{"product_id":"seiko-lord-matic-special-5206-6020-kaliber-5206-23-steine-daini-seikosha-anthrazitfarbenes-zifferblatt-april-1971-frisch-revidiert","title":"Seiko Lord Matic Special 5206-6020 – Caliber 5206, 23 jewels, Daini Seikosha – anthracite dial – April 1971 – freshly serviced","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMany are familiar with the Lord Matic. Few realize it was produced in two entirely independent constructions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eOn the dial of this watch, below the \u003cem\u003e23 JEWELS\u003c\/em\u003e specification, is a small \u003cstrong\u003elightning bolt\u003c\/strong\u003e. The same bolt appears on the case back. It signifies that this movement was made by \u003cstrong\u003eDaini Seikosha\u003c\/strong\u003e in Tokyo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe standard Lord Matic with the 5606 caliber features a swirl in the same spot – the logo of the Suwa factory in Nagano. Two factories, two calibers, one model name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCompetition in-house\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor decades, Seiko maintained two completely separate production arms that competed against each other. Corporate management explicitly encouraged this: whoever built the better movement won the contract. Suwa brought out the first Grand Seiko in 1960, Daini responded in 1961 with the first King Seiko; over fifteen years, this evolved into one of the most productive rivalries in horological history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWith the Lord Matic, this competition extended to the level of the model line itself. Seiko assigned the same name to both movements and let them develop their own solutions: Suwa the 5606 caliber, Daini the 5206 caliber.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Daini version carried the additional \u003cstrong\u003e\"Special\"\u003c\/strong\u003e designation – the more highly regulated variant within the series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor collectors, that is the point. Four out of five Lord Matics offered today are Suwa 5606s. The Daini Special is the rarer side of the same series, and it costs barely more. Anyone who places both side by side has the Seiko factory rivalry represented in a single model series.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--h3--\u003e\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe Dial\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe tone is a deep, cool anthracite with a fine radial sunburst finish that runs from the center outwards. Depending on how the light hits it, the surface shifts between a bright tin-gray and an almost black dark – in the shade, the watch appears serious and reserved; under direct light, the gray opens up and becomes vibrant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eGray dials were the rarer choice for Seiko in the early 1970s; the majority of Lord Matics were silver. Compared to a colored dial, gray has the advantage of matching everything without appearing mundane.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe hour markers are applied, faceted batons with polished flanks and sharply defined edges; at twelve o'clock, they are executed as a double index. They are the only bright point on an otherwise dark surface and carry the contrast alone. Complementing these are slim polished hands and a fine center-sweep seconds hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe dial is sparsely labeled: \u003cem\u003eSEIKO AUTOMATIC\u003c\/em\u003e at the top, \u003cem\u003eLM Special \/ 23 JEWELS\u003c\/em\u003e with the Daini lightning bolt at the bottom. Circling the perimeter is a fine minute track on a slightly recessed ring. The calendar window at three o'clock is framed with an applied border.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--h3--\u003e\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe 5206 Caliber\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAutomatic with auxiliary manual winding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eHacking seconds\u003c\/strong\u003e when the crown is pulled – setting the time to the exact second\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e23 jewels\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick-set 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\u003cli\u003eManufactured by \u003cstrong\u003eDaini Seikosha\u003c\/strong\u003e, Tokyo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe bilingual day wheel follows the Japanese calendar convention: Sunday in red, Saturday in blue. In the photo, it shows Thursday 木 – a detail not found on European watches that reveals the watch's origin at a glance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe feature list was remarkably comprehensive in 1971. Many European automatic movements in the same price range offered neither manual winding nor hacking seconds; the combination of both, plus a quick-set for day and date, clearly set a watch apart from the entry-level class in the Japanese catalog.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--h3--\u003e\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCase\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe 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, a flat-polished bezel. Tanaka's principle was that every surface should reflect light in a defined direction – which only works as long as the edges remain crisp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eWith a diameter of 34.7 mm and only \u003cstrong\u003e39 mm lug-to-lug\u003c\/strong\u003e and 9.6 mm in height, the watch is exceptionally compact. It is therefore the smallest and flattest Lord Matic in this series – dimensions that are hard to find today and which sit cleanly even on slender wrists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe crystal is a mineral glass, which is more scratch-resistant than the acrylic crystals also common at Seiko during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--h3--\u003e\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTechnically flawless. The watch was professionally serviced in Japan in the spring\/summer of 2026 – completely disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and regulated. Automatic winding, manual winding, hacking seconds, and the day\/date quick-set all function perfectly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe dial is well-preserved: the sunburst finish is even throughout, without spots, fading, or discoloration. The lettering is complete and sharp, the applied indices are secure and free of corrosion, and the calendar frame is intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe stainless steel case shows age-appropriate signs of wear, more noticeably in places on the bezel edge. The surface transitions are preserved; the watch has not been over-polished. The case back shows the usual fine scratches from opening and wearing; all engravings – reference 5206-6020, serial number 143401, Daini lightning bolt – are complete and clearly legible. The mineral glass is clear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMounted is a third-party stainless steel bracelet; it is not the original Seiko band.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c!--h3--\u003e\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand \/ Line:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seiko, Lord Matic Special (LM Special)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eReference:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5206-6020\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eSerial number:\u003c\/strong\u003e 143401\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eProduction date:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 1971\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eMovement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Seiko caliber 5206, automatic with manual wind, 23 jewels, hacking seconds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Daini Seikosha, Japan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eFunctions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hours, minutes, center seconds, day and date with quick-set, bilingual day wheel (Japanese\/English)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase:\u003c\/strong\u003e Stainless steel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrystal:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mineral glass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiameter (without crown):\u003c\/strong\u003e 34.7 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9.6 mm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eLug-to-Lug:\u003c\/strong\u003e 39 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. bracelet):\u003c\/strong\u003e 72 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eBracelet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Third-party stainless steel bracelet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\u003cli\u003e\n\n\u003cstrong\u003eService:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring\/Summer 2026, Japan – full disassembly, cleaning, oiling, regulation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\n\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003c!--h3--\u003e\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor whom\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor collectors who want to fully represent the Seiko movement rivalry. Those who already own a Lord Matic with the Suwa 5606 caliber can acquire the Daini counterpart here – the same series, a different movement, a different mark on the dial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFor everyone looking for a dark dial that isn't black. Anthracite with a sunburst finish behaves completely differently in light than a matte black and is suitable for many more occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eAnd for slender wrists: 34.7 mm in diameter with 39 mm lug-to-lug and 9.6 mm height are dimensions that are virtually no longer manufactured today. This watch wears unobtrusively and disappears under a shirt sleeve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWarranty (used)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a used item. The limitation period for claims for defects (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.\u003c\/p\u003e\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","brand":"Vintage \u0026 JDM (Japan Domestic Market)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54782186815826,"sku":"A493","price":499.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0911\/3908\/0530\/files\/2E0B2EE8-E49A-4C4E-B2E8-35FC65ED9886.jpg?v=1789900164","url":"https:\/\/japanese-microbrands.com\/en\/products\/seiko-lord-matic-special-5206-6020-kaliber-5206-23-steine-daini-seikosha-anthrazitfarbenes-zifferblatt-april-1971-frisch-revidiert","provider":"Japanese Microbrands - Mario Lenke","version":"1.0","type":"link"}