At 145 years old, Seiko no longer needs to prove its credentials. Since its beginnings in Ginza, the Japanese brand has forged a unique relationship with time. From its first mechanical watches to major advances in quartz and solar-powered GPS, Seiko has accompanied and often anticipated the major transformations of modern watchmaking. To celebrate this symbolic anniversary, the manufacturer presents a fresh take on its icons through a limited-edition collection.
A founding vision: The watch guided by progress
When, in 1881, Kintaro Hattori opened a modest watch repair shop in the Ginza district of Tokyo, his aim was to design timepieces capable of combining precision, beauty and everyday practicality. This philosophy, later summed up by the motto “Always one step ahead of the rest”, would become Seiko’s guiding principle for nearly a century and a half.
Very early on, Kintaro Hattori realised that watchmaking could not be limited to a technical function. The first Seiko timepieces already stood out for their engraved dials, an aesthetic detail that reflected an ambitious goal for the time: to enrich the lives of their owners through joy and beauty.
In 1892, he founded his own manufacture, Seikosha, and three years later unveiled the Timekeeper, the brand’s first pocket watch. From that point on, Japan entered the era of modern watchmaking.
Gradually, Seiko became a pillar of the global watchmaking industry with the first Japanese wristwatch, its sports chronometers, quartz movements, solar-powered GPS watches… Each advancement reflects a unique capacity for innovation. An approach that explains why Seiko today occupies a special place, distinguished by its ingenuity and refinement.
Through this anniversary collection, Seiko highlights what makes it unique in the global watchmaking landscape: complete control over the entire manufacturing process, from case design to movement development.
Unlike many brands that outsource part of their production, Seiko designs its calibres in-house, enabling it to control the precision, reliability and durability of its watches. This integrated industrial approach, rare at this scale of production, has been at the heart of the brand’s identity since its inception.
An anniversary collection that revisits the brand’s watches
The 145th anniversary limited editions showcase this expertise through very different yet complementary technical expressions. King Seiko highlights the finesse and balance of an ultra-thin calibre designed for everyday elegance.
Prospex evokes the brand’s sporting heritage with a mechanical chronograph featuring a column wheel and vertical clutch, a sophisticated system that ensures smoother operation and greater durability. Presage, for its part, celebrates traditional craftsmanship, particularly enamel work, whilst offering an extended power reserve, synonymous with ease of use.
Finally, Astron embodies Seiko’s capacity for constant innovation, with solar-powered GPS technology capable of automatically adjusting the time anywhere in the world, without compromising on battery life.
By bringing these worlds together within a single collection, Seiko does not simply juxtapose styles, but presents a coherent vision of time designed to accompany real-life uses.
Translated by Bethszabee Garner
