Electronics and machinery
Seiko セイコー
The first quartz wristwatch
Kintarō Hattori opened a watch and jewellery shop in Tokyo in 1881 and began making clocks in 1892. In 1969 Seiko launched the Astron, the world's first quartz wristwatch, which changed how watches were made everywhere.
- Founded
- 1881
- Meiji 14
- Founder
- Kintarō Hattori
- Started in
- Tokyo
- Status
- Still trading
- Age 145 years
Timeline
-
1881 (Meiji 14)
Hattori opens a shop selling and repairing watches in Tokyo.
-
1892 (Meiji 25)
Starts making wall clocks at its Seikōsha factory.
-
1932 (Shōwa 7)
The clock tower of its Wakō building in Ginza is completed, now a city landmark.
-
1969 (Shōwa 44)
Launches the Astron, the first quartz wristwatch.
Years in brackets are the Japanese era year. Japanese era converter →
Did you know?
Seikōsha means roughly "house of exquisite workmanship".
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