Wristwatches remain relevant nowadays despite the existence of mobile phones and laptops capable of telling the time of the day. They do not just add elegance or class to your outfit but also help in simplifying your day-to-day operations. Having one means not needing to pull out your phone from your pocket or backpack just to check the time. You can easily tell if you are late or early in a meeting if you have a timepiece on your wrist.
There is no denying that Swiss watch manufacturers offer one of the most durable and accurate watches in the world. However, they are very costly and difficult to maintain. And while you can find Swiss timepieces that are relatively affordable, Seiko is a great Japanese brand with unmatched quality and reliability. Keep on reading to know more about the brand’s heritage and popular watch models.
The history of Seiko
A lot of people know Seiko only at a surface level. They associate the brand as a manufacturer of Grand Seiko and Credor but there is so much more about it that people don’t know about. For instance, it has a rich heritage and great contributions in the field of horology.
The history of Seiko started in 1881 when its founder Kintaro Hattori established a watch and jewelry shop named K.Hattori in Tokyo, Japan. He had a lot of watchmaking experiences since he worked as a clockmaker apprentice ever since he was 13 years old. Five years after Mr. Hattori opened his shop, he already dealt with foreign trading firms including C&J Favre-Brandt and Sier & Brennwald, which imports timepieces and machinery. It allowed the company to provide exclusive timepieces that people can’t find elsewhere in Japan which led to its popularity and high sales. When Mr. Hattori saw a great demand for his products, he decided to manufacture timepieces himself instead of importing them. He changed the name of the company in 1924, which was synonymous with the word success.
In the succeeding years, Seiko introduced the world’s first quartz watch and chronograph. It was also the very first company that combined automatic watches with quartz movement. In the 21st century, it manufactures its watch movements from China, Malaysia, and Singapore.
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Current models of Seiko that you must buy
- Grand Seiko Elegance
The Grand Seiko Elegance is under the Grand Seiko’s catalog which is available in a wide range of versions. You can find pieces with price tags of as low as $4,300 and can be as high as $29,000 depending on the materials used to manufacture them as well as their designs and complications. You can choose from platinum, steel, gold, and titanium timepieces with beautifully engraved dials. Its most affordable model is the SBGW321 which is a time-only watch manufactured using microelectromechanical systems. It has a stainless steel case with a size of 37.3 mm x 11.6 mm and a 9S64 hand-wound mechanical movement that allows it to last for 72 hours after completely winding it.
- Prospex Sea
If you want a robust and stylish timepiece that is within your budget, then this Prospex Sea is for you. Its price ranges from $375 to $5,400, which is an ultimate steal given its amazing features. Make sure to get the SRP777 turtle model if you want the most affordable watch. It is a reissue of the popular Seiko 6309 released from 1976 to 1988. It features a day-date complication which means that other than telling the time of the day, it also shows the day of the week and the date of the month. Aside from that, it contains a disco-ready cushion case and a unidirectional bezel making it a professional-grade dive watch. Its 4R36 automatic movement allows it to have a 41-hour power reserve. It is also resistant to water with a depth of 200 meters.
- Seiko Presage
The Seiko Presage is an affordable and durable dress watch available in various styles ranging from classic to modern and retro. Its price ranges from $425 to $2,400. The model that will not break the bank is the SRPB46 Cocktail Time composed of a beautiful and elegant brown sunburst dial. It has a wide-range color assortment to cater to all tastes, preferences, and styles. Its stainless steel case with gold PVD accents measures 40.5 mm x 11.8 mm. With its 4R35 automatic movement, it can last for 41 hours after winding. Since it only has a water resistance of up to 50 meters, you can’t use it during diving and snorkeling.
In a Nutshell
Seiko offers a diverse watch collection so you can surely find the one that can best address your needs. You will be getting an impressive timepiece from the brand no matter how small your budget is. The wristwatches mentioned above are available at discounted prices on TheWatchCompany.com
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