{"product_id":"seiko-lord-matic-5606-8050-kaliber-5606a-23-steine-grunes-verlaufszifferblatt-dienstjubilaumsuhr-der-mitsui-gruppe-november-1974-frisch-revidiert","title":"Seiko Lord Matic 5606-8050 – Caliber 5606A, 23 jewels – green gradient dial – Mitsui Group service anniversary watch, November 1974 – freshly serviced","description":"\u003cdiv role=\"feed\"\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv role=\"article\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOn the case back, it says 「勤続30年」 – thirty years of service. Above it, embossed in the center, is the Igeta emblem: a diamond-shaped well frame with the character 三 inside it. The symbol of the Mitsui Group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis watch was not purchased in November 1974; it was presented. Someone had worked at Mitsui for thirty years, and the company expressed its gratitude in the way that was customary in Japan at the time: with a fine watch, engraved and ceremoniously presented.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCounting back, the recipient joined in 1944. That is a remarkable professional life. He began at Mitsui when it was still one of the four major \u003cem\u003ezaibatsu\u003c\/em\u003e – those family conglomerates that dominated the Japanese economy until the end of the war. He witnessed the American occupation administration dismantle these corporations starting in 1946, saw how the successor companies regrouped in the 1950s, and saw the birth of the Mitsui \u003cem\u003ekeiretsu\u003c\/em\u003e. And he was still there when Japan had become the world's second-largest economy in 1974.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eA symbol from the year 1673\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Igeta emblem is one of the oldest continuously used trademarks in Japan. It traces back to Echigoya, which Mitsui Takatoshi opened as a dry goods store in Edo in 1673 – with a revolutionary idea for the time: fixed prices, cash payments, no haggling, and selling even small quantities. Echigoya later became the Mitsukoshi department store, and the trading house became the Mitsui conglomerate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe sign itself combines two elements: 井桁, the square wooden frame of a well, and the character 三 for \"three\" inside it – together a rebus for the name 三井, \"three wells.\" Thus, this case back bears an emblem that was already three hundred years old at the time of the engraving.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor collectors, commemorative watches of this kind are a category of their own. They were built exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, they carry a verifiable date and provenance, and they were generally treated with care. Anyone collecting JDM watches looks specifically for engravings of this nature – and one with the Mitsui symbol belongs to the pieces that are rarely seen on the market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Lord Matic within the Seiko hierarchy\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Lord Matic (LM) series was introduced in 1968 and occupied the upscale middle segment for Seiko: above the Seiko 5, and below the King Seiko and Grand Seiko. It was manufactured at the Suwa factory – the facility that developed the Grand Seiko in parallel, while Daini was responsible for the King Seiko. This internal competition between Suwa and Daini was the driving force that brought Japanese watchmaking of the 1960s and 1970s to a world-class level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTechnically, the Lord Matic benefited directly from this. The caliber 5606 belongs to the 56 movement family – the same architecture upon which the King Seiko caliber 5626 and the Grand Seiko caliber 5646 are built. The Lord Matic ran at a lower frequency and had simpler fine-tuning than its more expensive siblings, but the basic construction is the same. This is why the 5606s are still considered exceptionally robust and watchmaker-friendly today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThat Mitsui chose a Lord Matic for a thirty-year service award fits the picture: not a prestige watch meant for showing off, but a technically serious timepiece that could be worn daily.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Caliber 5606A\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutomatic with auxiliary hand-winding\u003c\/strong\u003e – unlike older Seiko automatic movements, the 5606 can also be wound by hand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eHacking seconds\u003c\/strong\u003e when pulling out the crown, allowing for precision time setting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e23 jewels\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuickset for day and date\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eBilingual day wheel\u003c\/strong\u003e, Japanese and English\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe bilingual version can be seen in the photo: the day of the week is shown as 土 – Saturday – in blue. Seiko color-coded the Sunday in red and the Saturday in blue on their Japanese day wheels, in accordance with the Japanese calendar. A small detail not found on European watches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Dial\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe true showpiece of this watch is the dial: a rich green that transitions from a bright, almost turquoise center to a dark bottle green toward the edges. These gradient dials – known in collector jargon as \u003cem\u003edégradé\u003c\/em\u003e or \u003cem\u003efumé\u003c\/em\u003e – were a huge trend in the mid-1970s, and Seiko implemented them particularly consistently in the Lord Matic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe effect lives through the light. In the shade, the dial looks almost black; under direct light, the bright center opens up and the green glows. It is complemented by applied, faceted baton indices and slender polished hands that provide contrast. The dial is labeled SEIKO, AUTOMATIC, the LM emblem, and \"23 JEWELS,\" with the Suwa factory symbol beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe calendar window at three o'clock is framed by an applied bezel and displays the day and date side-by-side.