1984 Seiko Watchs Commercial

The company started in 1881, when Kintarō Hattori opened a watch and jewelry shop called “K. Hattori” (服部時計店, Hattori Tokeiten^?) in the Ginza area of Tokyo, Japan. Eleven years later, in 1892, he began to produce clocks under the name Seikosha (精工舎, Seikōsha^?). According to Seiko’s official company history, titled “A Journey In Time: The Remarkable Story of Seiko” (2003), Seiko is a Japanese word meaning “exquisite,” “minute,” or “success.” (The meaning “exquisite” is usually written 精巧, while the meaning “success” is usually written 成功.)

The first watches produced under the Seiko brand appeared in 1924. In 1969, Seiko introduced the Astron, the world’s first production quartz watch; when it was introduced, it cost the same as a medium-sized car. Seiko later went on to introduce the first quartz chronograph. In 1985, Orient Watches and Seiko established a joint factory.

Info gleaned from WIkipedia