A SYMBOL OF ENDURING LEGACY
This wall clock was made by Seikosha in 1892, the year Kintaro Hattori set up his first clock factory
The story of Seiko begins in 1873, long before the company was founded, when Japan adopted the solar calendar in place of the lunar system. The old Japanese time system had come to an end and no one in Japan had the experience or know-how to make clocks that could be used for the new time system. It led to the creation of an entirely new horological industry in Japan.
Kintaro Hattori
In 1877, Kintaro Hattori started a clock repair service, Hattori Clock Repair, which laid the foundations of modern clock and watch making in Japan. It also provided the foundation for the organisation that was to become, by the end of the 20th century, not only Japan’s most important watch and clock company, but also one of the largest and most important in the world. Kintaro’s success, earned him the nickname “King of Timepieces”.
Kintaro Hattori
Poster shows the Seikosha factory and some of its earliest products
Just four years later in 1881, he set up a new company, K Hattori, as a vehicle for expanding his business. In 1892 Seikosha was formed. It was here that he produced his first clocks and these marked the beginnings of a company that was to become one of the world’s most important manufacturers of timepieces. Seikosha started by making wall clocks and later graduated to pocket-watches, alarm clocks and wrist watches.
A Seikosha alarm clock assembly line around 1930
By 1897 Seikosha had become the largest wall clock manufacturer in Japan. In 1899 the company achieved another ‘first’ for a Japanese clockmaker by producing alarm clocks. By 1908 170,000 units were manufactured. Seiko was now truly competitive and its clocks were the finest available. In subsequent years the Seikosha name was changed to Seiko. It was the far-sighted genius of Kintaro Hattori that laid the foundations of the present Seiko Corporation. Since his death in 1934, his descendants have demonstrated skills of imagination and innovation that enabled the company now known as Seiko, to become the world’s producer of the finest watches and clock.
A Seikosha alarm clock assembly line around 1930

1892

Founded Seikosha Clock Factory, started production of wall clocks

1899

Produced Japan’s first alarm clock

1953

Broadcasted Japan’s first TV Commercial

1968

Introduced the world's first quartz wall clocks for home use.

1976

Introduced the world’s first quartz alarm clocks

1983

Introduced Pyramid Talk, the talking clock

1988

Introduced the Melodies in Motion

2005

Introduced the world’s first five-lever escapement mechanism, Perpetuity

2009

Introduction of the Seiko Emotional Collection

2011

Introduction of the 130th original mechanical clocks.

2013

Introduced the world’s first Satellite Radio Wave Clock, Seiko Space Link