Other Watchy Bits: A Brief History of Seiko

Seiko is one of the most prolific brands in horology and has an extensive history dating back over 130 years. The brand started in 1881 when a 21-year-old entrepreneur, Kintaro Hattori, opened a shop in central Tokyo--Ginza to be specific--that specialized in repairing watches and clocks. Eleven years later, in 1892, Kintaro opened up his manufacturing facility, Seikosha, which primarily focused on producing wall clocks. Fun fact: Seikosha combines the word seiko (成功,) meaning “exquisite” or “success,” and sha, meaning “house” in Japanese. The translation of Seikosha is “exquisite or success house.”

Other Watchy Bits: A Brief History of Seiko Divers

Few tool watches manage to achieve that heady space of voguish collectability, occupied by brands like Rolex and Omega, while remaining accessible to the common man. The sheer number of models, references, and price points—all products of function-first design, upholding and surpassing the ISO 6425 standards—mean that somewhere in the Seiko catalogue there is a dive watch waiting for you.