Seiko

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Seiko Holdings Corporation
Seiko logo.svg
Ginza-WAKO 2012.JPG
Native name
????????????????
Type
Public (K.K)
Traded as TYO: 8050
ISIN JP3414700009 Edit this on Wikidata
Industry Watch Manufacturing, Precision Instruments, Machinery, Fashion
Accessories, Optics
Founded Chuo, Tokyo, Japan
1881; 139 years ago
(incorporated in 1917)
Founder Kintaro Hattori
Headquarters 1-26-1 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo, Japan
(Officially registered at 4-5-11 Ginza, Chuo, Tokyo, Japan)
Key people
Shinji Hattori, Chairman and CEO[1]
Products Watches, Electronic Devices, Systems Solutions, Clocks, High End
Apparel, Fashion Accessories and System Clocks, Printers, Integrated Circuits,
Lenses
Revenue Red Arrow Down.svg �257.1 billion (FY2016, consolidated)[2]
Number of employees
13,065 (March 31, 2017, consolidated)[3]
Parent Seiko Group
Subsidiaries
Seiko Watch Corporation
Seiko Instruments INC.
Seiko Precision INC.
Seiko NPC Corporation
Seiko Solutions INC.
Seiko Clock INC.
Wakoco., LTD.
Seiko Time Systems INC.
Seiko Optical Products CO., LTD.
Website Seiko Holdings Corporation
Seiko Holdings Corporation (????????????????, Seiko Horudingusu Kabushiki-gaisha),
commonly known as Seiko (/'se?ko?/ SAY-koh, Japanese: [se?ko?]), is a Japanese
holding company that has subsidiaries which manufactures and sells watches, clocks,
electronic devices, semiconductors, jewelries, and optical products.

Contents
1 History and development
1.1 Seiko in the United States
1.2 Marketing
2 Seiko Group
2.1 Subsidiaries
3 Brands and product lines
3.1 Seiko 5
3.2 Seiko Presage
3.3 Seiko SARB
3.4 Grand Seiko
3.4.1 Birth of Grand Seiko
3.4.2 Design style
3.5 Other
4 Movements
4.1 Mechanical movement
4.2 Quartz movement
4.3 Grand Seiko 9F quartz movement
4.4 Spring Drive
5 Official timekeeper
5.1 Olympic Games
5.2 FIFA World Cup
5.3 IAAF World Championships
6 Other sponsorships
7 Historic Seiko watches
8 References and footnotes
9 External links
History and development
The company was founded in 1881,[4] when Kintaro Hattori opened a watch and jewelry
shop called "K. Hattori" (?????, Hattori Tokeiten) in the Ginza area of Tokyo,
Japan. Eleven years later, in 1892, he began to produce clocks under the name
Seikosha (???, Seikosha), meaning roughly "House of Exquisite Workmanship".
According to Seiko's official company history, titled A Journey In Time: The
Remarkable Story of Seiko (2003), Seiko is a Japanese word meaning "exquisite" or
"success" ("exquisite" is usually written ?? from Chinese jingqiao, while the
meaning "success" is usually written ?? from Chinese ch�nggong).

In order to avoid an ill omen believed to be associated with the word "GLORY" in
Japanese, Seikosha changed its trade mark to "SEIKO" in 1924.[5] In 1969, Seiko
introduced the Astron, the world's first production quartz watch; when it was
introduced, it cost the same as a medium-sized car. Seiko later went on to
introduce the first quartz chronograph.

In the late 1980s, Seiko produced the first automatic quartz that combined the
self-energizing attributes of an automatic watch with quartz accuracy. The watch is
entirely powered by its movement in everyday wear.[6] In 1991, to increase
popularity, these watches were relaunched under the name Seiko Kinetic.[7]

In 1985, Orient and Seiko established a joint factory.

The company was incorporated (K. Hattori & Co., Ltd.) in 1917 and was renamed
Hattori Seiko Co., Ltd. in 1983 and Seiko Corporation in 1990. After reconstructing
and creating its operating subsidiaries (such as Seiko Watch Corporation and Seiko
Clock Inc.), it became a holding company in 2001 and was renamed Seiko Holdings
Corporation as of July 1, 2007.

Seiko is perhaps best known for its wristwatches, all of which were at one time
produced entirely in-house. This includes not only major items such as microgears,
motors, hands, crystal oscillators, batteries, sensors, LCDs but also minor items
such as the oils used in lubricating the watches and the luminous compounds used on
the hands and the dials. Seiko watches were originally produced by two different
subsidiaries. One was Daini Seikosha Co.,(now known as Seiko Instruments Inc.), and
the other was Suwa Seikosha Co.(now known as Seiko Epson Corporation). Having two
companies both producing the same brand of watch enabled Seiko to improve
technology through competition and hedge risk. It also reduced risk of production
problems, since one company can increase production in the case of decreased
production in the other parties.

