Seiko Lord Matic 5606-7230 Collector's Guide

The green and blue dials do not produce the same watch on the wrist. Emerald green gradient moves from a bright centre to darker edges, while the blue versions range from sunburst and gradient finishes to a visibly textured surface. The coloured finish is the point of this reference, so the better choice is the dial with even colour and intact applied indices rather than the rarer-looking shade with damage.

Every example discussed here dates to 1972 or 1973 and uses the automatic caliber 5606A with 23 jewels. The broader caliber 5606 production window runs from 1968 to 1976, but that window does not date an individual watch. A correct movement supports the reference, while its condition and service history remain separate questions that the caliber designation cannot answer.

The largest premium belongs to an even factory-finished dial beneath a sharply faceted crystal. A refinished dial replaces the colour transition, surface texture and printing that distinguish this reference, while a generic replacement crystal removes the prismatic effect even if it keeps the watch usable. Between two otherwise comparable watches, take the stronger dial and crystal over the brighter case.

Case definition forms the next spread in value. The 5606-7230 uses angular steel geometry, and repeated polishing softens the lines that should frame its faceted crystal. Applied indices and logos must also remain securely seated and visually coherent with the dial. Hand ageing matters less than dial damage, provided corrosion has not spread and the handset still reads as a consistent set.

A redial is the costliest condition problem on the 5606-7230 because it replaces the reference's gradient, sunburst or textured surface rather than merely correcting wear. Crystal damage comes next: abrasion rounds the facet edges and weakens the shifting reflections across the dial. Replacement with a plain crystal changes the character more substantially, even when the new part is clean.

Over-polishing softens the angular case lines, and lost steel cannot be returned during service. Handsets can develop visible ageing even where the dial remains clean, so concentrated corrosion deserves more concern than even colour change. The automatic caliber 5606A must be assessed on its own mechanical state. Where receipts are absent, the service history is unknown, and the 1968-1976 caliber window says nothing about maintenance.