Seiko is my favourite brand of wristwatches. Each timepiece is finely crafted, high quality, and as some may call them, an affordable luxury. Seiko launched the world’s first quartz watch, called the Seiko Quartz Astron in 1969, and since then, it has revolutionized the way watches are made. In December 2008, Richard Garriott, a video game developer, wore Seiko’s Spring Drive Spacewalk wristwatch as he was launched into space. The watch was designed to withstand the extreme temperature and pressure changes during this journey, and it performed flawlessly, keeping time accurately and “requiring no winding or adjustment” (Seiko Watch Corporation).
Now, as Seiko prepares to unveil its 2011 collection at the Baselworld international trade show, one can only imagine the extent to which Seiko will go to produce yet another collection of highly accurate watches. Seiko’s latest Spring Drive collection is the one that truly conveys the company’s value of accuracy. Through the years, Seiko has successfully positioned itself as a company that strives for perfection, and this is reflected in its products. The Spring Drive collection is extraordinary in that it has provided the accuracy of the quartz watch while using many elements of a mechanical design.
Many individuals think of brands such as Rolex or Omega when they think of luxury watches, but many of their timepieces are known to be less accurate and of lesser quality than those of their competitors. Seiko has marketed itself as a brand that believes in quality and style, which to me is far more valuable than a pricey watch studded with diamonds. Seiko’s competitive advantage seems far more sustainable than that of its Swiss competitors, which has led to its resilience during the recent economic downturn (PRLog).
Photo Credits:
Seiko Quartz Astron
http://www.watchsites.net/watches/seiko-quartz-astron-vintage-specs-pictures/
Seiko Ladies’ Watch
Seiko in James Bond
http://www.coolthings.com/seiko-g757-sports-100-james-bond-watch/
Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk
http://www.seikospringdrive.com/spacewalk/watchinfo/index.html