Seiko
Seiko Group Corporation · Japan
Seiko is a Japanese watchmaker founded in Tokyo in 1881 by Kintarō Hattori. It produces mechanical, quartz and Spring Drive wristwatches across lines such as Prospex and Presage.
| Founded | 1881, Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Founder | Kintarō Hattori |
| Parent company | Seiko Group Corporation |
| Key lines | Prospex, Presage |
| Innovation | Astron quartz watch, 1969 |
| Website | seikowatches.com |
What is Seiko?
Seiko is one of Japan's best known watch brands and part of Seiko Group Corporation, headquartered in Ginza, Tokyo. The group was known as Seiko Holdings Corporation until it adopted its current name in October 2022.
History
Kintarō Hattori founded the business in Tokyo in 1881. Seiko has been responsible for several milestones in watchmaking. In 1969 it launched the Astron, the world's first commercially available quartz wristwatch. Its Auto Quartz mechanism, invented in 1988 and relaunched as Seiko Kinetic in 1991, charges its battery from the movement of the wrist. In 1999 it introduced Spring Drive, a mechanical movement with quartz level accuracy.
Products and positioning
Seiko's range spans everyday and enthusiast watches. Key lines include:
- Prospex, the professional series including diving watches
- Presage, an all mechanical line with more elaborate designs
- Credor, a top end brand reorganised as independent in 2019
Grand Seiko, the group's high end watch brand, became independent in 2017.
Why it matters
Seiko's quartz innovation reshaped the global watch industry, and the brand remains a reference for vertically integrated Japanese watchmaking across several price tiers.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Seiko from?
Seiko is from Japan. The company was founded in Tokyo in 1881 and is headquartered in Ginza.
Who founded Seiko?
Seiko was founded by Kintarō Hattori in 1881.