Seiko: The History of Seikosha Clocks

Seiko watches evolved out of elaborate Victorian-era fashion trends that coupled newer factory technologies with elegance.

In 1871, Japan started a State-led industrialization campaign for the purpose of supplying trade items on the rapidly growing global marketplace. By 1881, Japan had government programs in place to fund small business start-ups, factory expansions, and marketing education from all corners of the planet.
Mr. Kintaro Hattori opened the first modernized Japanese clock shop in Tokyo during the year 1881. By 1892, this Seikosha Clock Shop had opened a small ten-person factory to produce high-quality clocks and timepieces for the demanding Victorian-era audience. During this time period, early clocks were shrinking into jewellery-quality personal time pieces that would accent affluent homes and clothing designs of the day.

    * 1881: Kintaro Hattori opened his Seikosha Clock Shop in Tokyo, Japan.

    * 1892: Seikosha Clock Shop opened their first clock factory with ten employees.

    * 1895: Pocket watches went into production at the Seikosha Factory.

    * 1899: Alarm clocks went into production at the Seikosha Factory.

    * 1902: Tabletop musical clocks and novelties were added to the growing Seikosha lines.

As global unrest started to develop just before World War One, Kintaro Hattori had begun to experiment with the idea of putting tiny clocks onto bands that could be worn around the wrist. A few months before the beginnings of our first global war, the Seikosha Factory produced the first wristwatch made in Japan. During WW1, the wristwatches soared into the preferred method of carrying a personal timepiece.

In 1924, after 43-years in business, the growing Seikosha Empire modernized their public image in advertising campaigns, and shortened their name to Seiko. The shortened company name was probably a marketing effort that would allow the name to be printed and read easier on all sizes of tiny watch faces.

The innovative Seiko Corporation has been responsible for many firsts over the years. Seiko was the first of offer Japanese self-winding watches in the 1950�s, the 1960�s quartz technology in watches, and a wristwatch with a six-digit readout display screen. Seiko watches are known globally today for their large variety of elegant styles and their high-quality in workmanship standards.

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Hamilton Watches

Hamilton watches are related to a company that was long a leader in watch making history. Originated in Lancaster, PA (USA) in 1892, the Hamilton Watch Company had many firsts among its accomplishments over the years to follow.

Known as the "Railroad Timekeeper of America," this company served up extremely accurate timepieces to the railroad industry that relied on being timely. Their watches were rugged, precision pocket watches respected by all. Hamilton watches kept pace with innovations into the next century. They introduced the first wrist watch in 1917 when World War I soldiers desired to have a smaller and more convenient size timepiece to carry.

In the midst of World War II, Hamilton again came to serve the military need of the US Armed Forces with an accurate chronometer to use for navigation at sea. The company introduced the Elinvar (Elasticity Invariable) hairspring and patented it for use in 1931. This mechanism resisted effects of temperature and was used in all movements from that point forward.

In January of 1957, Hamilton developed the world's first electric wristwatch. Using a tiny battery eliminated the use of a mainspring and allowed watches to function for twenty years on a small amount of current. Technical developments by Hamilton were matched by their dedication to styling. Hamilton watches today are among some of the most collectible timepieces.

The company produced watches in American until 1969. The company was bought out by a Swiss watch conglomerate and is sold under their fashionable Swatch Group.

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Mondaine Watches

The company that produces the world-popular Mondaine Swiss Railroad watches started in 1951 as a Brazilian watch importer called Frank & Berheim. The name Mondaine was officially registered in 1954. The company expanded into Switzerland in 1959 and introduced the Mondaine brand name watches in 1990.

In 1985, Mondaine introduced its unique line of M-Watches, the first waterproof plastic watch without a metal bezel. These watches proved immediately popular as six million were sold by the end of 2005.

Synonymous with the Mondaine name are the Swiss Railway watches the company produces. These famous and popular watches are based on the railway clocks, designed by Hans Hilfiker in the 1940s, which are displayed in every Swiss railroad station tower and which were meant to synchronize the country's rail system down to the second. The clocks' unique design features no numbers, only black lines for the hour and minute hands on a white face. The second hand, in bold red, stands in dramatic contrast. The red second hand is reminiscent of the hand-held signal used by train conductors to indicate the "all clear" for the trains to leave. The Mondaine watch, designed after a famous railroad clock, came full circle as it was named the proud and official watch of the Swiss railroad system.

The Swiss Railroad watches' bold design functions as a symbol of Swiss punctuality. These watches display duel time zones, chronograph and a large, easy-to-read date system. Today, Mondaine models sport the patented Stop to Go mechanism. This mechanism enables all clocks to display the exact same time. That is unparalled precision timing at its best.

The Swiss Railroad Watch design has become so well known that wearers of the watch get free admission to London's Design Museum and the New York Museum of Modern Art. The watch's minimalist and practical design has turned it into a work of art. They are instantly recognized and sought after all over the world.
Mondaine has a large selection of watches, all of which are renowned for their sleek design and affordable price.

