Seikomatic-R 8305: An Early Seiko Automatic

I have here an early Seiko automatic from the 1960s. The first widely recognised Seiko automatic watch was a Gyro Marvel, which I believe was a modular construction with the automatic module added on to a handwinding base, resulting in a somewhat thicker than necessary movement. The Seikomatic, on the other hand, is Seiko’s second automatic watch range, but uses one of Seiko’s first integrated automatic movement.

The Seikomatic series was produced between 1960 until 1967. Multiple movements have powered the Seikomatic series, including the famed 62 movement, which eventually formed the basis for the first automatic GS.

Image taken from http://antiquewatchat.blogspot.com/

Below is a list of Seiko’s vintage automatic movements taken from a now defunct Japanese website.

Manufacturing date	Model Name	abbreviation	CAL No.	Number of stones	series
Aug-55	Seiko 11 type automatic winding	–	11A	17, 21	–
Jul-59	Gyro Marvel	GM	290	17	55 series
Apr-60	Seikomatic	MA	603 (6201 B)	17, 20	62 series
Jun-60	Seikomatic 30 stone	MA	603 (6201 B)	30
Jul-61	Sportsmatic	SMA	6601	17	66 series
May-62	SEIKOMATIC SELF DATA	MAS	394 (6205 B)	24	62 series
Nov-62	Sportsmatic Calendar	SMAC	790	17	66 series
Jan-63	Seikomatic self data regulation is included	MASK	395 (6219 B)	39	62 series
May-63	Sportsmatic Five	SMA5	6606 (410)	21	66 series
Jun-63	Sportsmatic Calendar 820	SAC82	7625A	17	76 series
Aug-63	SEIKOMATIC WEEK DATE	MAW	400	33	62 series
Aug-63	Seikomatic slim	MAM	830	30	83 series
Feb-64	Seikomatic slim date	MAC (MAMD)	840 (8305 B)	30
Mar-64	Sportsmatic Five Deluxe	SMA-5D	7606A	25	76 series
May-64	World time	62WT	6217A, B	17	62 series
Aug-64	SEIKOMATIC WEEK DATE (SEIKO BUSINESS)	MAW (62B)	6206A, B	26	62 series
Sep-64	SEIKOMATIC WEEK DATE	MAWK	6218A, B, C	35
Nov-64	66 Sportsmatic Five	66SA5	6619A	21	66 series
Jun-65	76 Sportsmatic Five Deluxe	765D	7606A	25	76 series
Seikomatic calendar	MAC	840 (8305 B)	30	83 series
Jul-65	83 Matic Week Data	83 MW	8306A	30
Sep-65	83 Seikomatic calendar	83 MC	8305C / 8325A	30, 39
Feb-66	62 Seikomatic Week Data	62 MWK	6216A	39	62 series
Nov-65	62 Seiko chronometer calendar	62 GAC	6245A	35
62 Seikomatic Chronometer Week Data	62 GAW	6246A	39
Jun-66	76 Sportsmatic Calendar Deluxe	76SCD	7605A	23	76 series
Jul-66	62 Grand Seiko Calendar	62 GAC	6245A	35	62 series
62 Grand Seiko Weekly Data	62 GAW	6246A	39
Jan-67	51 Matic Week Data	51 MW	5106A	33	51 series
Mar-67	Bermatic (business bell)	40 BW	4006A	17, 21 and 27	40 series
Jun-67	51 new five	51-5	5126A	23	51 series
Aug-67	61 New Five DX	61-5D	6106A	25	61 series
Sep-67	51 New Five DX	51-5D	5139A	27	51 series
Feb-68	56 Road Matic Week Data 23 Stone	56 LMW	5606A	23	56 series
Apr-68	56 Loadmatic Week Data-25 Stones	25	56 series
Apr-68	61 Seikomatic calendar, week date	61 MC	6105A	17	61 series
May-68	6159	6159	6159A	25	61 series
Sep-68	56 Lordmatic calendar	56 LMC	5605A	23	56 series
Oct-68	56 King Seiko Calendar, Week Data	56 KAC, 56 KAW	5625A, 26A	25	56 series
Dec-68	70 Automatic Calendar	70 AC		17	70 series
Apr-69	51 Pressmatic Week Data	51 PMW	5146A	27, 30	51 series
Jun-69	56 King Seiko Chronometer Calendar, Week Data	56KCM, 56KWM	5625A, 26A	25	56 series
Aug-70	56 Grand Seiko Calendar, Week Data	56 GAC, 56 GAW	5645A, 46A
Nov-70	52 Loadmatic Special	52 LMW	5206A	25	52 series
Mar-71	52 King Seiko Chronometer Calendar, Week Data	52KCM, 52KWM	5245A, 46A
Jun-72	56 King Seiko Vanac	56 KAC, 56 KAW	5625B, 26B	25	56 series
Sep-72	61 Grand Seiko V. F. A (very fine adjasted)	6185, 86	6185A, 86A	25	61 series

