Seiko :: Manufacturers :: Essence of Time, Inc.

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Essence of Time, Inc. :: Manufacturers :: Seiko

The famed Japanese watch company Seiko traces its roots back to a watch and jewelry shop that first opened in 1881 in Tokyo’s Ginza district. Seiko can mean either exquisite or success in Japanese, two words that the brand continues to embody to this day. Offering a dynamic range of timepieces at a variety of price-points, famed Japanese producer Seiko offers something for everyone.

Since 1960 the watch world has admired the Grand Seiko line, and other important Seiko collections include Coutura, Diamonds, Prospex, Presage, Recraft, and Seiko 5 Sports.

In 1969 Seiko released their groundbreaking Astron watch—the world’s first quartz timepiece, which would come to be seen as an international game changer. Seiko also released the first quartz chronograph.

In 1973 the brand unveiled the world’s first LCD quartz watch with a six-digit digital readout, and in 1988 married automatic and electric watches to birth the Seiko Kinetic, a watch that utilizes the energy of the user to create electricity for the quartz movement.

Seiko’s groundbreaking and highly accurate Spring Drive movement was released in 1997 to much acclaim.

Over the years Seiko has served as official timekeeper of several Olympic games, World Cups, as well as IAAF Athletic World Championships. Seiko became the official watch of FC Barcelona in 2011.

Today, the brand continues to marry tradition with innovation, especially with models that utilize solar power and GPS-controlled time setting.

Seiko’s brand ambassadors have included NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and American Ballet Theatre soloist Misty Copeland. In addition, Seiko watches can be seen in many a Hollywood film, such as “The Abyss” and “Alien.”