Seiko watches have a long, industrious history in the watchmaker industry. Founded in the late 19th century by watchmaker Kintoro Hattari, this watch company began as a simple shop in the famous Ginza district in Tokyo, Japan. Hattari desired to make wristwatches for the Japanese people that would rival the long-enduring traditions of European wristwatches. Hattari's watch works company primarily focused on wall-hanging clocks, eventually moving onto the manufacturing of pocket watches, alarm clocks and table clocks. The idea of making wristwatches that bested European competition never strayed far from Hattari's vision, however, and finally in 1913, the first wristwatch under the Seikosha label was created. From the humble beginnings in the Ginza district, Seiko watches eventually would become one of the most trusted names in the watch-making industry. Consumers may recognize Seiko watches best for their accuracy and true craftsmanship. The technological advancements made by Seiko watches include some of the biggest firsts in the industry. It was in 1969 that Seiko first introduced the world to the quartz watch, a major leap in watch-making technology that was soon to be copied by all other timepiece manufacturers. Seiko watches were the first to design kinetic wristwatches. The Seiko Kinetic uses patented kinetic technology, adapting the rhythm of the human body to power the watch. An oscillating weight rotates naturally with the motion of the wrist. This motion is then transformed into a magnetic charge, which in turn becomes an electric charge that can be stored for up to six months in a small capacitor. The kinetic watches by Seiko need neither batteries nor winding mechanisms, simply the human body. |