Seiko

Seiko exists since 1881 and initially Seiko was a small watch store in Tokyo. In 1892 the first Seikosha clocks were produced, laying the foundation for the official name Seiko, which appeared for the first time in 1924. The Seiko Astron hit the market in the 1960s as the world’s first production quartz watch, followed by a quartz chronograph.

Today the Seiko Astron is a very popular watch with variations such as the Seiko Astron GPS. All Seiko watches are made in-house in Japan where Seiko even makes the oil and luminous items in large-scale factories. All Seiko luxury watches are produced in Japan (Grand Seiko models) while other watches are assembled throughout Asia.

Read more

When in Rome: Five Watches with Roman Numeral Dials

Roman numerals are mostly reserved these days for movie sequels and Super Bowls, but they can still add a hint of elegant classicism to a watch dial, as in the five timepieces we showcase here. BLANCPAIN VILLERET ULTRAPLATE Blancpain’s Villeret series, named for the Swiss village where the manufacture was founded in 1735, is distinguished...

Read the article

Jul 26, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

FEATURE

James Bond’s Watches: The Complete Movie Timeline

He’s the world’s most famous secret agent, and the selection of watches on his wrist is at least as varied as the parade of “Bond girls” at his side. Our timeline presents an overview of James Bond's watches throughout the years.

Read the article

Jul 23, 2021 by WatchTime

FEATURE

Chronomania: The 50+-Year History of the Automatic Chronograph

Fifty years ago, the consortium of Heuer-Leonidas, Breitling, Buren-Hamilton and Dubois Dépraz vied with lone wolves Zenith and Seiko in the race to launch the world’s first automatic chronograph movement. How did these brands keep their developments secret? And how did the watch world change? We searched the past for clues.

Read the article

Jul 16, 2021 by WatchTime

Lift-Off: 6 Watches (Other Than the Omega Speedmaster) That Went to Space

In 1957, the first artificial satellite named Sputnik 1 was launched into space by the Soviet Union, triggering a race among nations. For security reasons, astronauts always carried a wristwatch with them. These six timepieces played a unique role in this conquest of space.

Read the article

Jul 13, 2021 by Jens Koch

Fresh Tuna: Seiko Introduces the Prospex 1986 Quartz Diver’s 35th Anniversary Limited Edition

Japanese watchmaker Seiko made news earlier this month when it released a pair of vintage-inspired dive watches, the new SPB239 and SPB237 references. Proving it was not quite finished yet with resurrecting its historically influenced timepieces, Seiko now unveils a third in 2021: the Prospex 1986 Quartz Diver’s 35th Anniversary Limited Edition Ref. S23635. The...

Read the article

Jun 19, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

PORTFOLIO

Time Tools: 8 Tool Watches From Luxury Brands

In this article from the WatchTime archives, we present eight "tool watches" that emphasize functionality and are robust, accurate, legible, and — importantly — not excessively expensive.

Read the article

Jun 18, 2021 by Jens Koch

FEATURE

Seiko: A Chronograph Chronology

We survey Seiko’s half-century-plus of mechanical chronographs in this comprehensive historical feature from the WatchTime archives. Discover the Japanese brand's contributions to the world of chronograph wristwatches.

Read the article

Jun 16, 2021 by Gisbert Brunner

Vintage Dive Watches Resurface as Seiko Introduces New SPB239 and SPB237, Inspired by ’60s and ’70s Models

Few dive watches, historical or modern, enjoy such persistent praise from knowledgeable aficionados as those produced by Seiko. With a vast catalog of offerings at many different price points and levels of precision, the Japanese brand excels in producing watches that appeal to a wide variety of enthusiasts. Recently, Seiko once again revisited its archives...

Read the article

Jun 6, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

FEATURE

Touching the Past: Six Modern “Retro” Watches and the Historical Pieces That Inspired Them

When retro-inspired watches are modeled after specific predecessors, fans of mechanical timekeeping can “grasp” design history. In this feature from the WatchTime archives, we take a look at six watches that awaken a longing for the past.

Read the article

May 26, 2021 by Alexander Krupp

REVIEW:

Borrowed Time: The GPHG-Winning Seiko Prospex 1968 Diver’s Re-Creation SLA025J1

In 1968, three years after the brand’s first dive watch was released (the 62MAS or Reference 6217-800x with 150-meter water resistance), Seiko’s engineers managed to raise the bar with a Hi-Beat divers’ watch with 300-meter water resistance (Reference 6159-700x). This model was not only the first Japanese dive watch to be equipped with a 10-beat...

