Seikos in September #6: 1968 Seiko Lord Matic 5606-7000

With the growing popularity of self-winding wristwatches in the 1960s as the impetus, Seiko came up with wristwatch models that emphasized their automatic movement. Seiko created models such as the Sportsmatic, which we posted in two previous Timepieces features, and our featured Seiko this Sunday, September 6, 2026 – a 1968 Lord Matic 5606-7000.

It can be surmised that the Lord Matic (LM) series was a self-winding ode to Seiko’s manual-wind Lord Marvel premium watches. The LM series was similarly regarded as a premium watch, especially in the Japanese domestic market. In fact, our particular LM 5606-7000 was used as a commemorative gift to a deserving employee of the Japan National Railway, as evidenced by the Kanji engraving at its case back.

The 36 mm gold-plated case of our ’68 JNR-commemorative LM houses a 23-jewel Seiko 5606A movement that powers a sweeping second hand around the sunburst white dial. Gold-plated dauphine hour and minute hands point to gold-plated indices to keep track of time, while a small rectangular window with gold-plated borders keeps track of the date and the day in English or Kanji.

Only 10mm thin and with a lug-to-lug length of around 41 mm, the LM is often worn as a dress watch since it fits easily under the cuff of a formal shirt. At a featherweight 36 grams, the LM is also light and very easy to wear. Our ’68 LM was paired with a simple black textured leather strap, which makes it look even dressier.

We don’t know exactly how this commemorative wristwatch was handed down from a deserving JNR employee to watch traders and collectors in between before we got our hands on it. All we know is that we are proud to be the current steward of this 58-year-old commemorative timepiece.

Model: Seiko Lord Matic

Reference No. 5606-7000

Year of Manufacture: 1968

Type: Dress/Casual Watch/ National Railway Commemorative Edition

Movement: Self-Winding/Automatic

Caliber: Seiko 5606

No. of Jewels: 23

Diameter: 36 mm

Thickness: 10 mm

Lug-to-lug Length: 40.8 mm

Lug Width: 18 mm

Weight: 36 grams