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History

1881

Kintaro Hattori

Kintaro Hattori establishes the K. Hattori (watch and clock retail and repair store).
Earning the trust of foreign trading companies, the business expands greatly

1892

1890swall clocks

Building on the success of the retail business, Seikosha is established and commences manufacturing of wall clocks.

1894

clock tower

The company moves to the corner of Ginza 4-chome and builds a store with a clock tower

1895

Timekeeper

Manufacturing of the company's first pocket watch, the Timekeeper, commences.
By persisting in the pocket watch business, despite continuing losses, the company eventually corners the market.

1900s

1905

Distributors established in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

1913

1910sLaurel

Anticipating a shift away from pocket watches, the company launches Japan's first wristwatch, the Laurel.

1923

1920sthe company launches Japan's first watch

Despite losing all its factories and stores to the Great Kanto Earthquake in September, the company recommences operations in November. The company replaces all watches that were held for repair and destroyed in the disaster with brand new watches free of charge, thereby gaining the firm trust of the public.

1924

Launch of the first Seiko brand watch.

Launch of the first Seiko brand watch.

1932

1930sclock tower

Completion of the current clock tower on Ginza 4-chome (SEIKO HOUSE GINZA).

1937

Daini Seikosha

Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments Inc.) established.

1940s

1947

Retail division separates to become Wako Co., Ltd.

1949

Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1950s

1959

The Suwa factory becomes independent and forms Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corporation).

1960

1960sLaunching of the Grand Seiko

Launching of the Grand Seiko, achieving the world's highest standard in accuracy.

1964

official timer

Official timer of the Tokyo Olympics.
Seiko later serves as official timer of 5 other Olympic Games (Sapporo, Barcelona, Lillehammer, Nagano, Salt Lake City).

1968

Geneva Observatory Competition

Seiko takes the top ranking for mechanical watches at the Geneva Observatory Competition.

1968

Launching of the world's first quartz wall clock

Launching of the world's first quartz wall clock for home use.

1968

Hattori (H.K.) Ltd. (currently Seiko Hong Kong Ltd) is established in Hong Kong, after which local corporations are established in succession around the world.

1969

Quartz Astron

Launching of the Quartz Astron, the world's first quartz watch.

1970

Quartz watch 36SQC

Developed a quartz watch equipped with the world’s first CMOS IC

1971

1970sKiyoko Nakayama

Kiyoko Nakayama* becomes the first female Contemporary Master Craftsman.
Since then, there have been 26 employees designated as Contemporary Master Craftsmen.
*Of Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corp.)

1973

6-digit LCD watch.

Launching of the world's first 6-digit LCD watch.

1975

Quartz crystal, silver oxide batteries

Quartz crystal, silver oxide batteries

1977

Kazuo Takeoka wins the WorldSkills Competition.
Since then, there have been 7 employees winning this competition.
*Of Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corp.)

1978

Masahide Nakazawa  wins the national watch repairing contest.
Since then, there have been 8 employees winning this competition.
*Of Suwa Seikosha Co., Ltd. (now Seiko Epson Corp.)

1982

1980s Thermal printer mechanisms

Thermal printer mechanisms

1984

Mullion Clock

Installation of the Mullion Clock, Japan's first large-scale marionette clock, sparking a national boom in marionette clocks.

1985

automated ordering system

Launching of the automated ordering system for the restaurant industry.

1987

IAAF World Championships in Athletics  in Rome

Seiko serves as official timer of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics  in Rome.
Thereafter, Seiko continues to serve as official timer of the World Athletics Championships.

1989

Ultra-thin, ultra-precise wall clocks

Ultra-thin, ultra-precise wall clocks

1990s

1993

Seiko Time Systems Inc.
(now Seiko Time Creation Inc.)established.

1999

Spring Drive watch

Launching of the world's first Spring Drive watch.

2002

2000s Commencement of time stamp service

Commencement of time stamp service

2004

Shizukuishi Watch Studio

Opening of the Shizukuishi Watch Studio, a fully-integrated manufacturing facility for mechanical watches.

2005

Development of mercury-free silver oxide batteries.

2005

Medal with Yellow Ribbon

Mamoru Sakurada is awarded the Medal with Yellow Ribbon for watch assembly.
Since then, there have been 9 employees awarded the Medal with Yellow Ribbon.

2005

Seiko NPC Corporation established.

2005

Clock Yukyu

Clock recreating the world’s oldest escapement mechanism

2007

Seiko serves as official timer of the 1st Tokyo Marathon, and continues to serve as official timer thereafter.

2009

Seiko Instruments Inc

Business merger with Seiko Instruments Inc.

2012

2010sSeiko Astron

Launching of the Seiko Astron, the world's first GPS solar watch.

2013

Seiko Solutions Inc. established.

2014

The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT

The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT wins the Petite Aiguille prize at the Grand Prixd'Horlogerie de Genève.

2017

Grand Seiko

Made Grand Seiko an independent brand

2017

Mobile Printer MP-B20

Ultra compact, ultra lightweight mobile printer
for business use, MP-B20

2019

IAAF World Championships in Doha

IAAF World Championships in Doha
Contributing to the success of the first World Championships held in the Middle East with the latest timing systems

2019

MS Lithium Rechargeable Battery MS621R

World’s first reflowable
MS Lithium Rechargeable Battery

2019

LUiNa

AI learning for sign prediction services, LUiNa

2020

2020sSeiko Museum Ginza

Relocated the Seiko Museum to Ginza and opened as the
"Seiko Museum Ginza"

2022

Grand Seiko Kodo

Watch incorporating the world’s first new mechanism, Grand Seiko Kodo

Related information

The Seiko Museum Ginza

The Seiko Museum Ginza

The Seiko Museum Ginza