Currently watch movements are made in Shizukuishi, Iwate (SII Morioka Seiko
Instruments), Ninohe, Iwate (SII Ninohe Tokei Kogyo), Shiojiri, Nagano (Seiko
Epson) and their subsidiaries in China, Malaysia and Singapore. The fully
integrated in-house production system is still practised for luxury watches in
Japan.

Seiko in the United States

Seiko Corporation of America is responsible for the distribution of Seiko watches
and clocks, as well as Pulsar and Lorus brand watches, in the United States. The
models available in the United States are normally a smaller subset of the full
line produced in Japan. Seiko Corporation of America has its headquarters (and
Coserv repair center) in Mahwah, New Jersey. In the United States, Seiko watches
are sold primarily by fine jewelers and department stores as well as 19 company
stores located in various cities.

Pulsar Montre 4
Marketing
On Friday, January 10, 2014 on the eve of the Australian Open in Melbourne, Shinji
Hattori, President of Seiko Watch Corporation, presented to Novak Djokovic a Seiko
5 limited edition worth $1700. It was launched worldwide with a million units,
symbolizing Seiko's partnership with the world's no.1 professional tennis player.
[8]

Seiko Group
Main article: Seiko Group
Seiko Holdings is one of the three core companies of the Seiko Group. The Seiko
Group consists of Seiko Holdings Corporation (Seiko), Seiko Instruments Inc. (SII),
and Seiko Epson Corporation (Epson). Although they have some common shareholders,
including the key members of the Hattori family (posterity of Kintaro Hattori), the
three companies in the Seiko Group are not affiliated. They are managed and
operated completely independently. Seiko Watch, an operating subsidiary of Seiko
Holdings, markets Seiko watches, while SII and Epson manufacture their movements.

On January 26, 2009, Seiko Holdings and Seiko Instruments announced that the two
companies would be merged on October 1, 2009, through a share swap. Seiko
Instruments became a wholly owned subsidiary of Seiko Holdings as of October 1,
2009.

Subsidiaries
Seiko Watch Corporation � Planning for watches and other products and domestic and
overseas sales
Seiko Nextage Co., Ltd. � watches: Alba and licensed brand watches
Seiko Clock Inc. � Development, manufacturing and sales of clocks (desk clocks,
wall clocks, alarm clocks)
Seiko Service Center Co., Ltd. � repair and after service for watches
Seiko Time Systems Inc. � Sale and incidental installation work for system clocks,
varied information display equipment and sports timing equipment, as well as timing
and measurement services for various sports
Seiko Precision Inc. � Manufacturing/sales for electronic devices, shutters for
cameras and peripherals, and production equipment
Seiko NPC Corporation � Development, manufacturing and marketing of integrated
circuits (IC)
Seiko Solutions Inc. � Development, manufacturing, sales, maintenance, services and
consultations for the hardware and the software relating with information systems
and network services
Seiko Optical Products Co., Ltd. � Wholesale marketing of lenses and frames for
glasses along with other optical-related products
Seiko Instruments Inc. � Development, manufacturing and sales of watches, precision
components and machine tools, electronic components, printers, measurement and
analysis instruments
Wako Co., Ltd. � Sales of watches, jewelry, accessories, interior supplies, art
goods and crafts, glasses and foodstuffs
Cronos Inc. � retail sales of watches, jewelry items and eyeglasses
Seiko Business Services Inc. � human resources
Ohara Inc. (Seiko owns 32.2% TYO: 5218) � specialty optical glass (glass materials
for lenses and prisms)
Brands and product lines
Seiko produces watches with quartz, kinetic, solar, and mechanical movements of
varying prices, ranging from around �4,000 (US$45) (sold under the brand Alba) to
�50,000,000 (US$554,000).[9] To separate the customer groups, Seiko has created
many different brands in Japan and the international market.

Seiko has several lines such as the Seiko 5,[10] luxury "Credor", "Prospex",
"Presage" and the "Grand Seiko" series.

Seiko 5

A stainless steel Seiko 5 SNK805 with green face and 18-mm-wide NATO watch strap
The Seiko 5 is not a single watch, rather a standard that many Seiko model series
of mechanical watches meet since the introduction of the moniker in the 1960s.

