Seiko 5606-7000
The 5606-7000 is a Lord Matic from Suwa, introduced in 1968. It has a monocoque case with no opening caseback: the back reads OPEN THRU GLASS, PUSH SET LEVER, PULL STEM, so the movement comes out through the front. The 5606 is an automatic at 21,600 bph with day-date, and the examples here are the 23-jewel version, with LORD MATIC and 23 JEWELS on the dial. Lugs are 19mm, an awkward size for replacement bracelets. The known weak point is the plastic quickset wheel for the day-date, which cracks with age and stops the quickset working, so test both day and date before buying. The caseback serial 996587 dates the submitter's example to September 1969, matching the caption.
| Caliber | 5606 |
|---|---|
| Years | 1968 to present |
| Line | Lord Matic |
| Function | Dress |
| Case size | 36mm |
| Lug width | 19mm |
| Crystal | Acrylic |
| Factory | Suwa |
What commonly fails on the Seiko 5606 movement?
The plastic quickset star wheel for the day-date cracks with age. When it breaks the quickset stops working. Metal replacement wheels are made for it, so a broken quickset is fixable, but it should come off the asking price.
How do you open the case of a 5606-7000?
The 5606-7000 features a monocoque (one-piece) case, meaning there is no removable caseback. A watchmaker must access the movement by removing the bezel and crystal from the front of the watch.
