LordMatic Bracelets

[pip]

I've recently received a batch from yahoo.jp - can you believe that a few months ago I had some bids running, all at what I thought were lowish prices, went away for the weekend and when I came back I'd won five auctions! Where were all the people who normally outbid me at the last minute?!! Maybe I'd overbid after all. I'd have cancelled some if I'd known, but never mind as I should be able to move a couple of them on and recoup my unplanned expenditure, especially as customs took an unhealthy interest. (Needs must as Mrs Pip's job is in the balance so budgeting is in order).

Anyway, in this little haul were three LordMatic 5606 movements:
5606-7130 Nov'69

5606-7070 Feb'72

5606-8051 Feb'75 - with matching Japanese catalogue details, although I can't read the description!
  
(I'd love to find Jap catalogues for 1969 and 1972 so I can grab the images but my search has found none).

The last two are the ones I would like to mention, they are very similar watches with seemingly identical bracelets. But when I study the bracelets there are some subtle differences:
The 7070 has the code XGB061 on the endlinks. It has three removable links and a normal clasp with 5 micro-adjusters.
The 8051 has the code XGB062 on the endlinks. It has no removable links and has a built in spring loaded expander on the clasp which has 5 micro-adjusters.

So is the XGB062 just an update on the XGB061 or were they options that were available at the same time? And did the expander come as standard and come instead of removable links or is it just that mine happens to have none? I remember reading a thread probably a year or so ago about expanders coming as standard on some bracelet or other, I'm guessing it is this one?

Lord, save me from getting too geeky about bracelets, I have enough rabbit holes to take up all my spare time as it is!

Pip

[Adrian-VTA]

I have a few 7070's.

The bracelet was never shipped with an expander, this is aftermarket.

As for changes in part number, I don't really know what the difference is, perhaps a slightly different end link profile?

[tritto]

I have an xgb061 fitted to a 30m Silverwave (not correct). It was short so I bought a cheap 7070 to steal removable links from.

[pip]

Feb 21, 2018 17:53:43 GMT -8 Adrian-VTA said:

The bracelet was never shipped with an expander, this is aftermarket.

I read different to that somewhere, I’ll have to try and find it. Not claiming they were right, I just remember reading an old thread on a forum somewhere.

[Adrian-VTA]

Never seen it before after handling maybe 2000 stock bracelets?

Really old info, pre around 2010 is often inaccurate.

Feb 21, 2018 23:44:47 GMT -8 pip said:

Feb 21, 2018 17:53:43 GMT -8 Adrian-VTA said:

The bracelet was never shipped with an expander, this is aftermarket.

I read different to that somewhere, I’ll have to try and find it. Not claiming they were right, I just remember reading an old thread on a forum somewhere.

[cobrajet25]

Seiko got really big into the spring-loaded adjusters in the middle 1970s...especially on JDM stuff. 

The hard and fast rule on these bracelets is that if they didn't come with removable links they came with a spring-loaded adjuster.

I am sure this explains the difference in part numbers.

[Adrian-VTA]

Not saying you're wrong, but I've never seen it. Can you dig up some examples to bust the mystery?

Feb 22, 2018 5:46:58 GMT -8 cobrajet25 said:

Seiko got really big into the spring-loaded adjusters in the middle 1970s...especially on JDM stuff. 

The hard and fast rule on these bracelets is that if they didn't come with removable links they came with a spring-loaded adjuster.

I am sure this explains the difference in part numbers.

[cobrajet25]

Feb 22, 2018 15:57:36 GMT -8 Adrian-VTA said:

Not saying you're wrong, but I've never seen it. Can you dig up some examples to bust the mystery?

Feb 22, 2018 5:46:58 GMT -8 cobrajet25 said:

Seiko got really big into the spring-loaded adjusters in the middle 1970s...especially on JDM stuff. 

The hard and fast rule on these bracelets is that if they didn't come with removable links they came with a spring-loaded adjuster.

I am sure this explains the difference in part numbers.

Well, there is one example in this thread.  Same bracelet, slightly different part numbers.  1972 = removable links, 1975 = spring adjuster.

I have a 1972-ish 6138-0011 5Sports Speed-Timer with links and the same watch with the same bracelet from '75 with a spring adjuster.  The '75 watch has no removable links.  I will try to dig them out.

From a production standpoint it makes a lot of sense.  Not having to include removable links must have cut costs, and each watch shipped with a one-size-fits-all spring adjuster.  Next time you see one on what looks to be an unmolested watch, try to take note of the serial number.  You will find that most date to '75-'78.  My guess is that they weren't popular so Seiko moved away from them as the '70s progressed.

I can see why.  Personally, I don't care for them.  Some folks like to wear a watch either looser or tighter than this device sometimes allows for.  That, and if you move your arm too forcefully the adjuster will extend momentarily and the watch will slingshot back into your wrist.

Here is a JDM 7546-7050 I just got off of YJ.  Dates to 1978.  As you can see, it has a spring adjuster and no removable links.

[pip]

Seems that a theory is developing. A lot more evidence is needed before it’s ‘a thing’ though. So come on, drag out those JDM mid70’s bracelets and have a look!
What got me about the ones I reported was the part number had changed by 1 yet the bracelet body and core length and endlinks are identical as far as I can tell... only difference is removable links vs none and extender vs none.
If nothing else it’s interesting!