These informations were mainly gathered through my own experience, from watches I actually had in hands. They reflect what I observed and are not the holy truth. Page updated October, 7th 2022 : New examples.
Text & Pictures : D. Broglin – Watch & Vintage
Lord Matic was the mid to high range of automatic watches introduced by Seiko in 1968 and based on the freshly developed 56xx movement. As you might probably know, there was actually two ranges of LM, the one produced by the Suwa factory, based on the 56xx movement and the LM Special introduced a couple of years later by the Daini factory and based on the 52xx movement.
List of all models Seiko Lord Matic (LM)
The first years
It is commonly admitted that the first LMs were introduced in 1968 by Suwa and mostly replaced the Seikomatic range. However, it seems that some models were released as early as December 1967 (ref.).
Until the early 70’s, most models had a rather classical design, the cases were often monobloc ones, meaning you couldn’t access the calibre by the back. At the beginning of the 70’s, the range became more diverse with the introduction of quite excentric models with coloured dials, facetted crystals and sometimes weird cases.
The LM Special models from Daini probably appeared in 1971 and adopted from the start a kind of mixed classical/funky style.
Lord Matic 56xx : movements
The 56xx family is a big and famous range of automatic movements, that equipped not only the Lord Matic but the King (5621, 5625, 5626) and Grand Seiko (5641, 5645, 5646) as well. They all had the stop second and the manual winding feature.
The Lord Matic was available in time-only, date-only or day & date configuration, with respectively the 5601, 5605 and 5606 calibre. The frequency of these movements is 21,600 bph and they had 23 or 25 jewels. The 5606 has a double language day disc, one of the language always being English. The second language can be Kanji, German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Dutch. This system of double language will be then adopted in almost all Seiko movements (6106, 7019, 7009, etc…). The day and date quickset is one of (if not the only) the weaknesses of the calibre. Unfortunately, Seiko had the bad idea to use a plastic transfer wheel which tends to break or unseal from its metal support when you try to set the day or the date between 11 pm and 2 pm. Many, many movements are affected by this issue and replacement parts are rare and expensive.
Lord Matic 56xx : variations
As I wrote earlier, the first models (from 1968 to ca 1970) had a classical design, with white, black or silver dials. All cases were made of stainless steel or were gold plated. Some very rare early models had a 18k solid gold case. The crystal was generally made of glass, glued on a flat bezel surrounding the dial and maintained by a pressed ring, but some models had acrylic crystals as well, especially the ones with shaped cases (oval, squared…).
All Lord Matics had a metal bracelet, with a “LM” embossed clasp. Only the very early models had only “Seiko” embossed on their clasp.
In ca 1970, Seiko started to produce more casual models, following the general trend of the 70’s. There are a lot of variations and it would probably difficult to list them all. The dials could be green, blue, brown, grey, two-toned, with a colour gradient, etc… Only red dials are rare (Seiko didn’t use much that color, I don’t know why…). The crystals were often facetted, with different patterns as well. Finally, the cases could be square, oval, rectangle…
Lord Matic Special 52xx : movements
The 52xx family is a range of automatic movements, that equipped the Lord Matic Special and the King Seiko Special. They all have the stop second and the manual winding feature, their frequency is 28,800 bph.
The LM Special was only available in day & date configuration, with 5206 or 5216 calibre. It has a double language day disc, like the 5606 movement. The day and date quickset is working well and hasn’t the same potential issue than the 56xx.
It is interesting to know that these 52xx movements have been reengineered in the 90’s to lead to the excellent 4S calibre range (4S12, 4S15, etc…) which can be found in the Seiko Alpinist from that period.
Lord Matic Special 52xx : variations
The design of the Lord Matic Special is an association of classical and more excentric elements. All cases were made of stainless steel or were gold plated. They were quite small, they almost never exceed 35 mm in diametre. The crystal is as far as I know always made of glass and is sometimes facetted. The dials can be coloured (blue and green are the most common ones) but is often white or black.
Finally, the cases are generally round but some models had square or rectangle ones.
All LM Special had a metal bracelet, with a “LM” embossed clasp.
Some examples
LM “time-only”, 5601 movement
As far as I know, only a few models have this calibre.
with Arabic numeral markers
LM “date-only”, 5605 movement
LM 5606 movement, classical design
With the day in all letters, at 9 o’clock
One of the first LM models
Rare case, fluted bezel, black dial
LM 5606 movement, the “funky” ones
A quite popular model, available in white, grey, black, light blue, golden, etc…
A rare red dial
The seldom 5100 case with black day & white date at 6 o’clock
LM Special, 5206 and 5216 movement
Special models and successors
Some models were unusual, there is a LM “SilverWave”, water resistant with a screwed crown as all Silverwave have. These ones are very seldom. The LM “De Luxe” from 1975-76 was fitted with the same 5626 movement than the King Seiko.
Many export models didn’t have the LM name on their dials, they had the 5606 movement and the same case references.
