Seiko Lord Matic Special – Ref. 5216-7100 (January 1974, Japan)

This elegant Seiko Lord Matic Special , reference 5216-7100 , dates from January 1974 and was completely disassembled, cleaned and professionally overhauled in Japan in October 2025 .

The watch combines technical expertise with classic elegance: A silver dial with a fine vertical sunburst finish, slim baton indices and a discreet date and day window (Kanji/English) create a harmonious appearance.

Technical data

• Reference: 5216-7100
• Serial number: 40xxxx (January 1974)
• Movement: Caliber 5216A , automatic, 25 jewels, 28,800 A/h, manual winding and stop-seconds function
• Housing: Stainless steel, screwed-on base
• Diameter: approx. 36 mm
• Lug-to-lug: 39.2 mm
• Height: 9.9 mm
• Lug width: 18 mm
• Strap: New black leather strap (total weight 50 g)
• Revision: Full revision in Japan (October 2025)

Design and background

The Lord Matic Special was part of the high-end Seiko line of the 1970s, developed by the Daini Seikosha factory , which worked in parallel with the Suwa factory (responsible for Grand Seiko).

The Caliber 5216A is technically sophisticated: it offers both automatic and manual winding, a hacking seconds function, and a quick-set date/day function – features that at the time were only found in Seiko's top-of-the-line models. The designation "Special" signified finer regulation and higher quality control than the standard Lord-Matic models.

The design is clearly inspired by the “Grammar of Design” philosophy developed by Taro Tanaka : geometrically precise lines, sharp edges, polished surfaces and clear legibility.

Historical context

The Lord Matic (LM) series was introduced in the late 1960s to bridge the gap between standard Seikos and the high-end King Seiko and Grand Seiko models. The "LM Special" models, such as this 5216-7100 , demonstrate how far Seiko extended its commitment to precision and reliability – often using the same manufacturing standards as King Seiko.

The rivalry between Daini and Suwa Seikosha – the manufacturers of the King and Grand Seiko lines, respectively – led to a remarkable surge of innovation. Many technical solutions from the Lord Matic series were later directly incorporated into Grand Seiko calibers, underscoring their importance to Seiko's watchmaking history.

Condition

Excellent overall condition. The case shows only minor signs of wear, the dial is in superb condition, as are the hands and indices. The movement runs precisely and was fully serviced in Japan in 2025. New, high-quality leather strap.

Warranty (used)
This is a used item. The limitation period for claims based on defects (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.

Notice
As this is a pre-owned watch, water resistance cannot be guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.