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Luxury watches from Seiko, Grand Seiko, was born in 1960. The goal was, and remains to create the very best watch of which the company was capable. The first generation of Grand Seiko was cased with a GS cal. 3180; the first chronometer grade watch produced in Japan. The 2nd generation Grand Seiko was released in 1964, with the 57GS, a low beat hand-wound wrist watch. In 1967, the first automatic Grand Seiko, 62GS was released. Grand Seiko production was suspended at the middle of the 1970’s. (In the early 70’s Grand Seiko were still being produced.) The relaunch of Grand Seiko was in 1988 with a quartz movement with high accuracy and in 1993 a quartz watch equipped with a movement developed exclusively for Grand Seiko was launched. In terms of mechanical watches, it was in 1998 that Grand Seiko returned with a newly developed movement tested by its own standard which was regarded more strict than COSC standard.
The below material has been partially supplied courtesy of Seiko.
An abbreviated early history of Seiko.
(For a more detailed account, please click on the link at the bottom of this page.)
1881
Seiko's history begins in 1881 when a 22 year old entrepreneur, Kintaro Hattori, opened a shop selling and repairing watches and clocks in central Tokyo. In 1892, he established the 'Seikosha' factory. In this disused factory in Tokyo “Seikosha” was formed (In Japanese, "Seiko" means "exquisite", "minute", "precision" or "success" and "sha" means house).
1895
In 1895 Kintaro made his first pocket watch, the "Timekeeper".
1913
In 1913 the "Laurel" was the first wristwatch to made in Japan. In the early days, the company was able to produce between 30 to 50 watches a day.
1924
The first Seiko brand watch was produced in 1924. The Great Kanto Earthquake struck in 1923 and the company's headquarters and the Seikosha factory burned down. After the Earthquake, the company rebuilt and created a new watch.
1929
As Japan's railway network expanded, the National Railways appointed Seiko as Japan National Railway's official "Railway Watch".
1932
In 1932 Seiko constructed The Wako Clock Tower, which has become a familiar face of Ginza.
To learn more about Grand Seiko