The standard gets its name from incorporating five key attributes:

Automatic winding
Day/date displayed in a single window (rare at the time)
Water resistance
A display caseback
Durable steel case and bracelet
Seiko have made many different models of "5" standard watch, including large,
small, divers, steel/leather/synthetic strap, transparent or sterile case-back and
many other variations.

Seiko Presage
The Seiko Presage series is an all-mechanical collection, a step up from its entry
level mechanical watches. It has slightly more elaborate designs and complex
movements, such as urushi-lacquer dials, and self-winding movements with power
reserve indicators.[11] The Presage line watches are usually priced between US$200
to US$3,000.[12]

Seiko SARB

Seiko SARB030 Mechanical Watch

The Seiko SARB is their mid-range mechanical line of watches.[13] They use the
Seiko 6R15 movement.

Some of the examples of the SARB line are SARB033, SARB035, SARB017, SARB065,
etc... as well as some of the rarer SARB013, SARB015, SARB031, SARB072.

NASA Flight Director Gene Kranz wore a Seiko 5 model 6119-8460 during the height of
his career. It was on his wrist when the Apollo 11 crew touched down on the lunar
surface, when the Apollo 13 explosion occurred, and throughout the remainder of his
career at NASA.

Grand Seiko
The Grand Seiko logo
Birth of Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko SBGA011 with 9R Spring Drive movement

Prior to 1960, to challenge the status of Swiss watches and change the perception
of Japanese watches, Daini Seikosha and Suwa began the discussion of a product line
that can match the quality of Swiss watches under the suggestion of the parent
company. At the time, Suwa Seikosha Co. was in charge of manufacturing men's
watches, so it was decided that Suwa would be producing the first Grand Seiko (GS).

The first Grand Seiko was released in 1960, it was based on Seiko's previous high-
end watch, CROWN. This Grand Seiko has a 25-jewel, manual-winding, 3180 caliber,
and only 36,000 units were produced. This was also the first chronometer-grade
watch manufactured in Japan, and it was based on Seiko's own chronometer standard.
[14]

Design style
The design language of the Grand Seiko was set in 1967, with the creation of Grand
Seiko 44GS. The 44GS set the ground for all future Grand Seiko with nine elements.
These elements help improve the legibility of the watch under different situations,
and create a sharp, crisp visual impression:[15]

Double width index at 12 o'clock

Multi-faceted rectangular markers
Highly polished bezel
Highly polished planes and two-dimensional surface
Half recessed crown
Flat dial
Multi-faceted hour and minute hands
Curved side line
Reverse slanted bezel wall and case side
Dress style with simple but beautiful design
Zaratsu polishing
Other
Seiko produces electronic devices as well. During the 1980s, the company produced a
notable range of digital synthesizers, such as the DS-250, for use in electronic
music. Today the music division (part of Seiko Life Sports) produces metronomes and
tuning devices.

Movements
Mechanical movement
In 1968, Seiko introduced three 10 beat (10 ticks per second) calibers, the
automatic caliber 61GS, the manual winding 45GS and 19GS for women's watch. The
61GS was Japan's first automatic 10 beat watch, and it was the most accurate
mechanical watch due to the high beat calibers.[16] The calibers are considered
high beat because normal mechanical movements beat six to eight times per second,
and higher beat makes the watch more resistant to shock, thus achieving the high
accuracy.[17]

In 2009, Seiko released the new 10 beat caliber 9S85, which is a completely new
designed of the previous high beat caliber. The new caliber also met the Grand
Seiko Standard, a chronometer certification that the company claims to be more
strict than the Chronometer Certificate in Switzerland.[18]

List of Seiko mechanical movements

Caliber Vibrations
(per hour)
Jewels Accuracy
(sec)

Power reserve
(hour)

Features
6R15 21,600 23 +25~-15 50 3 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands) and date display
6R20 28,800 29 +25~-15 45 6 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands), day and date display, power reserve indicator
6R21 28,800 29 +25~-15 45 6 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands), day and date display, power reserve indicator
6R24 28,800 31 +25~-15 45 6 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands), day and date display, power reserve indicator
6R27 28,800 29 +25~-15 45 5 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands), date display, power reserve indicator
6R35 21,600 24 +25~-15 70 3 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands) and date display
8R48 28,800 34 +25~-15 45 6 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
small second hands), stopwatch display (Hour, minute and second hands) and date
display
8L35 28,800 26 +15~-10 50 3 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands) and date display
8L55 36,000 37 +15~-10 55 3 hands, time display (Hour, minute and
second hands) and date display
Quartz movement
On December 25, 1969, Seiko released the world's first quartz watch, the Seiko
Quartz ASTRON, which marked the beginning of the quartz revolution.[19][20][21] The
watch uses a crystal oscillator for accuracy, where the crystal generates steady
vibration when voltage is applied to it. During the ten years of development at
Suwa Seikosha, Seiko managed to create many parts which enabled the viable
application of quartz in wristwatches. For example, Seiko cut the crystal
oscillator into the shape of a tuning-fork, and developed an integrated circuit and
step motor to operate with the signals from the crystal oscillator.