More exotic is the Lord Quartz range, which hasn’t much in common with the Lord Matic range and which was produced in the early 80’s.
We can also just say a last word on the Lord Marvel which was the first model to wear the “Lord” name, but that was earlier in the 60’s and this range will be described later.
The LM range will be produced until 1975 and didn’t have any real successor. At that time, quartz was booming and I think that automatic watches weren’t a priority anymore for Seiko.
Finally, in 1975-1976, the 5606 movements had been used in a JDM range, the Seiko Emblem. The Emblem was also available with a quartz movement.
List of all models Seiko Lord Matic (LM)
The LM for sale
There are some 5606-7000 with an without the “AD” letters on the dial after the case model number. What does the “AD” mean? And why aren’t all having these letters?
Dear Alfred,
This point is quite often discussed on the web, AD should stand for “Applique Dial” or “Applied Dial” but the rule is actually not so clear. Some dials don’t have the AD, as you said, but are anyway identical to AD marked ones.
Sono un grande appassionato degli orologi Seiko dopo che ho avuto in regalo da mia madre nel 1973 il mio primo 5 sports 6119-6400 con un bel quadrante orange; inoltre seguo sempre il forum di Manuel Maggioli grande esperto della storia Seiko
Bonjour. Comment réparer une 56xx dont la roue de transfert a cassé ? J’aimerais redonner vie à une 5100 et une 5070 qui ont toutes les deux ce souci…
Bonjour Xavier,
Ce problème est malheureusement récurrent sur les 56xx, la grande majorité des montres souffrent de cette casse. La roue est soit purement et simplement cassée, soit simplement dessertie de la roue métallique inférieure (qui est elle-même entraînée par la rotation de la tige/couronne). Il y a plusieurs possibilités :
– trouver la pièce en prélevant sur une autre 56xx par exemple, qui serait complètement hors d’usage. C’est la méthode que j’emploie le plus souvent.
– un artisan australien propose des roues en métal de substitution, à fixer sur le support de la roue (je n’ai jamais testé)
– si la roue n’est pas cassée mais simplement dessertie, il est possible de la coller à la colle forte à la roue inférieure. Il faut être très méticuleux pour ne pas entraver la rotation de l’ensemble mais cela fonctionne bien.
Et j’aimerais compléter cette réponse par le fait qu’il reste possible de régler le jour et la date indépendamment, même lorsque le réglage rapide est HS. Il faut recourir à la vieille méthode de réglage semi-rapide, comme sur les toutes premières Seiko 5 à calibre Seikosha 410.
Merci pour cette réponse très rapide et claire ! Vous avez le nom de l’artisan australien en question ? Et quelle est donc cette vielle méthode pour régler le jour et la date, du coup ?
Dernière chose, que pensez-vous de la 5100, au delà de sa rareté ?
Il vend notamment sur Ebay : https://www.ebay.fr/itm/294077759576?hash=item4478668058:g:tYgAAOSwwhRg38oL&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsD1rcNGCfAb6CMV3cMhV9oPB5lWX%2FWN91cuxv2dHZYTGT9GukYvS4Y9S85XiXICsT61MPnzs1Y%2FradhIBFAJyNNfHCpo6%2Fa%2F%2Fa%2Fhl%2Bu%2B0sYkGguXi5g1shzhvEY59xlU9Y8e7RAmAuhI85LiipNvfwCE7OhJMWIpa8Xx4WOVACMTRQxt9Q%2B43lx%2Fw%2FmTjoHg8cgFjzhF0%2F8oIOXqjAc4U11WnfuUDM%2BaA70fywvzEzdf%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8qnzuuXYQ
La méthode “à l’ancienne” consiste à faire autant de rotations que nécessaire avec les aiguilles pour atteindre la bonne date. Ensuite, il faut repartir en arrière, jusque 9h et repartir en avant pour passer minuit autant de fois que nécessaire pour afficher le bon jour (la date reste fixe).
Personnellement, j’aime beaucoup, elle est assez unique en son genre. Elle est effectivement très peu courante, je n’en ai eue qu’une en mains ces dernières années…
Waow, merci pour tout ça!
J’ai l’occasion d’en acheter une pour une 50aine d’euros, si je trouve une roue, tant mieux, sinon tant pis, à ce prix-là je ne vais pas me priver !idem pour la 5070!
I have a LM Special ,25 jewel 1971 5206-6030 movement. It has been running fine for trhe alst 2 1/2 weeks of wear, but last night it gained 30 mins overnight!
I had made a change during the day. BUT , is this one of those watches you don’t alter between certian times??? What could have caused the sudden increase in time and what is the remedy please?
Hi Nick,
Generally speaking, when a watch suddenly runs too fast, that means that the hairspring has been spoiled by oil or by some dirt. That makes the hairspring oscillate faster. It is a common issue. The cure is to clean the movement.
Regarding the day or date quickset, no risk of breaking something on this 5206 movement, it is one of the most reliable Seiko ever produced.
David