Seeing Dan Pellegrini's name pop up on a World Timers thread prompted me to pass on that Dan has now turned his beady eye onto Bell-Matics. He's set up a web page with hundreds of photos of dials and case backs.

https://www.seikoworldtime.com/scanner/bellmatics

He's also running a Google Document with a ton of info on the Bells.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yHcU-A--EWiivGl8HU3W3cT0lxOweii5bJxBLn8aZvc/edit?usp=drivesdk

I think he's going to use all the information gathered to produce a full website on the Bell-Matic. If anyone has anything interesting to add to it he seems happy to have a chat. Word of warning though, he's very diligent and takes his task very seriously so make sure you have plenty of evidence to back you up!

Below is a photo of my 1967 4006-7000 which is a franken, you can use Dan's data to figure out why.

 

Here's mine, love the color palette

 

Just serviced one of these, one of my favourite bellmatic’s by far. Such cool colours.

The bellmatic is still so underrated, but I am a sucker for alarm watches! I will try and get the blog post of the service I did up today if anyone wants to take a look.

 

I've been concentrating on the date only 4005's so no worries of wrong dials.



Just the golden bell to find.
The 4006 was put together from parts l accumulated while chasing bracelets so l knew it was a wrong'un but it could easily catch out new collectors.
I definitely will be using Dan's guide when l wonder into the big, scary world of the 4006.
@ATracyWatches I'll keep an eye out for that blog post.

 

Thanks for sharing. The Google doc is very informative. Saw a dial variant I hadn't seen before. I've lately been hunting 4006-601X's, but I've been keeping an eye out for an affordable blue 4005-7000 like yours. I love the brick-pattern bracelets on those. My humble group is not all correct and one is in rough shape, but they're some of my favorites.

 

There are a lot of stand outs in the Bell-matic range. At last count I have 57, but would need to nearly double that to have an example of each dial / model config. Here are some of mine:

 

Well well, if it isn't the man himself. Great collection @dapellegrini, very impressive.

 

You ever get them all synchronized and set the alarms for the same time?
Incredible collection!

 

Early 1970’s

 

@Leeroy - thanks, glad there are some WT and BM fans here.

@Olhenry56 - Can you imagine just the effort in shaking each one to life enough to get that done!? You are not the first to ask, but I think I would need 9 other friends helping to pull it off!

@gemini4 - very nice 6040. I really like the John Player-esque Gold dial with SS case 6040 as well, perhaps even more than the blue one! EDIT: This one:

 

I found this 21 jewel at an estate sale a few years ago. I thought it was a yellow dial but I heard that it looks more like a silver dial that has patina from the sun

 

Very nice @jjen - here's the black dial version of the same, from March 68

 

It’s amazing how well the bellmatics keep time. I’ve never had one that didn’t work. Can’t say the same for the 6139 chronographs

 

I've been hunting for a dolphin caseback for about 5 years now but no luck

 

My business bell. The bracelet was taken off another Bellmatic

 

Mine

 

Some stunning Bells been posted lately.
@jjen two proper rarities there, the Business Bell is definitely on my radar and that one is a real beauty.
My only "mellowed" dial (okay a little disappointing) next to a normal one, it has a real vintage vibe and one of my most worn watches.


Honestly it's much darker in the flesh!

@dapellegrini superb example as always, hopefully they'll keep coming.
And @Barking mad lovely to see 6N55019 getting some fresh air and refreshments

 

Love it. Is there a special cutout for the button on the case? Can’t tell from that angle…

 

Certainly is, wouldn’t be a Dolphin without it