Company Profile
History
Our full-scale watch manufacturing goes back to 1937, when Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments Inc.) was established as a company specializing in watch manufacturing after the launch of the Laurel in 1913. Headquartered in Kameido, Tokyo, Seiko has been leading the Japanese watch industry since its dawn. In 1967, Seiko entered the Swiss Observatoire Cantonal de Neuchâtel competition in timepiece accuracy and became a high-ranking winner, enabling us to show our technological capabilities to the world. In 1970, Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. was opened in Shizukuishi as a major watch manufacturing base, and the company began full-scale production of quartz watches in the 1980s. In 2020, the watch business of Seiko Instruments Inc. was transferred and integrated to become a subsidiary of Seiko Watch Corporation. In the same year, to meet the ever-increasing need for luxury mechanical watches around the world, the company has opened Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi.
History of Seiko1800〜
1881
Kintaro Hattori establishes the K. Hattori (watch and clock retail and repair store).
1892
Seikosha is established and commences manufacturing of wall clocks.
1900〜
1913
The company launches Japan’s first watch, the Laurel.
1937
Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments Inc.) is established as the watch manufacturer for K. Hattori.
1939
The main factory of Daini Seikosha in Kameido, Tokyo, is completed.
1967
Seiko becomes a high-ranking winner at the Swiss Observatoire Cantonal de Neuchâtel competition in timepiece accuracy.
History of Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.1970～
1970
As a production base for Daini Seikosha (now Seiko Instruments Inc.), Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. is established in Shizukuishi-cho in Iwate prefecture to expand the scale of watch production.
1971
The factory in Shizukuishi-cho is completed and commences operations as a watch parts manufacturing division.
The completed factory of Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.
1972
Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. starts production of mechanical watches.
1974
Ninohe Tokei Kogyo Co., Ltd. is established as a factory for producing exclusive parts.
1980～
1980
Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc. starts production of quartz watches.
The first analog quartz watch produced by Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.
1986
Annual production reaches 10 million pieces.
1987
Michinoku Service Co., Ltd. is established.
1989
A new annex to the watch parts assembly factory is built and commences operation as the Factory Automation (FA) plant.
1990～
1992
A plating factory annex is built.
1993
Capital participation in Tono Seiki Y.K. (which becomes a subsidiary in 1996).
1994
A new watch planning and launching function of Seiko Instruments & Electronics Ltd. (now Seiko Instruments Inc.) is transferred to Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.
1998
Grand Seiko mechanical watch（type 9S5）
recreated in 1998
1999
Domestic watch manufacturing function of Seiko Instruments Inc. is consolidated in Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.
2000～
2000
Plastic parts production function of Seiko Instruments Inc. is transferred to Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.
2004
The Shizukuishi Watch Studio is established within the site of Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.
2006
Tono Seiki Y.K. changes its company name to Tono Seiki Co., Ltd.
The “Iwate mechanical watchmaker skills assessment” system is established.
2020
The watch business of Seiko Instruments Inc. is transferred and integrated to become a subsidiary of Seiko Watch Corporation.
Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi is established on the 60th anniversary of the launch of Grand Seiko and the 50th anniversary of the founding of Morioka Seiko Instruments Inc.
Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi
