The History of Seiko
Seiko watches for men and women are known around the world for their innovative Japanese-made timepiece movements. The company was founded by Japanese watchmaker, Kintaro Hattori in 1881. He started his career by manufacturing and repairing clocks in Tokyo under the brand name Seikosha, which means “House of Exquisite Workmanship,” in Japanese. Down the road, he shortened the name to just Seiko, translating to “exquisite,” “minute,” or “success.”
In 1960, Seiko released what later became their most signature timepiece, the Grand Seiko. At the time, a small team of the most highly-skilled watchmakers was tasked with creating the most exceptional watch of which they were able to. The Grand Seiko was intended to symbolize the peak of Seiko’s excellence in precise watchmaking with immense durability.
In 1965, the first Japanese diver’s watch was produced and showcased a water resistance of up to 150 meters. Using a screw-down crown, the watch movement and functions were protected from the intense water pressure. This watch was chosen as the designated timekeeping piece for the 8th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition.
In the 1980s, Seiko grew and expanded into new technological territories. The release of several “World’s Firsts,” such as the TV watch, voice recording watch, computer watch, and 1000 meter diver’s watch were some of the remarkable models produced during this time.
In 1991, Seiko had the honor of serving as the Official Timer of the 3rd IAAF World Championships in Tokyo. One year later, Seiko was selected as the Official Timer of the Games of the 25th Olympiad in Barcelona, Spain. In 1999 the brand introduced the Spring Drive movement, which offered luxury mechanical function and quartz accuracy. this was revolutionary in the horological world because this timepiece replaced the traditional escapement with a spring regulator, producing a smooth glide motion and has a precision of one second per day.
During the turn of the 21st century, they introduced the world’s first solar-powered radio-controlled analog timepiece that could receive the waves of the United States, Japan, and Germany. Nearly 5 years later, Seiko created the World’s First EPD timepiece with an active matrix with an 80,000-pixel display for a wide range of imagery capabilities.
Seiko continues to push the envelope of horological innovation even today. They have won several awards and received recognition from around the world for their unsurpassed mechanical advancements and remarkable design. Every Seiko watch provides a high-level of dependability and a remarkable sense of luxury craftsmanship.
Seiko Watch Collections
Astron: Home of the World’s First GPS solar watch that receives signals when exposed to light, syncs to the satellite signal, and automatically calibrates to the correct timezone with astounding precision.
Prospex: This line of diver’s watches was intended for the explorers of the deep blue sea with impenetrable case design, calibers with premium accuracy, and durability in even the most trying weather conditions.
Presage: Mechanical watchmaking in the finest capacity, this collection creates a seamless blend of Japanese design and watchmaking excellence. This combination creates a line of watches with exceptional beauty and unmatched performance.
5 Sports: For over 50 years, this collection provided extreme levels of precision, durability, functionality, and quality. Mechanical watch lovers worldwide loved how this collection catered to five different lifestyles; Sports, Suits, Specialist, Street, and Sense.
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