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTechnically flawless. The watch was professionally serviced by a watchmaker in Japan in the spring\/summer of 2026 – completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and regulated. The automatic winding, manual winding, hacking feature, and quickset for day and date function perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTo be honest: \u003cstrong\u003eThe dial shows a number of small dark spots\u003c\/strong\u003e, distributed across the surface, most noticeable in the upper area and around the hand axis. They are clearly visible in the detailed photos; when worn and viewed from a normal distance, they recede behind the color effect. This is a common aging symptom for gradient dials of these years – the dark peripheral zones are lacquered and are more sensitive than classic sunburst dials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe stainless steel case shows age-appropriate signs of wear; the bezel has a few fine scratches, but the case edges are well-preserved. The crystal has slight signs of use. The case back shows the usual opening marks alongside the engraving; the engraving and stamps are complete and clearly legible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIt is mounted on a black leather strap with crocodile embossing and light stitching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand \/ Line:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seiko, Lord Matic (LM)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eReference:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5606-8050\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial Number:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4N7287\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduction Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 1974\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seiko Caliber 5606A, automatic with hand-winding, 23 jewels, hacking seconds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Suwa Seikosha, Japan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hours, minutes, central seconds, quickset date and day, bilingual day wheel (Japanese\/English)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stainless steel, case back engraved with 「勤続30年」 and the Mitsui Group Igeta emblem\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter (without crown):\u003c\/strong\u003e 36.7 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9.5 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug-to-Lug:\u003c\/strong\u003e 41.8 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug width:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight (incl. strap):\u003c\/strong\u003e 49 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eStrap:\u003c\/strong\u003e black leather strap with crocodile embossing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Acrylic glass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eService:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring\/Summer 2026, Japan – complete disassembly, cleaning, oiling, regulation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor whom\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor collectors who collect Japanese watches not only for the technology but for what they stood for – the engraving makes this watch a dated document of Japanese labor culture. For lovers of 1970s gradient dials, which are rare outside of Japan and particularly rare in green. And for anyone looking for a technically high-quality automatic movement with hand-winding, hacking seconds, and quickset without paying the premium for a King Seiko.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor those who appreciate tangible Japanese economic history, this piece offers documentation, not decoration: a trademark from 1673 on a watch from 1974, presented for thirty years of service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWith a diameter of 36.7 mm and a height of 9.5 mm, it is flat and discreet enough to slip under a shirt cuff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWarranty (used)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a used item. The statute of limitations for defect claims (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNote\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vintage \u0026 JDM (Japan Domestic Market)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54774335734098,"sku":"A488","price":499.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/3908\/0530\/files\/3D8BA04E-F9BF-4358-8EB5-5E00CC6509EF.jpg?v=1789818256","url":"https:\/\/japanese-microbrands.com\/en\/products\/seiko-lord-matic-5606-8050-kaliber-5606a-23-steine-grunes-verlaufszifferblatt-dienstjubilaumsuhr-der-mitsui-gruppe-november-1974-frisch-revidiert","provider":"Japanese Microbrands - Mario Lenke","version":"1.0","type":"link"}