Japan is probably one of the few places today that where you can experience a lifestyle high-technology with AI support on one side of the city, and then you suddenly walk through one of many traditional temples and learn about their rich history of ancient Japanese culture and traditional craftsmanship on the other side.
While traditional seasonal calendar and time system which the Japanese used to tell time was obsoleted for the Western Gregorian calendar, Seiko’s founder, “Kintaro Hattori”, started the “K. Hattori & Co”, in the year 1881, repairing and selling imported clocks and watches. As the company grew over the years, Hattori founded the “Seikosha factory”. The word “Seikosha”, defines as exquisite/success and the suffix-sha, means company/business.
Photo credit: museum.seiko.co.jp
It was not until 1923, when the “Seiko” brand officially made its debut. Its incredible how the Seiko brand was able to survived in between the first two world wars, and was one of the few companies during that time where its business steadily bloomed instead of shutting down during the wartime economy. Over the years, with factories burned down one after another from the cause of war, Hattori decided to split the company into two groups. The two groups had different objectives, where the “Daini” division focused on making timepieces, while the “Suwa” division focused on designing watch cases and dials.
The initial purpose for the split was because the Seiko factory were often put in the war production. While most of the factories were burned down or destroyed from the war, one of the factories located in the outskirts of Suwa, Negano Prefecture somehow managed to survive.
The two groups had a different objective, where the “Daini” division focused on making timepieces, while the “Suwa” division focused on designing watch cases and dials. As time went on, it became an interdepartmental competition between the two divisions to see whose the better team. Watches designed by the “Suwa” division has marked the dials of their watches with a whirlpool logo. Whereas watches designed by the “Daini” division have marked their watches with a double triangle/lightning bolt logo.
The competition between the two divisions continued for quite some time. You can say that there was a claim to the winner as the better team during the mid-sixties. You can look at it as the final product presented by the two divisions, The First Grand Seiko Ref. 3180 (Suwa), and the “King Seiko 44KS” (Daini).
Ultimately, the first Grand Seiko Ref.3180, designed by the “Suwa”, was the winner between the two watch divisions. Needless to say, the “Grand Seiko” watch collection remains as Seiko’s Top tier, most luxurious line of watches that they offer even today. Seiko is perhaps one of the few watch companies that can be described and recognized as a brand that offer watches for everyone.
Youtube Channel: (Timesticking)
The Grand Seiko project all started in 1960, when they decided to take a step further. With the success and reputation they already have, recognized as a top tier watchmaker, Seiko wanted more. The Seiko company wanted to take their watch making skills into the next level that will put them on ahead of every other competitor on the market. The Grand Seiko ultimately started as the Japanese wanted to create something that could compare to the best Swiss watches, and ultimately become a watch that every other competitor to look up to.
FIRST Grand Seiko ref:3180 
King Seiko ref:KS44
It’s a privilege to get to deal with all kind of watch models while working here at Strapcode without having to pay for them, I actually have not had the opportunity to check out any of the Grand Seiko models from Seiko’s top collection, let alone to be able to try on one of them. Fortunately, one of the projects this year will be designing custom fitted bracelets for Seiko’s top tier collection, specifically the Grand Seiko SBGJ235J1 model.
Head over to our store to see more
Follow us:
Facebook: Strapcode Watch Strap
Instagram: www.instagram.com/strapcode
YouTube: www.youtube.com/Strapcode
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/strapcode
Written by Sam
Images sources as noted
@strapcode team
Strapcode Watch Bands 