The automatic movement within the 5606 Lord-Matic - like the serviced 1971 Seiko 5606-7000 "Osaka Prefecture" service award dress automatic here, on its original stainless-steel LM-signed bracelet - was considered by Seiko to be such an excellent movement it would be subsequently re-worked and placed within Seiko's legendary (and quite accurate) Grand Seiko’s.
Of note, on the back of this watch, engravings in Kanji Japanese denote this watch as given to a loyal employee of Japan's Osaka Prefecture Government for 20 years of service.
Japan's Osaka Prefecture
Osaka Prefecture (大阪府, Ōsaka-fu) is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu, with a population of 8,778,035 as of 2022 and a geographic area of 1,905 square kilometres (736 sq mi).
Founded in 1868, Osaka Prefecture has a rich history spanning over 1,400 years as a central economic hub. Originally known as Naniwa, it served as an ancient port and temporary capital. It became a premier commercial center in the 16th century under Toyotomi Hideyoshi and developed as a mercantile power, known as the "kitchen of Japan" during the Edo period. One third of the city was destroyed by American air raids in World War II; however, rapid post-war reconstruction led to massive growth, culminating in hosting Expo '70, the first World's Fair in Asia.
Osaka is one of the most urbanized and economically developed prefectures. A major city of commerce and trade since ancient times, it is today served by three different airports, including Kansai International Airport, with round-the-clock arrivals and departures, and has become an international city visited by over ten million foreign visitors every year.
The modern Osaka Prefecture was formed from the provinces of Settsu, Kawachi, and Izumi, officially incorporated in 1889, with Osaka as the capital and largest city of Osaka Prefecture (and third-largest city in Japan). The prefecture forms the center of the Keihanshin metropolitan area, the second-most-populated urban region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and one of the world's most productive regions by GDP.
Governance in Osaka, as in all 47 prefectures of Japan, takes place in the framework of local autonomy that is guaranteed by chapter 8 of the Constitution and laid out in the Local Autonomy Law. The administration is headed by a governor directly elected by the people every four years in first-past-the-post elections. Legislation, the budget and the approval of personnel appointments, including the vice governors, are handled by the prefectural assembly that is directly elected by the people every four years by single-nontransferable vote.
Political debate in Osaka has in recent years been dominated by the Osaka Metropolis plan, a plan to transform Osaka – similarly to Tokyo – into a to, a metropolitan prefecture in which Osaka city, Sakai city and possibly other municipalities of Ōsaka are dissolved and subdivided into special wards like those of Tokyo city.
Since 2005, Osaka consists of 43 municipalities: 33 cities, nine towns and one village, while according to the 2005 Population Census of Japan, Osaka Prefecture has a population of 8,817,166, an increase of 12,085, or 0.14%, since the Census of year 2000.
Seiko's Lord Matic
The Lord Matic finds its genesis in the Lord Marvel (first made in 1956), with the LM series eventually positioned beneath the King Seiko, but with a sophisticated new automatic movement and high quality case design and finishing.
By 1968, the LM line had greatly increased in popularity and its movement, the 5606, became one of the most ubiquitous Seiko mechanical movements of the time - the 5606 also formed the basis of higher beat variants fitted to many of the automatic King Seiko and Grand Seiko models of the early to mid 1970’s.
Seiko’s Lord Matic’s were produced at the middle of their lineup, price wise, between 1968 and produced through the 1970’s. Of unique note, not only does the Lord Matic 5606 have a hacking feature, it can be wound via both its automatic movement and by hand. As with all 560x automatic movements, care must be taken not to change the day/date between 9 and 3 o'clock positions, as gear damage may result.
This Seiko 5606 comes on its original stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.
1971 Seiko 5606-7000 Lord Matic "Osaka Prefecture" Service Award Dress Automatic
DIAL: Seiko LM-signed starburst silver dial, English and Kanji Japanese day/date at 3 o’clock position are intact and functioning as designed. The day and date quickset works as designed - care should be taken to set this with minute/hour at the six o'clock position to avoid damaged the quickset gear (a known design flaw on the 56 calibre movement). Matching hour, minute, and second hands.
CASE: Stainless-steel razor-sharp mono-bloc case measures 35mm x 41.5mm - thin at a mere 10mm in thickness - with the 5606's automatic movement accessed via the front of this one piece case. Caselines remain sharp, with no evidence of machine polish.
CRYSTAL: Original acrylic crystal, no deep scratches or cracks.
BAND: This LM comes on its original LM-signed stainless-steel bracelet, which will fit up to an approx. 7.75 inch wrist; it also comes with a black, grey, and red nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 23-jewel automatic movement, manufactured in January 1971. Day and date quick set functions work as designed. Although not performed by us, this watch performs as if it has been serviced in last year or two.
CROWN: Unsigned stainless-steel crown.
