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

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

The watch combines technical prowess with classic elegance: a silver dial with a fine vertical sunray brush, slender baton indices, and a discreet date and day window (Kanji/English) create a harmonious appearance.

Technical Data

• Reference: 5216-7100
• Serial Number: 40xxxx (October 1974)
• Movement: Caliber 5216A, automatic, 25 jewels, 28,800 A/h, hand-winding and hacking seconds
• Case: Stainless steel, screwed back
• 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)
• Service: Full service in Japan (October 2025)

Design and Background

The Lord Matic Special was part of Seiko's upscale line in 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, hacking seconds, and a quick-set date/day – features that were then only found in Seiko's top models. The designation "Special" indicated finer regulation and higher quality control than 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 series (LM) was introduced in the late 1960s to bridge the gap between standard Seikos and the high-end King Seiko and Grand Seiko models. Especially the "LM Special" models like this 5216-7100 demonstrate how far Seiko extended its commitment to precision and reliability – often with the same manufacturing standards as King Seiko.

The rivalry between Daini and Suwa Seikosha – that is, between the manufacturers of the King and Grand Seiko lines – led to a remarkable surge in innovation. Many technical solutions from the Lord Matic series later directly flowed into Grand Seiko calibers, underscoring their significance in Seiko's watch history.

Condition

Very good overall condition. The case shows only minor signs of wear, the dial is excellently preserved, 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 warranty claims (statutory warranty) is 12 months from delivery.

Note
As this is a used watch, no water resistance can be guaranteed. To protect the movement, the watch should not come into contact with water or moisture.