35 Facts About Seiko

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

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

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

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

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

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In 1968, 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 Seiko ranked fourth to tenth for its mechanical movements.

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

Seiko later went on to introduce the first quartz chronograph.

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

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

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

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

Seiko released many models under the 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.

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

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

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

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

For example, 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, Seiko announced the world's first LCD quartz watch with six-digit digital display.

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

In 1978, 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.

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.

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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, Seiko used the newly developed "Tri-synchro regulator, " which acts like a quartz movement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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