Seiko Seikomatic Diashock 17 jewels vintage automatic mechanical watch from September 1960

SEIKO vintage mechanical watch
MADE IN JAPAN

“Seiko” (精工) is a Japanese word meaning “precision,” “exquisite workmanship,” or “refined craftsmanship.”
It comes from the characters:

• 精 (sei) – fine, precise, refined

• 工 (ko) – craft, workmanship

Originally, Seiko’s watchmaking division was called Seikosha (精工舎), meaning “House of Precision.”
In 1924 the company shortened the name to Seiko, keeping the core meaning.

So the brand name literally ties directly to the idea of precision engineering—which is exactly what the company wanted to be known for in its watches.

🕰️ Seiko Seikomatic line overview

The Seiko Seikomatic line was a flagship series of high-quality automatic watches produced primarily throughout the 1960s. It represented Seiko’s transition into the modern era of self-winding timepieces, bridging the gap between everyday watches and the ultra-luxury Grand Seiko line.

The Seikomatic Line: The “Business Class” Ancestor

Seikomatic was designed for the “modern business professional” of the 1960s. Its most iconic design choice was the recessed crown at the 4 o’clock position. Because the movement was so efficient at self-winding, Seiko believed the wearer rarely needed to use the crown, so they tucked it away to create a sleek, “crownless” silhouette that wouldn’t snag on shirt cuffs.

• The Name: It’s a portmanteau of “Seiko” and “Automatic.” At the time, automatic winding was a high-tech feature, so Seiko branded these watches to highlight that they didn’t need manual winding.

• The Design Philosophy: Seikomatics were designed for the “New Lifestyle” of the 1960s—aimed at office workers and professionals. They were known for having no visible crown (the crown was often tucked away at the 4 o’clock position) to emphasize that the watch was fully automatic and didn’t need to be touched.

• The “Weekdater”: The most famous Seikomatic is the “Weekdater,” which featured a full day-of-the-week window, usually at the 6 o’clock position. This was a massive status symbol for business people in the ’60s.

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Stunning Seikomatic Diashock 17 Jewels (Reference J14064D) from the early 1960s, a pivotal era when Seiko was asserting itself as a world-class watchmaker.

This model is a “three-hander” (hours, minutes, and seconds), prized by collectors for its clean, symmetrical, and “pure” aesthetic.

1. The Movement: Caliber 603

This was one of Seiko’s first high-quality, in-house automatic movements designed for the “upper mid-range” market.

• The “Magic Lever”: This watch features Seiko’s famous “Magic Lever” system. It allows the watch to wind itself regardless of which direction the internal weight (rotor) spins, making it incredibly efficient.

• 17 Jewels: These are synthetic rubies used as bearings to reduce friction. In this era, 17 jewels was the industry standard for a high-quality, fully jeweled movement.

• Diashock: This is Seiko’s proprietary shock-protection system for the balance wheel (the “heart” of the watch). It helps the watch survive accidental drops by cushioning the delicate pivots.

2. Design & Aesthetics

• The “Hidden” Crown: You’ll notice the crown is tucked away at the 4 o’clock position and almost flush with the case. Seiko did this intentionally to signal that the watch is automatic—it’s so efficient you shouldn’t need to wind it by hand, so the crown is “hidden” to keep the lines of the case sleek.

• The Dial: The “SD” (Special Dial) logo—often a small star-like symbol or specific font—usually indicates that the hour markers are made of solid gold or are high-quality applied indices rather than just printed.

• Case Material:  EGP (Electro Gold Plated) 20microns and a stainless steel back. The “D” suffix in the reference points to a specific dial/case combination intended for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM).

Reference: J14064D
Model: Seikomatic Diashock
Movement: Seikosha Caliber 603
Production: 1960s
Case: 35.5mm
Thickness: 10.5mm
Lug to lug: 42mm
LUG WIDTH 19mm
TYPE  Mechanical, self winding (via “Magic Lever” system for highly efficient winding)
FUNCTIONS Hours, Minutes, Seconds

Watch went through a complete service by a professional watch tech and keeps good time.

Comes with leather strap included included.

(*)Note: Stock bracelets are often shortened by previous owners and may not fit you(see bracelet size in the product images). We recommend adding a new Seiko lug width matched leather strap with your order.

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Seiko Group Corporation (セイコーグループ株式会社, Seikō Gurūpu kabushiki gaisha), commonly known as Seiko, is a Japanese maker of watches, clocks, electronic devices, and semiconductors. Founded in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori in Tokyo, Seiko introduced the world’s first commercial quartz wristwatch in 1969.

Seiko is widely known for its wristwatches. Seiko and Rolex are the only two watch companies considered to be vertically integrated. Seiko is able to design and develop all the components of a watch, as well as assemble, adjust, inspect and ship them in-house. Seiko’s mechanical watches consist of approximately 200 parts, and the company has the technology and production facilities to design and manufacture all of these parts internally.

Seiko offers one of the widest ranges of watch technologies in the world—quartz, kinetic, solar, mechanical, and Spring Drive—spanning everything from affordable everyday pieces to six-figure haute horlogerie. Over the decades it has launched multiple global brands, including Lorus, Pulsar, and Alba, while elevating its prestige through innovations like Spring Drive, which helped push Seiko into higher-end territory. In the 2010s, Grand Seiko and Credor were separated into fully independent luxury brands, while Seiko’s own global lineup now includes Grand Seiko, King Seiko, Prospex, Astron, Presage, and Seiko 5 Sports, with Credor remaining primarily Japan-focused.

Among Seiko’s key lines, Seiko 5 (born in 1963) is the gateway mechanical series known for durability and value; Lord Matic defined 1970s style with faceted crystals and colorful dials; Astron remains Seiko’s flagship GPS-solar tech line; Presage focuses on traditional mechanical craftsmanship with enamel and urushi dials; and Prospex delivers professional-grade dive, field, and pilot watches often embraced by enthusiasts. At the top end, Grand Seiko emphasizes precision, Zaratsu polished design, and movements like Spring Drive, while King Seiko—revived in the 2020s—brings back sharp, elegant 1960s styling with modern calibres.

Finally, Credor represents Seiko’s pinnacle of artisanal watchmaking, producing low-volume pieces in precious metals and showcasing Japanese decorative arts and haute complications from the Micro Artist Studio. Beyond watches, Seiko has also produced various electronic devices and, historically, jewelry and eyewear—though those divisions have since shifted to other companies.