Read the article

May 21, 2021 by Roger Ruegger

WATCH REVIEW

Silent Accord: Reviewing the Grand Seiko Spring Drive Diver SBGA229

Grand Seiko’s SBGA229 divers’ watch combines traditional mechanical watchmaking and the precision of electronic timekeeping. This is made possible by Spring Drive technology, developed by Seiko, and the result is an authentic divers’ watch with a unique inner life. In this feature from our October 2019 issue, with original photos by Olaf Köster, we give it a thorough once-over.

Read the article

Apr 20, 2021 by Martina Richter

Seiko Pays Tribute to Naomi Uemura’s Life of Adventure with Two 1970 Diver Re-interpretation Watches

With its new duo of Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-interpretation watches, Japan’s Seiko revisits one of its earliest commercially available dive watches and re-interprets and upgrades its popular vintage design for a modern audience. The pair includes a new gray-dial model (Ref. SLA051) and a limited-edition blue-dial model (Ref. SLA049). The latter model celebrates the...

Read the article

Mar 6, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

Mountain Time: Seiko Heads for the Hills with New Prospex 1959 Alpinist Series

Japanese watchmaker Seiko has commanded serious attention in recent years for its growing roster of vintage-inspired watches. From the GPHG-Winning Prospex 1968 Diver’s Re-Creation SLA025J1, to the Re-Creation of King Seiko KSK, to the Prospex SRQ029 Limited Edition — to name just a few among many — the brand has demonstrated admirable expertise in creating...

Read the article

Mar 1, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

WatchTime Live Returns March 4 with a Virtual Event Co-Hosted by Grand Seiko

Following up on its successful WatchTime Live virtual panel series last fall, and its ongoing TimeOut discussions of 2021, WatchTime Magazine next week returns with its latest digital event, partnering with Grand Seiko for the first WatchTime Live event of 2021. The event takes place next Thursday, March 4, at 5 pm EST, with pre-registration...

Read the article

Feb 25, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

Island Inspired: Seiko Introduces Trio of 140th Anniversary Prospex Divers

Amidst all the heavy coverage of last week’s LVMH Watch Week, Seiko quietly introduced a trio of anniversary timepieces in celebration of the Japanese brand’s founding in 1881. All three limited-edition 140th Anniversary Prospex Divers are based on Seiko’s classic 1968 Hi-Beat Diver: the Seiko Prospex SLA047, Seiko Prospex SPB207, and Seiko Prospex SSC807. Each...

Read the article

Feb 1, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

TIMEPIECE TIMELINE

The History of Seiko Through 12 Milestone Seiko Watches

Discover the history of Seiko watchmaking, stretching all the way back to the late 19th century, which includes several watch-world firsts, from the Seiko Marvel (1956) to the watch-world game changer: the Seiko Astron GPS Solar.

Read the article

Jan 20, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

FEATURE

Essence of Emerald: 15 Green-Dial Watches On Sale Now

It doesn’t get any greener in today’s watch world. Or does it? There have never been as many green watches as there are today, and in this feature we explore the emergence of the trend and showcase 15 currently available emerald-hued timepieces. Although blue has been the most prominent trendy color for watches for the...

Read the article

Jan 18, 2021 by Ruediger Bucher

LIST:

Brown is the New Black: Five Noteworthy Watches with Chocolate Hues

There’s a reason why timepieces with brown dials haven’t developed as a universal offering from watch brands in the same way other colorways have. The popular blue and green looks that we’ve seen proliferate over the past few years are able to offer a lively interpretation of time with their attractive and vibrant hues. Black...

Read the article

Jan 15, 2021 by WatchTime

2020, The Watch Year in Review: 10 Dynamic Dive Watches

It goes without saying: 2020 was far from an ideal year for most of us. Looking back, however, it was also a year that brought many noteworthy watch launches despite the huge obstacles posed by the pandemic and its effects on the world economy. As we look ahead hopefully to 2021, it’s time for our...

Read the article

Dec 26, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

Return of the King: Seiko Unveils Re-Creation of King Seiko KSK for its 140th Anniversary

In 2021, Seiko will commemorate 140 years in the watch business since its first launch in 1881, and as a result, the next year is slated to be one of the biggest yet for the Japanese watchmaker. To kick off the celebrations, the brand this week unveiled possibly its least expected revival of a vintage...

Read the article

Dec 10, 2020 by Caleb Anderson

1
2
3
…
10
11
»