The Lord Marvel 36000 is one of the most affordable ways to own a true 36,000 vph Seiko. Made from about 1967 to 1975, its hand-wound 5740C is considered the forerunner of the King Seiko Chronometer’s caliber 44.
Quick facts
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reference | 5740-8000 (LM5740) |
| Made | About 1967 to 1975 |
| Caliber | 5740C, manual wind |
| Jewels | 23 |
| Beat rate | 36,000 vph |
| Case | 35 mm, 41 mm lug-to-lug, stainless steel or gold-plated |
| Lug width | 19 mm |
| Crystal | Domed acrylic |
| Date | None |
What to check before you buy
- Polishing. Worn & Wound warns the lug and case bevels are delicate and easily ruined by polishing.
- Dial. The standard dial is radially brushed silver with ‘36000’ under the name and a Suwa ‘S’ logo above six. A linen dial with Arabic numerals also exists.
- Caseback. Standard backs have horseshoe text. Seahorse-logo backs exist but are rare.
- Winding. It is manual wind only. Wind it fully in the shop and check it runs through the day.
Typical 2026 price for a running, original example in very good condition: $330 – $620 (see the vintage Seiko price guide). Adjust for your watch’s condition and parts in the value calculator. To date it, read the serial number guide or check the Seiko caliber list.
Want an automatic instead? See the King Seiko 56KS guide. New to the jargon? Try the watch glossary.
Looking for one?
Garasi Opung, the Jakarta dealer behind this site, hand-checks every vintage Seiko before listing it. Browse the Etsy shop, the eBay store or garasiopung.com, and run any listing’s caseback through the Franken Checker before you buy, ours included.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lord Marvel 36000 a hi-beat watch?
Yes. Its 5740C movement beats at 36,000 vph, twice the 18,000 of most watches before it.
Does the Lord Marvel have a date?
No. Worn & Wound notes there is no date or day-date version of the 5740-8000.
What size is the Lord Marvel 5740-8000?
35 mm wide, 41 mm lug-to-lug, with 19 mm lugs. It suits small and medium wrists.