First commercial quartz watch, only 100 copies sold in Tokyo on Christmas 1969.
Quartz wristwatch Astron Cal. 35A, Seiko, Japan, 1969
Although creating the parts that enabled quartz watches, Seiko did not monopolize
the patent rights for the unique pieces, but decided to open them.

In 1973, Seiko announced the world's first LCD quartz watch with six-digit digital
display.

In 1975, Seiko launched the world's first multi-function digital watch, the 0634.

In 1978, Seiko released the Twin Quartz watch to address the impact of temperature
on the frequency of the quartz crystal oscillator, which put a limitation on the
accuracy of quartz watches. Seiko put a second crystal in the watch that is linked
with a processor that detects the change in temperature and signals the main
oscillator to compensate. The result was a huge improvement in the watch's accuracy
from 5 seconds per month to 5 seconds per year.

In 1988, Seiko combined automatic and electric watches, creating the Seiko Kinetic,
a movement that is powered by the movements of the user, converting the energy to
electricity for the quartz movement.

Grand Seiko 9F quartz movement

The 9F quartz movement is used in Grand Seiko quartz watches.[22]

The Grand Seiko's 9F quartz movement is assembled entirely by hand by two expert
craftsmen.

Features include:

Backlash auto-adjust mechanism

Twin pulse control motor
Instant date change mechanism � it can change the date display in 1/2000th of a
second
Spring Drive
Main article: Spring Drive
The Spring Drive was announced in 1997. It was developed by Yoshikazu Akahane and
his team and inspired by Yoshikazu's vision: "a watch wound by a mainspring and
with one-second-a-day accuracy, a precision that only the finest electronic watches
could deliver".[23] This movement achieved high accuracy with 1 second per day,
long power reserve (72 hours) with its special developed alloy, fast winding with
the "Magic Lever" design and glide-motion movement with the watch hands.

The movement uses a mainspring as a source of energy and transmits it through a

gear train, just like a traditional mechanical watch, but instead of an escapement
and balance wheel, Seiko used the newly developed "Tri-synchro regulator", which
acts like a quartz movement. The Tri-synchro regulator has three main functions:
controlling the mechanical energy of the mainspring, generate electricity for the
low consumption (~25 nanowatts) quartz crystal oscillator and generate a magnetic
force to regulate the glide wheel. By replacing the traditional escapement with a
magnetic brake, the Spring Drive operates with lower noise and presents a glide
motion hand that shows the continuous flow of time. The Spring Drive movement was
also used as the basis for the first-ever watch designed to be worn by an astronaut
during a space walk, the aptly named Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk.[24]

Official timekeeper
Seiko has been the official timekeeper of many major sporting events:

Olympic Games
1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan
1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan
1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain
1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway
1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan
2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina
1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain
1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico
1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy
IAAF World Championships
Currently, Seiko has an agreement with the International Association of Athletics
Federations to act as the timekeeper for the latest editions of the IAAF World
Championships in Athletics. The agreement started in 1985[25] and is set to
continue until at least 2029.[26]

1987 World Championships in Athletics in Rome, Italy

1991 World Championships in Athletics in Tokyo, Japan
1993 World Championships in Athletics in Stuttgart, Germany
1995 World Championships in Athletics in Gothenburg, Sweden
1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens, Greece
1999 World Championships in Athletics in Seville, Spain
2001 World Championships in Athletics in Edmonton, Canada
2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris, France
2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Finland
2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka, Japan
2009 World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany
2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea
2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Russia
2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, China
2017 World Championships in Athletics in London, United Kingdom
2019 World Championships in Athletics in Doha, Qatar
Other sponsorships
Seiko created a digital watch styled after Venom Snake's timepiece in Metal Gear
Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Seiko is also named as the official timekeeper of the
Gran Turismo racing game series, published by Sony Computer Entertainment.[27] It
was also the sponsor of FC Barcelona from 2011 to 2014.[28][29]

Seiko was the official timekeeper of the North American Soccer League during the
2014 season.[30]

Seiko used to sponsor Honda F1 (previously known as BAR [British American Racing]
Honda). The Seiko name cannot currently be found on the Honda racing cars because
Seiko Japan refused to be advertised whilst the names of tobacco companies are
still appearing on the cars. They can, however, be found on the lollipop used in
the pitlane.

