The automatic movement within the 5606 Lord-Matic - like the 1973 Seiko 5606-6029 dress automatic here - 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.
Seiko's 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 very 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.
The Seiko Lord Matic was produced at the middle of Japanese company’s 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, but it can also be wound via both its automatic movement and by hand.
This Seiko 5606 comes on a Seiko-signed stainless-steel bracelet, and with nylon strap, springbar tool, and rugged travel case.
1973 Seiko 5606-6029 Lord Matic Automatic Dress Watch
DIAL: Gorgeous Seiko LM-signed light blue starburst dial. Day/date at the 3 o’clock position works as designed, as - importantly - does the quickset; Kanji Japanese and English day variants. Matching hour, minute, and second "stick" hands.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 35mm (36mm w/crown) x 43mm; caselines are sharp, with no evidence of machine polish.
CRYSTAL: Original domed crystal, no scratches or edge chips.
BAND: This LM comes on a stainlesss-steel bracelet, with Seiko-signed clasp; bracelet will fit up to an approx. eight inch wrist. This LM also comes with a dark blue nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 23-jewel automatic movement, manufactured in June 1973.
CROWN: Unsigned stainless-steel crown.