Seiko Timeline
A Timeline of Seiko Watch Company 1881 to 2010
Although Seiko, founded in 1881, is a relative newcomer in the ancient world of watchmaking, it is perhaps the most important watchmaker of the 20th Century. Its accomplishments are an enviable list of world firsts, and technological milestones.
1881 | Kintaro Hattori opens watch and jewelry shop in Tokyo's Ginza District. The shop is called K. Hattori. |
1892 | K. Hattori begins producing clocks under the Seikosha name. |
1917 | K. Hattori renamed "K. Hattori & Co., Ltd". |
1923 | K. Hattori headquarters and factory along with much of Tokyo destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake. Although many customers' timepieces in for repair were lost, Seiko's reputation was greatly enhanced when it replaced all of them with new watches and clocks. |
1924 | The first watches are produced with the Seiko name. The name Seiko can be interpreted as "exquisite", "minute" or also as "success". |
1953 | Seiko airs first ever television commercial in Japan |
1964 | Seiko is the Official timer for the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. |
1965 | Seiko introduces Japan's first diving watch. |
1968 | Seiko mechanical timepieces win chronometer competitions in Neuchatel and Geneva, Switzerland. |
1969 | Changing horology forever, Seiko introduces "Astron", the world's first production quartz watch. Retail price was around $1250.00USD. |
1973 | Seiko introduces World's first LCD quartz watch with six digit display. |
1975 | Seiko introduces World's first multifunction digital watch. |
1978 | Seiko is the official timer for the World Cup of Football in Argentina. |
1982 | Seiko introduces World's first TV watch. |
1982 | Seiko is the official timer for the World Cup of Football in Spain. |
1983 | K. Hattori & Co., Ltd "renamed Hattori Seiko Co., Ltd" |
1986 | Seiko is the official timer for the World Cup of Football in Mexico. |
1988 | Seiko introduces the kinetic quartz watch which incorporated 50 patented technologies. The first kinetic timepiece used just 3% of the energy of Seiko's first quartz watch, the Astron. |
1990 | Hattori Seiko Co., Ltd renamed "Seiko Corporation". |
1990 | Seiko is the official timer for the World Cup of Football in Italy. |
1990 | Seiko introduces World's first computerized dive watch, the "Scubamaster". |
1992 | Seiko is the official timer for the Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona. |
1994 | Seiko is the official timer for the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer. |
1998 | Seiko is the official timer for the Winter Olympic Games in Nagano. |
2002 | Seiko is the official timer for the Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. |
2005 | After more than 600 prototypes and 28 years of development, Seiko introduces "Spring Drive". |
2007 | Seiko Corporation renamed "Seiko Holdings Corporation". |
2008 | Seiko builds the 8R caliber automatic chronograph with a "magic lever", column wheel and vertical clutch. A new three-pointed hammer was invented which ensures instant reset of the chronograph hands. |
2010 | Seiko introduces World's first EPD (electronic paper display) watch with E Ink technology. |
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