The Seiko 7016 “Five Hands” - like the full-serviced 1973 Seiko 7016-8001 automatic chronograph here - got its nickname for its unique number of hands, namely - you guessed it - five hands total: the usual hour and minute hands, but also a large chronograph seconds hand and also, on the subdial, chronograph minute (red) and hour (white) hands.
As noted by GQ Magazine, "The race to produce the first automatic chronograph is well-documented: Seiko was the first to get its effort to market with the Seiko 6139 SpeedTimer. It is noteworthy, however, that by 1972 Seiko actually had three automatic chronograph movements to choose from and these were not just upgrades..."
"The 7016 movement appeared in a number of case designs, the most identifiable and sought after being the square-cased ‘Monaco.’ Depending on your taste and personal flamboyance, there will be a dial option to suit...be prepared to pay more for a good running example."
Although the 7016 appears to be rather similar to the 6139, with day/date windows, a central chronograph seconds hand and a chronograph sub-dial at 6 o’clock. The six o’clock register is both an hour and a minute counter with a co-axial display as found on Patek Philippe’s 2006 5960P, with a sweeping minute counter. It also arrived to the market two years later than the 6139, with both featuring a similar single-register 30-minute layout.
Although similar to the 6139 series, the 701x series was arguably the more technically advanced of the chronograph movements. A rather unique aspect of the 7016 - not possessed by the 6139 - is the flyback chronograph, which allows the user to reset the chronograph function without resetting the time completely. Although similar to that found on Citizen’s 8110, the flyback ability is also highly rare on Seiko watches. Unlike many other Seiko watches, the 7016 actually is rare.
The 7016A movement is based on the Seiko calibre 7005, and when Seiko released the 7016A in 1971 it was the world´s thinnest (6.4mm high) automatic movement (it kept the title until 1987). An interesting sidenote, the Swiss company Enicar sold a watch named the "Enicar Mantagraph" in the 1970s - and it was equipped with the 7016A movement from Seiko, and included the same case.
To sum up, the 7016 offers quick-set day and date in two languages, flyback chronograph and co-axial sweeping hour and minute recorders - but wait, there's more...the 701x series was the thinnest vertical clutch column wheel chronograph during a portion of the 1970’s, existing from 1970 through ’77. The movement has a diameter of approximately 27mm and is only an astounding 6.4mm tall, significantly thinner than the 6139.
This Seiko 7016 comes on a leather rally strap, and with nylon strap, rugged travel case, and springbar tool.
1973 Seiko 7016-8001 "Five Hands" Automatic Chronograph
DIAL: Crisp white Seiko-signed dial, w/black minute subdial; correct minute, hour and chronograph hands on main and subdial. Day/date – with Roman numeral/English day variants – at 3 o’clock position works nicely. Lume plots shine following exposure to strong light.
CASE: Stainless-steel case measures 38mm x 42.5mm, with strong caselines and no evidence of machine polishing.
CRYSTAL: Correct square acrylic crystal, no scratches.
BAND: The Seiko 7016 comes on a brown leather rally strap; it also comes with a black nylon strap.
MOVEMENT: Seiko 21-jewel 7016 automatic movement, manufactured in January 1973. All three flyback chronograph hands function (and reset) as designed. We have performed a full service on this Seiko 7016.
CROWN: Recessed unsigned stainless-steel crown.
CHRONOGRAPH PUSHERS: Chronograph pushers depress with satisfying click – no sticking. Chronograph main and subdial hands reset as designed to zero.