Nine facets.
Not three, as on the well-known faceted Seiko crystals of the early 1970s, but nine. The edge of this crystal is divided into nine circumferential facets, each inclined at its own angle toward the center.
You only truly see what this means when you turn the watch in your hand: nine distinct bands of light run around the dial, each at its own speed, depending on the angle at which each facet catches the light. With a dark blue dial that already interacts with light itself, this creates an effect one would hardly expect from a watch in this price range.
It cannot be captured in a photograph. You have to see it.
On the crystal, quite frankly
These crystals are no longer available today. A damaged nine-faceted crystal can only be replaced with a standard round crystal—and with that, the watch loses exactly what makes it special. With this reference, the condition of the crystal is therefore not a side issue, but the single most important factor in its value.
Hence a word on expectations: an original crystal that has been worn for over fifty years is not flawless. Fine signs of wear are part of its character. What is decisive is that the edges of the facets are sharp and the surfaces are complete—and they are.
The Lord Matic in the Seiko hierarchy
The Lord Matic (LM) series was introduced in 1968 and occupied the upscale middle segment at Seiko: above the Seiko 5, but below King Seiko and Grand Seiko. It was produced in the Suwa factory—the same factory that developed the Grand Seiko in parallel, while Daini was responsible for King Seiko. This internal competition between Suwa and Daini was the engine that brought Japanese watchmaking of the 1960s and 1970s to a world-class level.
Technically, the Lord Matic benefited directly from this. The caliber 5606 belongs to the 56-series family—the same architecture upon which the King Seiko caliber 5626 and the Grand Seiko caliber 5646 are based. The Lord Matic ran at a lower frequency and with a simpler fine adjustment than its more expensive siblings, but the fundamental construction is identical.
The fact that Seiko graced this mid-range line with a nine-faceted crystal in 1972 says a lot about the standards of those years. Faceted crystals were a design element that Seiko also used on select Grand Seiko references.
The caliber 5606
- Automatic with additional manual winding – unlike older Seiko automatic movements, the 5606 can also be wound by hand
- Hacking seconds when the crown is pulled out, allowing for second-accurate setting
- 25 jewels as indicated on the dial
- Quick-set for day and date
- Bilingual day wheel, Japanese and English
The bilingual execution follows the Japanese calendar convention: Sunday in red, Saturday in blue. In the photo, Saturday 土 is shown in blue—a detail not found on European watches that reveals the watch's origin at a glance.
Dial and case
The dial is finished in a deep blue that transitions from a lighter center outward to almost black. In the shade, it looks dark and understated; in direct light, the center opens up and the blue glows.
The hour markers are applied, faceted batons with polished flanks; executed as a double index at twelve o'clock. Next to each index sits a small luminous dot. Added to this are broad polished hands and a fine center-sweep seconds hand.
The dial is labeled with the applied SEIKO logo at the top and the LM signet with 25 JEWELS and the Suwa factory mark at the bottom. The calendar window at three o'clock is enclosed with an applied frame.
The stainless steel case follows the design language that Taro Tanaka formulated at Seiko as the "Grammar of Design": flat, sharply defined surfaces instead of rounded transitions, angular lugs, and a flat-polished bezel. The faceted crystal continues this principle on the upper side.
With a diameter of 37.3 mm and a lug-to-lug of only 41.4 mm, the watch is compactly proportioned; the 12 mm height is largely due to the curvature of the faceted crystal.
The original bracelet
Mounted is the original Seiko steel bracelet that belongs to this reference: broad, longitudinally brushed links with polished connections in between, in a style that Seiko used for its high-end lines in the early 1970s.
This is remarkable because these bracelets were the first things to wear out and be replaced. The vast majority of Lord Matics offered today wear aftermarket straps. A preserved original bracelet contributes significantly to the integrity of the watch—and it is nearly impossible to source separately anymore.
Condition
Technically perfect. The watch was professionally serviced in Japan in the spring/summer of 2026—completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and regulated. The automatic winding, manual winding, hacking seconds, and quick-set for day and date function perfectly.
The nine-faceted crystal is original; the edges of the facets are sharp and the surfaces are complete. Fine, age-appropriate signs of use are present.
The dial is well preserved: the color gradient is even, the lettering is complete and sharp, the applied indices are firm and without corrosion, and the calendar frame is intact. The luminous dots next to the indices have darkened due to age and no longer glow—this is the norm for watches of this period.
The stainless steel case shows age-appropriate traces of wear; the transitions between surfaces and edges are preserved, and the watch has not been over-polished. The case back shows the usual fine scratches from opening and wearing; all engravings—reference 5606-7230, serial number, Suwa mark—are complete and clearly legible.
The original bracelet shows signs of wear on the edges of the links but is complete and functional.
Technical specifications
- Brand / Line: Seiko, Lord Matic (LM)
- Reference: 5606-7230
- Serial number: 282519
- Production date: August 1972
- Movement: Seiko caliber 5606, automatic with manual winding, 25 jewels, hacking seconds
- Manufacturer: Suwa Seikosha, Japan
- Functions: Hours, minutes, center seconds, day and date with quick-set, bilingual day wheel (Japanese/English)
- Case: Stainless steel
- Crystal: Original nine-faceted crystal
- Diameter (without crown): 37.3 mm
- Height: 12 mm
- Lug-to-lug: 41.4 mm
- Lug width: 19 mm
- Weight (incl. bracelet): 86 g
- Bracelet: Original Seiko steel bracelet
- Service: Spring/summer 2026, Japan – complete disassembly, cleaning, oiling, regulation
For whom
For anyone who has seen what a faceted crystal does with light—and has yet to encounter nine facets. This is hardly found on any other watch, and it is rare to find such examples with an undamaged original crystal anymore.
For collectors looking for complete watches. Original crystal and original bracelet together on a fifty-year-old Lord Matic—this is the condition one usually only reaches after a long search and two separate purchases.
For lovers of blue dials. The transition into the dark makes the watch two different watches depending on the light.
And for anyone looking for a technically fully equipped automatic movement with manual winding, hacking seconds, and quick-set, without paying the surcharge for a King Seiko—all with the same movement architecture.
Warranty (pre-owned)
This is a pre-owned item. The limitation period for claims for defects (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.
Note
As this is a vintage watch, water resistance cannot be guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.