The Seikomatic-R that I will be presenting today belongs to the 803 series, which was introduced sometime in 1963.

I have always found the general Seikomatic range to be a generally handsome line of watches, being extremely simple but classic looking. I am able to wear my Seikomatic to work and no one would know that the watch is over 50 years old, with the design still standing strong today.

I’m generally not a fan of gold plated watches, especially not of gold plated vintage watches as the plating would tend to have worn off over time.

I do however take an exception when the plating appears to be fairly intact, no doubt helped much by the fact that the crown does not need to be used for winding this automatic watch and good care taken of it by the previous owner(s).

The case diameter measures 34mm across, without the crown, but the thin bezel lends to a huge dial face of 28.5mm. The minimal bezel and white face ensures maximum visibility while keeping things simple, as it should be for a dress watch.

The very sharp hands and bar hour markers are all gold-plated, similar to the case.

The white dial has a faint sunburst pattern to it and is generally unblemished. Pretty remarkable for a over 50 year old timepiece.

The date window at the classic 3 o’clock position is framed within a matching gold plated window.

The acrylic crystal protecting the dial is highly domed, as it is for all watches of that era.

Above, we can see some facets to the lug. The other peeve I have about gold plated watches is that there’s no finishing whatsoever to admire. Whatever contrasting polished and brushed finishings are all protected/hidden by the plating.

Here’s the unsigned crown, which looks a little more worn compared to the case given that the crown would have been handled more frequently to set the time and date.

Above is the case back, with the classic and still in very good condition Dolphin! The early Seiko symbols for water resistance is the Seahorse than the Dolphin (as shown here) before evolving to the Wave motif that everyone is familiar with today. The issue with most of the vintage caseback with the Seahorse or Dolphin logos is that they would generally have been extremely worn through and nearly worn off the caseback. The Wave motif does not have this problem as it’s embossed on the caseback, while the Seahorse and Dolphin motifs are etched on the caseback.

I do not have a picture of the movement, but I believe that my example is driven by the 8305B movement as it has the handwinding capability, but not the seconds hacking ability, which came with the 8305C. The fascinating thing about this movement that I have yet to encounter anywhere else in the Seiko world is that the quickset date works both forward and backwards!

The 830 movement beats at 18,000 bph, and is 28.60mm across while only 3.80mm thick. Contrast this to the evergreen ETA 2824 which is 25.4mm across but 4.6mm thick!

To conclude, after the arrival of this watch, my 56KS no longer takes pride of place as my de-facto go to work watch, as this Seikomatic-R is just as easy to wear while adding a touch of classy gold to it. It does lack the distinctive Grammer of Design case, but it trades it for the classic vintage Seiko design.

References:
History of Seikomatic: https://web.archive.org/web/20161006230403/http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~smatic/aboutseikomatic.html

List of Seiko Vintage Movement (any spelling mistakes are mine as the original is in Japanese):
https://web.archive.org/web/20161006200127/http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~smatic/history/history.html

Seiko 830 movement:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160418211510/http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~smatic/83series/830/83mam.html

Breakdown of the 830 movement:
https://adventuresinamateurwatchfettling.com/2016/04/30/hidden-depths-a-seikomatic-r-from-1966/

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