Fresh Set is an ongoing series where readers follow the newest StockX Watch team member, Hadjj, as he learns more about the inās and outās of watches.Ā
I donāt usually like to be known as someone thatās predictable, so when all of the watch team said that my first watch would be a Seiko, I was very against it. But as the months went on, I hated more and more how right they were. The brand from Japan just knows how to make a good piece of arm candy for an affordable price. From my first Prospex PADI grew into an interest of other models from Seiko. During my search, I was surprised to see that there is a whole other dimension to Seiko: Grand Seiko. When I first heard that, I figured it was something similar to how thereās Air Jordans and Team Jordans, thereās butter and then thereās ghee, thereās tap water and then thereās Evian. I thought Grand Seiko was just the better version of Seiko, but through my research, Iāve concluded that I couldnāt be more wrong. So hereās a little history of the two and what makes them stand out but coexist at the same time.
Seiko's History
Via WatchTime.com
The origins of Seiko can be traced all the way back to 1881, where the 22-year-old founder, Kintaro Hattori, started his own watch repair shop that grew into a factory in 1892 called āSeikoshaā. It was here that Seiko started to take its form, growing from wall clocks to constructing their first pocket watch in 1895. As the brand built a name for itself and became popular amongst the public, Seiko went on to create their first wrist watch in 1923. With Seiko plastered on the watchās dial, the brand was able to establish themselves as an entity synonymous with quality and precision, and others caught on. From being the official pocket watch for train conductors in Tokyo, to serving as the official timer for the 18th Olympia in 1964, Seiko developed a cult following.
The brand went on to expanding their catalog of watches, entering multiple facets of life. Seiko would go on to develop their first dive watch in 1975 and from there, has introduced other timepieces for multiple facets of sport and lifestyle. Their constant drive for innovation has continued to push the boundaries of both wrist-wear technology and aesthetic.
Many current Seiko watches on StockX are great starters for any entry-level hobbyist. As mentioned before, the Seiko Prospex PADI was my first watch ever and it was quite the accessory. Longtime collectors respect them as well, since Seiko is one of the few brands to equip their watches with in-house movements. At this yearās Wind Up festival in San Francisco, many enthusiasts came up to me to compliment the PADI on my wrist and if that isnāt more of a sign that youāre doing something right, then I donāt know what is! And even if the Prospex isnāt up your alley, Seiko offers up other greats like the Alpinist and the Presage for those looking for a different look.
Grand Seiko's History
Via Grand-Seiko.com
While Seiko was still on the cusp of becoming a reliable go-to watch brand for many of their Japanese enthusiasts, the brand did as they do and continued to push for more. Initially, Seiko watches were all known to be a useful tool. Tracking the speed of a racer, or diving into the great depths of the ocean, they all were meant for utilitarian purposes. But Grand Seiko was meant to showcase the class and sophistication that the Japanese watchmakers were capable of. In 1960, Seiko gathered itās top designers and engineers to kick-off what is now known as the brandās luxury extension.Ā
One of the goals of GS were to create watches that keep very accurate time. After successfully meeting this feat in the beginning, the brand kept trying to one up itself and innovate by adding the 44GS to their catalogue in 1967 and continuously introduce new calibers to their models.Ā
As the brand further developed, every year met a new challenge for the brand to tackle. Whether that be bringing in new metals to up the quality of the watches or introducing quartz, improving the quality of the watches every year took precedence.Ā
Via Grand-Seiko.com
Today, Grand Seiko watches are on the same tier as your everyday high-end brands, competing with other notable brands like Rolex and IWC. Their watches are equally attractive as they are reliable and we offer a good selection of them on the site as well. From the Hi-Beat to the Heritage, these are watches made to be shown off and enjoyed. With their lux details and beautiful accuracy, Grand Seiko has established themselves as one of the greats.
Conclusion
Despite being created to fulfill two separate purposes and both later splitting between two countries, each brand represent Seiko as a whole. A company thatās foundation is based on never settling, both Seiko and Grand Seiko have made a mark in consistently elevating and innovating its products. With their need to always one-up themselves, Seiko shows no signs of slowing down and being ahead of the curve.
