The first Bell-Matics were released to the public in 1966, and were at that time the very first automatic wrist alarm watches with a central rotor. Seiko continued production of the line for another 12 years with a wide array of styles ranging from colorful casuals, to refined classics. This variant from September of ‘69 is a super clean casual with great lines and classic versatility. It also houses the 27 jewel variant of Seiko’s 4006 calibre. Import tariffs on luxury watches (those over 21 jewels) made them too expensive to offer outside of Japan, so acquiring one can be a bit of a challenge in itself. The dial is a rich silver linen with a north to south grain and polished applied markers with inset luminous. The hour and minute hands are beveled batons with a clean polished finish and are free of oxidation or corrosion. The luminous material is all original without any sign of degradation or discoloration. The alarm bezel is polished and fluted with a bright red cursor that makes it easy to see and it has been carefully aligned for accurate chiming. The case is unpolished with crisp corners and the factory finishes still visibly intact. It is completely original including the hand polished crystal, and the bell has a bright crisp tone. The date can be quickset by pressing the alarm toggle button, and the day can be semi quickset. Post service, the 4006 is keeping excellent time, and the alarm functions are smooth and easy to set. We’ve paired it with a matte black leather that showcases the immaculate dial, and provides a comfortable fit and finish. You’d be hard pressed to find a better example, so don’t miss this opportunity to add one to your roster.

Kvarnsjo Leather Smooth Matte Black Leather with White Stitch (cheapestnatostraps.com)

Serviced 11/29/19

Diameter- 38.5mm

Lugs- 18mm