Seiko
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225071239
2008-07-11T19:14:17Z
67.87.65.182
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{{dablink|This article is about the watch company. For other meanings, see [[Seiko (disambiguation)]].}}
{{Infobox_Company |
company_name = Seiko Holdings Corporation<br />セイコーホールディングス株式会社 |
company_type = [[Public company|Public]] {{tyo|8050}} |
company_logo = [[Image:Seiko logo.jpg]] |
company_slogan = |
foundation = [[Chūō, Tokyo|Chūō]], [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] (1881) <br />(Incorporated in 1917) |
location = [[Minato, Tokyo|Minato]], [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]] |
key_people = [[Katsumi Yamamura]], Chairman; [[Koichi Murano]], President|
num_employees = 6,699 ([[March 31]], [[2006]], consolidated) |
revenue = [[Image:Green up.png]] [[¥]]213.73 billion (FY2005, consolidated) |
industry = Retail-Jewelry, Precision Instruments and Machinery |
products = Watches, clocks, printers, semiconductors, mechatronics devices, machine tools, optical glass materials, jewelry, eyeglasses, etc. |
homepage = [http://www.seiko.co.jp/index.html?lang_is=en Seiko Holdings Corporation]|
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Seiko Holdings Corporation'''|セイコーホールディングス株式会社|Seikō Hōrudingusu Kabushiki-gaisha}} ({{tyo|8050}}) (more commonly known simply as '''Seiko''' [pronounced say-co]) is a [[Japan]]ese [[watch]] company.
==History and ongoing developments==
The company started in 1881, when Kintarō Hattori opened a watch and [[jewellery]] shop called {{Nihongo|"[[K. Hattori]]"|服部時計店|Hattori Tokeiten}} in the [[Ginza]] area of [[Tokyo]], Japan. Eleven years later in 1892, he began to produce [[clock]]s under the name {{Nihongo|[[Seikosha]]|精工舎|Seikōsha}}. According to Seiko's official company history, titled "A Journey In Time: The Remarkable Story of Seiko" (2003), Seiko is a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] word meaning "exquisite", "minute", or "success". (The meaning "exquisite" is usually written 精巧 while the meaning "success" is usually written 成功.)
The first watches produced under the Seiko brand appeared in 1924. In 1969, Seiko introduced the [[Astron (wristwatch)|Seiko Astron]], the world's first production [[Quartz clock|quartz watch]]; when it was introduced, it cost the same as a medium-sized car. Seiko later went on to introduce the first quartz [[chronograph]]. In 1985, [[Orient Watches]] and Seiko established a joint factory. Recognized as a leader in timekeeping accuracy, Seiko products are often used as the official timekeepers of the major sporting events including the [[Olympic Games]] and the [[FIFA World Cup]] editions in Argentina 1978, Spain 1982, Mexico 1986 and Italy 1990.
[[Image:Grand Quartz 9943-8010.jpg|thumb|right|Grand Quartz, produced in 1978]]
The company was incorporated (K. Hattori & Co., Ltd.) in 1917, renamed Hattori Seiko Co., Ltd. in 1983 and Seiko Corporation in 1990. After reconstructing and creating its operating subsidiaries (such as Seiko Watch Corporation, Seiko Clock Inc.), it became a [[holding company]] in 2001 and renamed Seiko Holdings Corporation as of [[July 1]], [[2007]].
Seiko Holdings is one of the three core companies of the [[Seiko Group]]. The Seiko Group consists of Seiko Holdings Corporation (Seiko), [[Seiko Instruments|Seiko Instruments Inc.]] (SII) and [[Seiko Epson Corporation]] (Epson) which is known for its printers in [[Europe]] and [[North America]] and its diverse line of electronics and computer equipment within Japan. Although they have some common shareholders including the key members of the Hattori family (posterity of Kintarō Hattori), the three companies in the Seiko Group are not affiliated. They are managed and operated completely independently. Seiko Watch Corporation, an operating subsidiary of Seiko Holdings Corporation, markets Seiko watches while Seiko Instruments and Seiko Epson manufacture their movements.
Seiko is perhaps known best, though, for its wristwatches. Seiko is known for their advanced technology and is one of the few wristwatch manufacturers that produce all of their watches and movements entirely in-house. Even minor items such as the oils used in lubricating the watches and the luminous compounds used on the hands and the dials are produced by the Seiko factories.