Historic Seiko watches

Seiko Gyro Marvel Automatic Diashock 17 Jewels, 1960

Seiko Champion Diashock 19 Jewels, 1960

Seiko King Diashock 25 Jewels, 2nd model, 1967

Seiko Skyliner 6220-7990, 1968

Seiko Bell-Matic 17 Jewels

Seiko Bell-Matic 27 Jewels

Seiko Quartz 2002 3803-7070, 1973

Seiko Chronograph Automatic 6139-7080 ("Hexagon"), 1974

Seiko Grand Quartz 4843-5010, 1975

Seiko King Quartz 0853-8005, 1976

Seiko Chronograph Automatic 6138-8020 ("Panda"), 1977

Seiko LCD Solar Alarm Chronograph A156-5000, 1978 (Seiko's 1st solar-powered watch)

Seiko Quartz Automatic Generating System 7M22-6A50, 1988

Seiko Quartz A.G.S. 7M22-8A20, 1988

Seiko Automatic Generating System 5M22-8A80, 1993

Seiko AGS SCUBA Diver 200m 5M23-6A60, 1993

Seiko Kinetic 5M42-0A70, 1995

Seiko Sportura Dual Time World Chronograph H023-00A0, 2003

Seiko Automatic-Chronograph Cal. 6139, the "Pogue Seiko�

Seiko SKX007 automatic diver watch, 1996

Grand Seiko Automatic Hi-Beat 5646-7000

King Seiko Automatic Special Hi-Beat 5246-6000 Chronometer Officially Certified

Seiko Flyback-Automatic-Chronograph Cal. 7016, "Seiko-Monaco" (1976).

References and footnotes

Notification of change of President Seiko Holdings Corporation, April 30, 2010
"Financial Highlights".
"Corporate Information".
"History of Seiko and Its Products". THE SEIKO MUSEUM. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
"TRADE MARKS ORDINANCE (CAP. 559) OPPOSITION TO TRADE MARK APPLICATION NO.
301488619" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-12-11.
Adv. "How could we fit 50 patents inside? We took out the battery". Newsweek.
December 18, 1995. p. 15.
"Copy Swiss Replica Watches".
"Novak Djokovic Signs with Seiko". Retrieved 2017-10-12.
Credor FUGAKU GBCC999 (in Japanese)
"WHY "5" ? | THE SEIKO 5 STORY | SEIKO 5 SPORTS". www.seikowatches.com. Retrieved
2017-10-14.
December 08, Jack Forster; 2016. "Introducing: The Seiko Presage Automatic 60th
Anniversary Limited Edition, SARW027". HODINKEE. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
"What Is The History Of Seiko? | Automatic Watches For Men". Retrieved 2019-12-12.
"Buyer's Guide". WatchSleuth. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
"The History of Grand Seiko". seiyajapan.com. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
"DESIGN | ABOUT | Grand Seiko". www.grand-seiko.com. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
"Grand Seiko | SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION". www.grand-seiko.com. Retrieved 2016-12-
02.
"Grand Seiko Caliber 9S85". calibercorner.com. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
 "Grand Seiko | SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION". www.grand-seiko.com. Retrieved 2016-12-
02.
October 10, Joe Thompson; 2017. "Four Revolutions: Part 1: A Concise History Of
The Quartz Revolution". HODINKEE. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
"The Quartz Crisis and Recovery of Swiss Watches | Relation between Timepieces and
Society". THE SEIKO MUSEUM. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
"The Quartz Crisis". Crown & Caliber Blog. 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2019-03-05.
"9F Quartz | MOVEMENT | ABOUT | Grand Seiko". www.grand-seiko.com. Retrieved 2017-
12-17.
"SEIKO WATCH | Technology - Spring Drive". SEIKO WATCH. Retrieved 2016-10-28.
""SEIKO wins the prestigious Sports Watch of 2010 award at the Grand Prix
d'Horlogerie de Gen�ve"". seikowatches.com. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
"Partners - Seiko". IAAF. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
"Seiko renews its partnership with the IAAF for ten more years". Yokohama: IAAF.
10 May 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
"Seiko is the Official Timekeeper of the Gran Turismo Racing Series". Luxury
Watches That Impress Review Blog. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
"SEIKO's sponsorship of FC Barcelona is celebrated in Turkey". Seiko. Istanbul. 28
May 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
"FC Barcelona to swap Seiko for Maurice Lacroix". Goal.com Singapore. 11 March
2014. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
"NASL welcomes Seiko as official timekeeper". NASL. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 2
March 2017.