38 Facts About Hattori Seiko

Hattori Seiko Group Corporation, commonly known as Hattori Seiko, is a Japanese maker of watches, clocks, electronic devices, semiconductors, jewelry, and optical products.

Kintaro Hattori Seiko had been working as clockmaker apprentice since the age of 13, with multiple stints in different watch shops, such as “Kobayashi Clock Shop”, ran by an expert technician named Seijiro Sakurai; “Kameda Clock Shop” in Nihonbashi; and “Sakata Clock Shop” in Ueno, where he learned how to both sell and repair timepieces.

Around the time of Hattori Seiko's founding, watchmakers in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya were studying and producing pocket watches based on Western products.

In 1885, Mr Hattori Seiko began dealing directly with these foreign trading firms in the Yokohama settlement focused on the wholesaling and retailing of western timepieces and machinery.

Hattori Seiko's shop became increasingly popular due to the rarity of the imported watches the shop was selling, which couldn't be found anywhere else in Japan.

Related searches

In 1929, the Hattori Seiko pocket watch was adopted as the official watch for the drivers of Japanese Government Railways.

Hattori Seiko released its first chronograph watch in Japan in 1964 and its first diver's watch in Japan in 1965.

In 1967, Hattori Seiko won second and third place in a watch accuracy competition at a Neuchatel Observatory competition; the competition was canceled after that year.

In 1968, Hattori Seiko took first place in a Geneva Observatory competition with a score of 58.

Swiss companies ranked first to third for their quartz movements and Hattori Seiko ranked fourth to tenth for its mechanical movements.

In 1969, Hattori Seiko introduced the Astron, the world's first production quartz watch; when it was introduced, it cost the same as a medium-sized car.

Hattori Seiko later went on to introduce the first quartz chronograph.

In 1998, Grand Hattori Seiko was released with the first new mechanical movement in 20 years.

Hattori Seiko has created many different brands in Japan and the international market including Lorus, Pulsar, and Alba.

Hattori Seiko 5 is a sub brand that spawned with the introduction of the Hattori Seiko Sportsmatic 5 in 1963.

Name of the Hattori Seiko 5 sub brand is a reference to 5 attributes that any watch belonging to it would typically exhibit, those being:.

Hattori Seiko released many models under the Hattori Seiko 5 sub brand, including large and small divers; watches featuring different strap options, such as leather, nylon, or steel; transparent, or sterile case-back versions; and many other variations.

Hattori Seiko Presage series is an all-mechanical lineup, a step up from the entry-level Hattori Seiko 5 models.

Hattori Seiko entered a cooperation with the traditional cloisonne maker Ando Cloisonne Company from Nagoya to produce the dial for the limited edition in 2018.

The first King Hattori Seiko was released the year after the first Grand Hattori Seiko, in 1961.

Hattori Seiko produces electronic devices as well; during the 1980s, the company produced a notable range of digital synthesizers, such as the DS-202 and DS-250, for use in electronic music.

In 1968, Hattori Seiko introduced three ten beat calibers, the automatic caliber 61GS, the manual winding 45GS and 19GS for women's watch.

In 2009, Hattori Seiko released the new ten beat caliber 9S85, which is a completely new design from the previous high beat caliber.

For example, Hattori Seiko cut the crystal oscillator into the shape of a tuning-fork, and developed an integrated circuit and step motor to operate with the signals from the crystal oscillator.

In 1973, Hattori Seiko announced the world's first LCD quartz watch with six-digit digital display.

Related searches

In 1975, Hattori Seiko launched the world's first multi-function digital watch, the 0634.

In 1978, Hattori 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.

Hattori Seiko put a second crystal in the watch that is linked with a processor that detects the change in temperature and signals the main oscillator to compensate.

Movement uses a mainspring as a source of energy and transmits it through a gear train, just like a traditional mechanical watch, but instead of an escapement and balance wheel, Hattori Seiko used the newly developed "Tri-synchro regulator, " which acts like a quartz movement.

Hattori Seiko has been the official timekeeper of many major sporting events:.

Hattori Seiko released official products for the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in Japan and South Korea, without being the official timekeeper.

Currently, Hattori Seiko has an agreement with World Athletics to act as the timekeeper for the latest editions of the World Athletics Championships.

Hattori Seiko developed a digital watch styled after Venom Snake's timepiece in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain under its Wired brand.

Hattori Seiko is named as the official timekeeper of the Gran Turismo racing game series, published by Sony Computer Entertainment.

Hattori Seiko was the official timekeeper of the North American Soccer League during the 2014 season.

Hattori Seiko name appeared on the team's clothing, Button's helmet, and on the pitstop lollipops.

Hattori Seiko has a partnership with tennis player Novak Djokovic, which started in 2014 and is set to continue at least until 2020.

Hattori Seiko is the current major sponsor for the No 20 Team 18 Holden ZB Commodore driven by Scott Pye in the Supercars Championship.