Seiko produces both quartz and mechanical watches of varying prices. The cheapest are around US$50; the most expensive (the Credor Spring Drive Sonnerie) costs over $US100,000<ref>[http://www.credor.com/lineup/sonnerie/index.html SPRING DRIVE SONNERIE] {{ja icon}}<br />[http://www.seiko-watch.co.jp/sd/basel2006/index.html Road to BASEL WORLD 2006 - CREDOR NODE SPRING DRIVE SONNERIE] {{ja icon}}</ref>. Seiko's mechanical watches are the most prized by collectors—from the Seiko "5" series (the 5 is proposed to reflect 5 essential features of the watch namely shock resistant, water resistant, automatic, with day and date display), which is the most common, the Seiko automatic Chronometer series, the "Bell-Matic" with a mechanical alarm to the highly prized luxury "Credor", "King Seiko" and "Grand Seiko" lines. [[Automatic quartz|Seiko Kinetic watches]] account for a large proportion of sales nowadays and combine the self-energizing attributes of an [[automatic watch]] with quartz accuracy. There is no battery to change; the watch is entirely powered by its movement in everyday wear.
[[Image:seiko_pyramid_talking_clock.jpg|thumb|Seiko Pyramid Talk, world's first quartz talking clock, from 1984]]
[[Image:Ginza K Hattori.jpg|thumb|The Hattori Clock Tower in Ginza, Tokyo, former headquarters and main store building of K. Hattori & Co., currently houses [[Wako Department Store]].]]
Frustratingly for collectors, Seiko does not release all of its watch lines in every region. Some are exclusively available in [[Asia]], for instance. Many online retailers will ship watches overseas, though.
[[Seiko Corporation of America]] is responsible for distribution of Seiko watches and clocks, as well as [[Pulsar (brand)|Pulsar]] brand watches, in the [[United States]]. The models available in the United States are normally a smaller subset of the full line produced in Japan. Seiko Corporation of America has its headquarters and Coserv repair center in [[Mahwah, New Jersey]]. In the United States, Seiko watches are sold primarily by fine jewelers and department stores, as well as 19 company stores located in various cities.
Seiko's 2004 marketing campaign emphasized that a watch, as opposed to other traits (such as what car they drive, for example) tells most about a person.
Various Seiko watches were worn by the cinematic [[James Bond]] 007 in four films, starring [[Roger Moore]], from 1977-1985. Also, a Seiko watch was worn by [[Sean Connery]] in the 1983 Bond film, <i>[[Never Say Never Again]]</i>.
Seiko also produces other electronic devices. Notably, during the 1980's, this company produced a range of [[Digital synthesizer|digital synthesizers]], such as the [[Seiko DS-250|DS-250]], for use in electronic music. Today, the music division, a part of [http://www.seiko-syd.co.jp/index2.html Seiko S-Yard], produces metronomes & tuning devices.
===Spring Drive===
On [[7 October]] [[2005]], Seiko announced the world launch of the Seiko [[Spring Drive]], a new calibre which delivers more power, more smoothly and for longer. Three days (72 hours) of power are provided, as opposed to the average of 40 hours in automatic mechanicals. To achieve this feat, Seiko has developed a special alloy called "Spron510". This new movement has eliminated the traditional [[balance wheel]]/[[escapement]] regulating system in favor of a so-called ''Tri-synchro Regulator''. The power from the spring is used to turn the wheels but also is used to generate electrical power for a tiny, ultra-low consumption (~25 nanoWatts) crystal oscillator which in turn is used to regulate -with quartz accuracy- the speed of the wheels to exactly 8 beats per second. Spring Drive was sold regularly in Japan within the Grand Seiko and Credor lines. Seiko announced that no more than 300 units will be produced on a monthly basis. The Spring Drive also marks the first true luxury Seiko watches available outside Japan. They are expected to retail around $3,200 to $3,500. In the Paris premiere, Seiko auctioned the first Spring Drive, which was sold for about 10,000 euros and the money was given to a Basel-based charity that supports children suffering from cancer and leukemia.
==Official timekeeper==
Seiko is also the official timer of many major sporting events:
* Tokyo [[1964 Summer Olympics|Olympic Summer Games]] in Japan, 1964
* [[Football World Cup 1978|1978 World Cup]] in [[Argentina]],
* [[Football World Cup 1982|1982 World Cup]] in [[Spain]],
* [[Football World Cup 1986|1986 World Cup]] in [[Mexico]],
* [[1987 World Championships in Athletics|IAAF World Championships]] in Athletics in [[Italy]], 1987
* [[Football World Cup 1990|1990 World Cup]] in Italy,
* [[1991 World Championships in Athletics|IAAF World Championships]] in Athletics in Tokyo, Japan, 1991
* [[Barcelona]] [[1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Summer Games]] in Spain, 1992
* [[Lillehammer]] [[1994 Winter Olympics|Olympic Winter Games]] in [[Norway]], 1994
* [[Nagano]] [[1998 Winter Olympics|Olympic Winter Games]] in Japan, 1998
* [[Salt Lake City]] [[2002 Winter Olympics|Olympic Winter Games]] in USA, 2002
Seiko is also named as the official timekeeper of the ''[[Gran Turismo]]'' racing game series, published by Sony.
