Description
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.”
The name first appeared on a watch dial in 1924, shortened from Seikosha and keeping the core meaning; the company itself was renamed Hattori Seiko in 1983 and Seiko Corporation in 1990.
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.
About the Bell-Matic Line
Seiko introduced the Bell-Matic in 1966: an automatic wristwatch with a fully mechanical alarm, built to be worn every day rather than kept as a curiosity. Swiss makers had produced alarm wristwatches before it, but the Bell-Matic combined a self-winding movement, a day-date calendar and an alarm in one robust, affordably priced watch.
The alarm needs no battery. A separate alarm spring is wound by turning the crown, the target time is set on the internal alarm ring, and when it trips a small hammer vibrates against the case, giving a buzzing, cricket-like call you can hear and feel on the wrist. The pusher at 2 o’clock switches the alarm on and off and also quick-sets the date.
The classic round 701x case ran from 1967 to the mid-1970s with very few changes. Domestic-market examples like this one kept the full 27-jewel calibre 4006A into the mid-1970s, while 21-jewel versions were supplied to the US market from 1968 and 17-jewel versions followed later in the decade.
About This Watch
This is a Seiko Bell-Matic reference 4006-7012. The serial number on the case back, 481122, dates it to August 1974, late in the 701x run. It has a silver sunburst dial with applied steel baton indices, black-filled baton hands, a slim seconds hand and a day-date window at 3 o’clock, with Sunday printed in red. A small triangle on the internal alarm ring marks the alarm time.
Inside is the automatic calibre 4006A with 27 jewels; the rotor is signed SEIKO 27 JEWELS and the mainplate is stamped 4006A. The dial code reads JAPAN 4006-7011T, which differs slightly from the case reference. This is normal on Seiko watches of the period. The watch comes on a new blue leather strap with cream stitching.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Seiko
- Line: Bell-Matic
- Reference Number: 4006-7012 (dial code 4006-7011T)
- Movement: Seiko 4006A, automatic, 27 jewels, mechanical alarm, day-date
- Serial Number: 481122
- Production Date: August 1974
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Case Diameter: Approx. 39 mm (excluding crown)
- Dial: Silver sunburst, applied baton indices, day-date at 3, internal alarm ring
- Crystal:
- Case-back: Stainless steel, stamped WATER RESISTANT, with the Suwa emblem
- Country of Manufacture: Japan
Condition Report
The silver sunburst dial is clean, with crisp printing and bright applied indices; under magnification there are a few tiny marks near the edge of the dial. The case shows light scratches and small marks on the lugs and bezel from normal wear, and the edges are still well defined. The case back has light surface scratches, and its stampings and serial are clear. The alarm sets and sounds as it should.
This watch has recently been serviced by a professional watchmaker and keeps good time.
Comes complete with a new lug width matched leather strap for Seiko*.
(*)Fancy another colour? Add as many padded leather straps for Seiko as you like from the options at the top of the page, or none at all. Each one is matched to this watch’s lug width, so there is nothing for you to measure.
This watch ships from 🇺🇦 Ukraine with tracking number
Why Collectors Want This Watch Today
The Bell-Matic is one of the most interesting complications Seiko made in the 1960s and 1970s. It is a fully mechanical alarm on an automatic movement, and you still use it the way its first owners did. The 4006-7012 is the classic round, straight-lug version with clean proportions that wears well today. Domestic-market 27-jewel examples like this one have the top jewel count used in the line. Bell-Matics are not rare, but a clean, serviced example with a working alarm is the one to own.
Modes of payment:
- PayPal
- Credit Cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover)
- bitcoin
We guarantee the item you receive looks and works exactly as advertised — or your money back.
Seiko lug-width matched leather straps — 18 / 19 / 20 mm
About the watch factory
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 is one of the few watch companies that is fully 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 2017, Grand Seiko was spun off into its own standalone luxury brand, while Credor remains part of Seiko’s own lineup, sold primarily in Japan. Seiko’s own global lineup now includes Grand Seiko, King Seiko, Prospex, Astron, Presage, and Seiko 5 Sports.
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.
