price range at the time. The 56 platform is technically closely related to the King Seiko caliber 56KS.

The day display is bilingual, switching between Japanese Kanji and English abbreviations – a detail that highlights the JDM character of the watch and that cannot be found on a European watch of these years.

Design

The dial is a light champagne tone and has uniformly aged to a warm patina over the years. Slim, applied baton indices with polished flanks sit on it; the minute track on the edge is finely dashed and runs around a slightly offset ring.

At 4 o'clock sits the diagonally cut double window for day and date – the typical arrangement for this case family, which gives the otherwise symmetrical dial a deliberate offset. The day appears here in Japanese characters. Below the 12 are the Seiko lettering, the LM signature, and the inscription 23 JEWELS.

The flat stainless steel case measures 36.6 millimeters without the crown, with a height of 10.2 millimeters and a lug-to-lug distance of 42 millimeters – proportions that make a vintage watch perfectly suitable for everyday wear even today.

The watch comes with its original Seiko steel bracelet with the original, LM-signed folding clasp. This fully preserves the overall impression from its original period – a point that is becoming increasingly rare with vintage watches, as the original bracelets have usually long since been replaced.

Dating

The serial number 413193 dates the watch to January 1974 according to the usual Seiko system. The first digit indicates the year, the second the month.

Condition and Service

The watch was completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and regulated by a watchmaker in Japan in February 2026.

The dial is in very good condition: evenly toned, without spots or detachments, all indices are firmly in place. The hands are complete and undamaged. Day and date are clean in the window and switch correctly.

The crystal is clear and shows no distracting scratches. The case shows age-appropriate signs of wear and polishing. The case back is scratched; all engravings including reference and serial number remain fully legible. The crown is firm and operates smoothly. The original steel bracelet is complete and in good condition with minor signs of wear on the links; the LM-signed folding clasp closes securely.

The actual condition is shown unretouched in the product photos.

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Seiko
• Model: Lord Matic
• Reference: 5606-7012
• Serial Number: 413193
• Date of Manufacture: January 1974
• Movement: Seiko Caliber 5606, Automatic with manual winding
• Jewels: 23 Jewels
• Functions: Hour, Minute, Central Seconds, Hacking Seconds, Day (bilingual), Date
• Case: Stainless steel
• Diameter without crown: 36.6 mm
• Height: 10.2 mm
• Lug-to-Lug: 42 mm
• Lug Width: 18 mm
• Weight including strap: 78 g
• Dial: Champagne-colored with applied baton indices
• Bracelet: Original Seiko steel bracelet with original LM clasp
• Origin: Japan
• Service: February 2026, complete overhaul in Japan

For whom?

For buyers who want to wear a vintage automatic daily and value it being serviced. For collectors of Japanese domestic market variants with Kanji day wheels. And for all who appreciate the technology of the King Seiko but don't want to pay its price.

Warranty (used)

This is a used item. The limitation period for warranty claims under statutory warranty is 12 months from delivery.

Note on Water Resistance

The original "Water Resistant" marking refers to the watch's new condition. Due to its age, no current water resistance is guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.