The history of Seiko dates back to 1881, when Kintaro Hattori, a young entrepreneur, opened a shop in Tokyo selling and repairing watches and clocks. In 1892, he established the Seikosha factory, which produced wall clocks. The name Seiko means “exquisite,” “minute,” or “success” in Japanese, while “sha” means house. Kintaro Hattori’s first clocks marked the beginning of a company that would become a significant manufacturer of timepieces.
In 1913, Seiko introduced its first wristwatch, called the Laurel, which was a first for both Seiko and Japan. This marked the beginning of a tradition of innovation that continues to this day, more than 130 years after the company’s founding. Seiko remains dedicated to achieving the dreams of its founder, Kintaro Hattori.
