A Brief Tour of Seiko

Photo: Worn and Wound

Kintarō Hattori, a young businessman, founded Seiko almost 130 years ago. It started as a store in the middle of Tokyo that sold and fixed timepieces and clocks. Kintarō purchased a workshop in Tokyo after 11 years, and in 1982 he started making watches there. The Seikosha factory was the name of the business. The Japanese words “Seiko” means exquisite or success, while “sha” mean “house,” making it a very appropriate moniker for what was to follow in the coming years.

Photo: SEIKO – Kintaro Hattori

After establishing itself as a manufacturer of wall clocks and pocket watches for 21 years, Kintarō unveiled the Laurel, the country of Japan’s debut watch. Even though the business could only create 30 to 50 timepieces at the time, it was known for its creativity.

Tragedy hit in 1923 with the Great Kanto Earthquake, destroying the Seikosha workshop. However, in 1924 after reconstructing, the business unveiled a brand-new watch and adopted the casing name that remains widely regarded even now: Seiko.

Over the following few years, Seiko proceeded to invent and enhance production techniques. The business developed the shock-absorbing Diashock mechanism in 1958 to guard the balance-staff hinge, one of a manual watch’s most delicate components.

Seiko made its entrance into the sporting world by acting as the games’ official timekeeper in 1964 in Tokyo. As a result, the International Association of Athletics Federation chose Seiko as the authorized timekeeper for a number of sporting events.

For Seiko, the 1960s were still a period of important turning points. Seiko’s first diving watch made its debut in 1965, gaining the company fame on a global scale. This first-ever Japanese-made diving watch caught the attention of watch lovers devoted to Swiss movements, earning Seiko newfound prestige. However, the quartz crises were probably the most crucial turning point for the brand.

Seiko kept bringing new technological developments to the timepiece business. In 1999, the business unveiled Spring Drive, a Seiko-exclusive innovation. It utilized a new regulator to substitute the conventional escapement to produce a smooth movement and outstanding precision. To date, Seiko remains the leading watch brand in terms of innovation.

Below is a brief tour of Seiko’s modern history timepieces:

1. Seiko Prospex

The introduction of the Seiko Prospex series has had a significant impact on the brand’s future. The “PROSPEX” line of high-end specialist tool timepieces is what its title means. It was designed for specialists that wanted watches that could handle demanding settings. In addition, this collection has a solid track record as a high-end tool piece that is reasonably priced in the horology field.

Photo: Oracle Time

The Seiko Prospex series comprises clocks suitable for activities on land, in the air, at the ocean, and on street escapades, along with cutting-edge sports variants. These timepieces combine style, convenience, and longevity with various features to make them the perfect adventurer item.

2. Seiko Lukia

Seiko Lukia is a line of women. Since 1995, the brand has added the Lukia series to its offer to imbue each watch it creates with a unique sense of Ginza, Tokyo.

The Lukia is now well regarded for its eye-catching designs, incredible movements, and premium materials. The collection continues to win even more devoted customers thanks to its Chrono, automated, and solar watch selection. Moreover, timepieces from this line unquestionably offer a range of reasonably priced watch options. They radiate the same attractive elegance, exceptional artistry, and objective functions that most high-end pieces provide.

Photo: Seiko

Along with designs, consumers can select from a variety of calibers, strap designs, and different dimensions.

3. Seiko Presage

The Seiko Presage is a stunning dress automated watch series that includes dress watches in various designs and hues. In addition, they are renowned for having sophisticated designs and excellent dials, which is another reason why many people choose them as their dress pieces.

Only manual movements power Seiko Presage series timepieces. This collection is also renowned for providing a variety of complexities, from a day-date indicator to a Seiko Chrono wristwatch, in addition to their aesthetics.

Photo: Klockmaster

Moreover, the Seiko chronograph Presage timepieces are suitable to match the premium collection because of their exquisite appearance and construction.

4. Seiko Astron

The Seiko Astron is a Japanese collection that ranks among the most significant chronometers in history. It became the initial quartz watch ever introduced, and it revolutionized the field of horology when it was released in 1969. In fact, according to experts, it was this wristwatch that ignited the Quartz Crisis. Additionally, it produced plenty of advancements and inventions for the watch business.

These older Seiko Astron quartz pieces were outstanding and accurate. They were also driven by a Caliber 35A that provided remarkable precision of only +/- 5 seconds monthly, significantly better than any manual movement.

Photo: Seiko

The fact that the battery life on these Astron watches might last up to a whole year was still another remarkable aspect of them. Overall, introducing these classic Seiko timepieces was a huge success, greatly accelerating the brand’s expansion.

5. Seiko Spirit

Since its first release, the Seiko Spirit series, one of Seiko’s most renowned items, has enjoyed great popularity among watch enthusiasts in Japan. It is a collection of watches noted for its coin-edge crowns, traditional faces, as well as the relaxation it provides its owners. The Seiko Spirit line’s timepieces also have remarkable sandwich dials featuring two layers: a coat of red beneath and a layer of vertically polished, patterned silver above.

Given that Seiko is renowned for the use of premium components and cutting-edge technologies in its manufacturing processes, you can anticipate that a Seiko Spirit watch will last you a generation.

Photo: Melbourne Watch Republic

For example, Seiko uses a Japanese quartz caliber movement designed to last in its Spirit models. Seiko uses titanium plus stainless steel in its casings and bracelets to achieve maximum longevity; occasionally, a hint of gold is added to enhance the exquisite appearance of the watch.

Conclusion

A Seiko brand is a representation of technological advancements in the watchmaking industry and is renowned worldwide for its accuracy and usability. Seiko was founded in Tokyo, and thanks to its long history of invention, it is now regarded by watch collectors and enthusiasts as a premium brand.