Hold your breath, because this isn't just a vintage Seiko; this is a Presidential Award Watch! The meticulously preserved Kanji script on the case back confirms this watch was issued in 1974 by the President of the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (NTT) to a loyal, long-serving employee. Award watches carry an immense amount of historical and human significance, telling a story of dedication and a golden era of Japanese industry, this is the hidden collectible detail that separates a nice watch from a spectacular one!
At its heart is the venerable Seiko Caliber 5606, a 25-jewel automatic movement renowned for its slender profile and sophisticated design. The reason collectors love the 56-series is that it was the foundation for many of the period's King Seiko and Grand Seiko models, making this Lord Matic a technical sibling to Seiko's chronometer-grade watches. This movement features hacking (the seconds hand stops when setting the time) and hand-winding, premium features that were far from common in its class.
The elegance is undeniable, with a clean, silver sunburst dial and razor-sharp, applied hour markers that catch the light with trademark Seiko Grammar of Design brilliance. But here's the crucial warning that only a seasoned collector would offer: the 5606 quick-set date mechanism contains a plastic component that is vulnerable to damage if operated between 9 PM and 4 AM. This knowledge is power: owning a fully functional piece like this means respecting its mechanical vulnerability and treasuring its intact originality. This watch isn't just a perfect dress piece; it's a testament to Suwa Seikosha's golden age of automatic watchmaking.
