SEIKO GMT 6117-6400, VINTAGE YEAR 1971

The history of Seiko began in 1881 in Tokyo, Japan, when a young entrepreneur named Kintaro Hattori opened a watch repair and sales shop. His vision was to create high-quality watches, and in 1892 he founded the Seikosha factory (in Japanese, “Seiko” means “precision” or “success”, and “sha” means “house”). Initially, Seikosha made wall clocks, but over time they focused on producing pocket and wristwatches.

First Japanese wristwatch

In 1913, Seikosha introduced the Laurel, the first wristwatch manufactured in Japan. This marked a significant milestone, as Japan had no watchmaking tradition at that time. The company became a pioneer in its country and laid the foundation for what would become a renowned name in the global watch industry.

Technological innovation and quartz watches

In 1969, Seiko revolutionized the watchmaking world with the Seiko Astron, the world’s first quartz wristwatch. This breakthrough transformed the watch industry by introducing a much more precise and affordable technology than traditional mechanical movements. Quartz technology quickly gained popularity and remains a standard in watchmaking today.

Precision and reliability

Over time, Seiko has introduced multiple watchmaking innovations, such as the automatic chronograph and the Kinetic charging system (a combination of kinetic energy and quartz technology). Seiko is also known for its dive watches, highly valued for their durability and resistance in extreme conditions.

Seiko has earned a special place in the watch industry, combining tradition and technology at accessible prices, and offering everything from simple models to high-end pieces with its Grand Seiko line.

TEMPPUS. All rights reserved.