Currently, Seiko have agreed to sponsor Honda (previously known as BAR (British American Racing) Honda). The Seiko name cannot currently be found on the Honda racing cars because Seiko Japan refuse to be advertised whilst the names of tobacco companies are still appearing on the cars. They can, however, be found on the lollipop used in the pitlane.
== Products and services (operating companies)==
*Watches -- [http://www.seikowatches.com/ Seiko Watch Corporation]<br />Seiko Watch is a planning and marketing company. Seiko Holdings Corporation delegates a large portion of the manufacturing in its watch business to [[Seiko Epson|Epson]] and [[Seiko Instruments|SII]].
**Seiko (Grand Seiko, Dolce & Exceline, Brightz, Lukia, Prospex, iu, Ruse, Spirit, Alpinist, Ignition, Premier, Coutura, Arctura, Sportura, Criteria, Rivoli, Vivace, etc.)
**Credor
**Galante
**Wired
**Wired XYZ
**[[Alba (watch)|Alba]]
**[[Pulsar (watch)|Pulsar]]
**Lorus
*Clocks -- [http://www.seiko-clock.co.jp/ Seiko Clock Inc.]
**Decor Seiko
**Seiko Emblem
**Seiko Premium
**Seiko Melodies in Motion Musical Clocks
**Seiko
**Pyxis
*Stopwatches -- [http://www.seiko-syd.co.jp/index2.html Seiko S-Yard Co., Ltd.]
*Kitchen & cooking timers -- [http://www.seiko-clock.co.jp/ Seiko Clock Inc.]
*Sports timing equipment -- [http://www.seiko-sts.co.jp/english/index.htm Seiko Time Systems Inc.]
*System clocks (outside, building wall, monument, floral clocks) -- [http://www.seiko-sts.co.jp/english/index.htm Seiko Time Systems Inc.]
*Time servers -- [http://www.seiko-p.co.jp/E/index.html Seiko Precision Inc.]
*Printers -- [http://www.seiko-p.co.jp/E/index.html Seiko Precision Inc.]
*Electronic devices, semiconductors, camera shutters, etc. -- [http://www.npc.co.jp/en/ Seiko NPC Corporation] & [http://www.seiko-p.co.jp/E/index.html Seiko Precision Inc.]
*Engineering devices -- [http://www.seiko-p.co.jp/E/index.html Seiko Precision Inc.]
*Golf clubs -- [http://www.seiko-syd.co.jp/index2.html Seiko S-Yard Co., Ltd.]
*Musical accessories (tuners, metronomes) -- [http://www.seiko-syd.co.jp/index2.html Seiko S-Yard Co., Ltd.]
*Jewelry -- [http://www.seiko-jwl.co.jp/ Seiko Jewelry Co., Ltd.]
*Optical lenses & frames -- [http://www.seiko-opt.co.jp/l/index.html Seiko Optical Products Co., Ltd.]
*Upscale specialty retails -- [[Wako Department Store|Wako Co., Ltd]] & [http://www.cronos.co.jp/ Cronos Inc.]
*Specialty optical glass (glass materials for lenses and prisms) -- [http://www.ohara-inc.co.jp/en/index.html Ohara Inc.] (Seiko owns 32.2% {{Tyo|5218}})
==References and footnotes==
<references/>
== External links ==
* [http://www.seiko.co.jp Seiko Holdings Corporation website] {{ja icon}}
* [http://www.seiko.co.jp/index.html?lang_is=en Seiko Holdings Corporation website] {{en icon}}
* [http://www.seiko-watch.co.jp Seiko Watch Corporation website] {{ja icon}}
* [http://www.seikowatches.com Seiko Watch Corporation International website] {{en icon}}
* [http://www.seikoclocks.com Seiko Clocks website] {{en icon}}
* [http://www.seiko.co.jp/en/corporate/group.html Seiko Holdings Group Companies] {{en icon}}
* [http://www.seikospringdrive.com Seiko Spring Drive website] {{en icon}}
* [http://service.seiko.com.au Seiko Calibers] {{en icon}}
* [http://www.thepurists.com/watch/features/8ohms/7s26/ A detailed evaluation of the mechanics of a Seiko 7S26 watch movement] {{en icon}}
{{Japanese Electronics Industry}}
[[Category:Watches]]
[[Category:Horology]]
[[Category:Watchmakers]]
[[Category:Seiko Epson]]
[[Category:Seiko]]
[[Category:Synthesizer manufacturing companies]]
[[Category:Companies based in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1881]]
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