Seiko Holdings Corporation (????????????????, Seik? H?rudingusu Kabushiki-gaisha) (TYO: 8050), commonly known as Seiko ( SAY-koh), is a Japanese holding company that has subsidiaries which manufactures and sells watches, clocks, electronic devices, semiconductors, jewelries, and optical products.
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History and Development
The company was founded in 1881, when Kintar? 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 (???, Seik?sha), 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 j?ngqi?o, while the meaning "success" is usually written ?? from Chinese chéngg?ng).
The first watches produced under the Seiko brand appeared in 1924. 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 Kinetic watch that combined the self-energizing attributes of an automatic watch with quartz accuracy. The watch is entirely powered by its movement in everyday wear.
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 Diani 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 party.
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.
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Brands and Product Lines
Seiko produces watches with quartz, kinetic, solar, and mechanical watches of varying prices, ranging from around ¥4,000 (US$45) (sold under the brand Alba) to ¥50,000,000 (US$554,000). 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, luxury "Credor", and the "Grand Seiko" series.
Seiko 5
Seiko 5 was created to be a watch whose performance would serve the demanding needs of the 1960's generation, who cared less for tradition and more about life.
The watch has five key attributes:
1. Automatic winding
2. Day/date displayed in a single window - rare at the time.
3. Water resistance
4. Recessed crown at the 4 o'clock position
5. Durable steel case and bracelet
Seiko SARB
The Seiko SARB is their mid-range mechanical line of watches. They use the Seiko 6R15 movement.
Grand Seiko
Birth of Grand Seiko
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 calibre, 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.
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:
- 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
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. 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.
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 is more strict than the Chronometer Certificate in Switzerland.
List of Seiko Mechanical Movements
Quartz Movement
On December 25, 1969, Seiko released the world's first quartz watch, the Seiko Quartz ASTRON. 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, developed an integrated circuit and step motor to operate with the signals from the crystal oscillator.
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 which 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 with 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. It was released in 1993 and still has no equal as of 2018.
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
In 2005, Seiko Spring Drive was announced. 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." 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 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 magnetic brake, the Spring Drive operates with lower noise and present a glide motion hand that shows 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.
Seiko in the United States
Seiko Corporation of America is responsible for 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.
Moon Watch
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. The watch was recently sold and is still in working order.
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.
Official timekeeper
Seiko is also the official timekeeper of many major sporting events:
Olympic Games
- 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, 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 and is set to continue until at least 2019.
- 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. Seiko is also named as the official timekeeper of the Gran Turismo racing game series, published by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was also the sponsor of FC Barcelona from 2011 to 2014.
Seiko was the official timekeeper of the North American Soccer League during the 2014 season.
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
Operating Companies (Products and Services)
- 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)
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 Kintar? 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 will 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.
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.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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