Seiko

The story of Seiko began in 1881, when a 21 year old entrepreneur,
Kintaro Hattori, opened a shop selling and repairing watches and clocks in central Tokyo. The first wrist watch with “Seiko” on the dial shown here and the live in training facility at Seikosha. 

Since the beginning of Seiko in 1881, the company has continued to innovate in line with founder Kintaro Hattori’s philosophy to be “Always one step ahead of the rest.” In 1924, the company introduced the first wristwatch with “Seiko” on the dial, signifying the beginning of the Seiko brand. 2024, marks the 100th anniversary of this landmark event.

“This was the vision of Seiko’s founder Kintaro Hattori and it has inspired our company through over a century of watchmaking. An unflagging quest to increase both the precision, utility and beauty of our watches has resulted in many world-firsts. In 1969 we revolutionized the watchmaking industry with the Seiko Quartz Astron, the world’s first quartz watch. And in 2012, when we launched the Seiko Astron, the world’s first GPS solar watch, it was immediately recognized as the new global standard by markets worldwide.”

“As we look forward to the next decade, our commitment to our founder’s vision will remain undiminished, but we aim to add a new, extra dimension to the watches we offer. As well as innovative technology and a finely honed approach to design, we aim to create watches that have a strong emotional appeal and that will enrich the lives of our customers. Time is to be enjoyed and our aim is to touch people’s hearts worldwide, adding a touch of fun and excitement to their lives. “Moving Ahead. Touching Hearts.”

Shinji Hattori 
Director, Chairman of the Board