Seiko Lord Matic

Japanese watchmaking giant Seiko’s output reads like the stuff of a complicated history textbook — or an engaging novel, depending upon one’s point of view.

A web of product lines, multiple, competing factories, war — all is present and accounted for! One thing that’s clear is that the Lord Matic line was introduced in 1968 as a successor to the Lord Marvel line. In contemporary advertising campaigns, Seiko was clearly positioning the collection at working-class men with upward mobility — those who would someday have the means to purchase a King Seiko or a Grand Seiko.

What’s less clear is where the Ukiuo-e watches fit in —  Lord Matic timepieces whose standard dials have been replaced with those featuring beautiful portraits of Edo-period kabuki actors. While some believe that these dials were added at the factory, there seems to be a consensus that they were added by a Japanese retailer (or retailers) as a sales tactic. Copied from commemorative postage stamps celebrating the 175th anniversary of 18th-century artwork, these dials are, regardless, beautiful, intriguing, and perfectly emblematic of multiple disciplines of Japanese artistry. 

This particular Lord Matic ‘Ukiuo-e’ from circa 1976 features a 36mm stainless steel case with an acrylic crystal, a polished, faceted bezel, a stainless steel 'beads-of-rice' bracelet with a signed blade clasp, and Seiko's 5600-series automatic winding movement made in the Suwa factory powering it within (Suwa Seikosha produced Grand Seiko watches while Dani Seikosha produced King Seiko watches, but both produced the Lord Matic line.)

The standout feature of this piece is no doubt the dial with Tōshūsai Sharaku’s colorful ‘Lady Smoking’ along with applied indices and a matching ‘baton’ handset.

This piece is quite simply a beautiful piece of artwork in addition to a handsome, automatic, everyday watch.

Someone else will have the same idea — so dont miss it!

For over 140 years, Seiko has been cranking out innovative and impeccably engineered watches at every price point, from entry-level Seiko 5s to world-class haute horlogerie pieces under the Grand Seiko brand. Underpinning the company’s efforts has been the mass production of reliable and accurate movements paired with a wide array of case and dial configurations.
Founded in 1881 by clockmaker and businessman Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Japan as “K. Hattori,” Seiko began importing Western timepieces and selling them in the local market. In 1892, Hattori changed the name of the firm to Seikosha (“house of exquisite workmanship”), which was further altered to “Seiko” in 1924. Following the Second World War, during which Seiko produced watches for the Japanese military, the company began its streak of innovations based upon affordable, in-house movements and Japanese savoir faire. These included myriad dive watches such as the famed 6105 and the fan-favorite 6139 chronograph.

Later, in 1969, Seiko would go on to produce the Astron, the world’s first quartz watch. This technological innovation was followed by the Seiko Kinetic in the 1980s, which married quartz accuracy with automatic, self-powering functionality. Today, Seiko’s product offerings are vast, including dress watches, dive watches, chronographs and much more, all of which are powered by in-house movements comprising different types of technology.

Despite a move toward luxury positioning and pricing in the brand’s modern offerings, vintage Seiko classics can still be had at incredibly reasonable prices today, making them a favorite entry point into the vintage watch world for myriad collectors. From their availability in post exchanges on military bases around the world to their fame from films such as Apocalypse Now to their presence at six Olympic Games, Seiko watches are deeply ingrained in the consciousness of the contemporary collector.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.