Seiko: The Luxury Watch Brand You Didn't Know Existed
Have you, or anyone you know, ever complained about how Japan gets cool stuff that the rest of the world is left longing for? Electronics, games, cars, and also luxury watches. Sure you can get Seiko watches all over the world. In fact, Seiko is one of the most popular watch brands on the planet. Not all Seiko watches are made alike though. One the one hand you have most 'rank and file' Seiko watches that are known to be inexpensive and reliable watches. The "Toyota of watches" as many people call them.
On the other hand, there the other side to Seiko, the luxury watch maker. Deep inside Japan are several Seiko watch manufacturers making some of the best and most reliable luxury watches ever created. These are the "Lexus of watches." Until recently such highly desirable watches have been mostly for the Japanese domestic market only. Bearing such names like Grand Seiko and Credor, most Westerners didn't even know of their existence. There also exists a large population of American and European (among other places) watch lovers who are aware of the Seiko treasures in Japan, and are almost pained by the fact that they cannot get them locally. The good news is that is about to start changing.
Enter the Seiko Ananta line of watches. Finally a global high-end product from Seiko that contain the high-end 100% manufacture-made movements and watches. Why the important of "manufacture-made?" Today everyone speaks about "manufacture movements." These are movements in watches made all in-house by the manufacturer with out having third part companies make them. Such in-house movements are considered to be at the top of the heap for luxury watch desirability. The majority of watch brands don't make their own movements. Seiko does however. In fact, Seiko is of the few totally vertically integrated watch makers in the world.
The Ananta watch line is influenced by Japanese Katana swords. You can see this in the case design, hands, dial, and on the automatic rotors. There are several different models between two different types of movements. First is the mechanical automatic movements that have chronograph or calendar functions. Then you have Seiko's amazing Spring Drive movement line that is easily of the world's best watch movements. Taking almost 30 years to develop, the movement combines the interesting complication of a mechanical movement being powered by a mainspring, but using a quartz regulator to ensure accuracy of 1 second per a day. There is no battery, as the watch is powered by a mainspring. That, and it has a sweeping seconds hand which is the smoothest moving seconds hand I have ever seen. Seiko calls it "glide motion." The alternative are those hands on standard mechanical watches that move in a series of little ticks when observed closely.
Sources indicate that the Ananta watches are being gobbled up by hungry watch lovers all over the world. Plenty of people have been eagerly awaiting Seiko to finally realize that can beat the Swiss at their own game. Seiko is now finally in the same league as luxury Swiss brands, having the right to play on the same field all over the world, not just in Japan.
The last issue left for Seiko is getting over the wide perception that the brand only makes cheap watches. This goal isn't going to be achieved overnight, but if Seiko is persistent with the same message and sticks to their guns - in a few years, they will not only be equal to the Lexus of watches metaphorically, but will widely have the perceived status of the "Lexus of watches," in the public eye.
Learn more about Seiko Ananta watches here.
Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ning Oct 27th 2009 11:23AM
Seiko has been a huge brand in China since like the 80's, but it was China in the 80's, so.
jra_2000 Oct 27th 2009 11:52AM
"Lexus of watches"
Careful... on this site shouldn't it be "Cadillac of Watches"?
I had a comment deleted from the post announcing the Luxist Awards because I dared suggest that sponsorship was going a bit too far with award titles like "Cadillac of Furniture" & the ludicrous "Cadillac-pedia".
Do writer/contributors get deleted or edited for not toeing the sponsor's line too?
Ariel Adams Oct 27th 2009 11:55AM
Hey that is a good point. Cadillac feels they are owed something for being a sponsor, and Luxist, like anyone else, needs sponsorship to keep doing what we are doing for you. Seiko watches are Japanese, so are Lexus cars - so I think my point is clear, and would be lost if I used Cadillac instead. Plus, I am not saying anything bad about them, which sponsors tends to be sensitive to. Thanks for the comment.
frilund Oct 27th 2009 12:21PM
I have seen a Grand Seiko once, it was an older model. Was impressed with the quality of the watch, it was really fine.
Usually we think of the Swiss as the only watchmakers, but this is incorrect, there are many more skilled watchmakers out there.