By BrandsShouts No, Seiko is not considered a pure luxury brand, and there are some valid reasons for that. So far, if you were thinking of Seiko as some top-of-the-line luxury watch brand, then you should keep on reading this piece on this famous watch brand.
Seiko’s History
The path of Seiko began in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori opened a small shop for clock and watch repairs in Tokyo. In 1892, he formed a factory by the name of Seikosha, which literally means the “House of Precise Work.” The name itself pointed toward a respect for precise work and craft.
The year was 1913 when the illustrious watch company created Japan’s first-ever wristwatch, christened “Laurel.” In 1924, time began to be counted under the Seiko brand name. These moments are the beginning of Seiko’s long history of innovation and reliability.
Why Seiko Isn’t Always Seen as Luxury
The truth is that Seiko watches are durable. Hence, for most people, it is regarded as a famous and affordable watch brand. You can buy it with a few hundred bucks, making it within the reach of just about anyone. Their affordability places them separately from the Swiss luxury watchmakers, who charge much more and produce watches in limited quantities.
Though There Is The Luxury Side of Seiko, Too!
Now, the central plot of the story, the premium side, aka the Grand Seiko. This one, established in 1960, Grand Seiko was created to compete with Swiss luxury watches. These are not your regular inexpensive Seikos.
Grand Seiko watches are made by hand by artisans in Japan. Cases undergo polishing by hand with the special Zaratsu technique to achieve a mirror finish, whereas the movements rank among the most accurate in the entire watchmaking industry. Combine the mechanics of a traditional watch with the accuracy of quartz technology, for example, the well-known Spring Drive movement. Then one must see those dials; they are an art form and mainly derived from Japanese nature-Like snow, forests, or light reflections in water.