In addition to designing unique and popular time pieces, Mondaine has led the market as an ecologically responsible company. For example, in 1992 Mondaine spearheaded the use of recycled materials in its watch cases. Its Evo-line of watches uses 100 percent recyclable metal. The company is introducing a line of solar-powered watches. Time after time, Mondaine has proven itself to be an industry leader.

Despite the popularity of its existing brands, Mondaine continues to pursue new endeavors and expand its line of watches. In 2006, the company purchased the L&M Swiss Watch Ltd., a company noted for its military-style self-illuminating watches which are easy to read in any light. The resultant Luminox brand is designed for tough use in such fields as emergency services, police, hunting and the military.
With its popular watches, Mondaine has combined utility and art into beauty accessible to everyone.

 

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Dizzee Rascal wears LTD Watch

Check out this latest photo of a celebrity wearing the new LTD range. As worn here by Dizzee Rascal, the LTD Watch range are some of the coolest and most fashionable watches available this summer. Available in various colours and styles, and produced in highly limited numbers of only 100 to 150 each. Order your favourite colour as soon as possible, as the sell-out risk on this hot fashion range is very high.



Click here to view the current LTD Watch range!

Casio G-Shock, The Big Name in Techie Fashion Watches

Renowned for their outstanding durability, Casio G-Shock Watches are built to withstand your most demanding days. The product of a unique vision, that watches should last longer than other brands, Casio G-Shock Watches showcase a range of impressive features in lightweight, stylish designs for any occasion. To this end, G-Shock watches are shock resistant when dropped from a height of up to 10 meters, waterproof to a depth of 10 bars (100 meters), and some models feature a 10 year battery life.

To create a battery able to run 10 years, the G-Shock is solar powered and able to recharge even in weak fluorescent lighting. This not only makes the battery last, it enables the watch to run any number of special features (from LED background lights to sensors that measure atmospheric pressure, depending on the model), without exhausting its power supply.
Some models in the G-Shock range also keep exceptionally accurate time through atomic timekeeping. Thanks to the G-Shock`s use of Wave Ceptor technology to communicate with the six atomic clock transmission stations worldwide, the watch is always accurate, no matter where you roam. Just pre-select your time zone and go.

To absorb the shocks of impact from a 10 meter freefall, Casio G-Shock Watches `float` the watch module in an essentially hollow structure. By doing this, shocks are absorbed at a few key points while maintaining a lightweight, sleek design. Important components of the watch are individually cushioned to ensure further durability, and the watch face is protected by a urethane-resin bezel all-directional design to minimize wear-and-tear to the face.

Even the band is designed to ensure shock resistance. Urethane bands feature a carefully formulated urethane resin formula to absorb shocks from bumps while being worn, and metal bands feature wide intervals at connection points to ensure maximum shock absorption.
The G-Shock Watches generally feature a 10 bar (100 meter) water resistance. It is durable not just for washing the car, but for sailing, snorkelling, and surfing, and it�s easy to clean thanks to its water resistant capabilities.

The leader in active watches, Casio G-Shock`s history of durability extends back more than 25 years. With styles ranging from classic resin bands to sleek metal designs and petite Baby Gs for women, a wide range of styles is available to suit your needs.

Nautica Watches

Watch Shop UK are proud to announce the addition of Nautica watches to our ever expanding range.

First produced in 1994 Nautica watches have become a mainstay in the USA with their stylish looks based on rugged designs for the active lifestyle.

The name Nautica, derived from the Latin `nautilus` make this brand the one you need if boats or water are part of your everyday life. With a watch and a design for every occasion it is no wonder they have captured the hearts of many, and we are happy to be able to offer this great range to our customers.

The technology and history behind quartz watches

The secret to the success of quartz watches is the discovery that a quartz crystal can generate an electrical field if properly prepared and handled. This technology was applied to clocks and watches, and since the 1970s, quartz watches have taken over as the most used technology for keeping time. The first quartz clock was assembled in 1927 at Bell Telephone Labs, and further development occurred over the next three decades.

When cheap semiconductor digital logic was developed in the 1960`s, technology moved toward smaller and lighter quartz technology. By 1967, the first analogue quartz wristwatches were brought into the marketplace. A decade later, quartz clock technology was seen in many more applications involving timing. Today, they are preferred, for their accuracy, low maintenance, and because they do not need winding.
Technically, the quartz crystal is made up of a chemical compound, silicon dioxide. If cut and mounted properly, when in an electric field, the crystal will bend. When that field is then taken away, the crystal will return to its shape and as it does so, it will generate its own electric field. The technical term for this process is piezoelectricity. Discovery of this property of quartz was discovered in 1880 by Jacques and Pierre Curie. Temperature does not change the crystal, which means the quartz watches will stay accurate even with temperature changes.

Quartz crystals in clocks and watches are used to regulate an electronic oscillator. This oscillator creates a signal that is very precise, which helps the clocks maintain their accuracy even over mechanical clocks. The timing is so precise the watch or clock can display hours, minutes, and seconds, with extreme accuracy. The constant frequency of the crystal oscillator is what keeps the clocks accurate to a point where a typical wristwatch using a quartz crystal will be accurate to within a half second per day.

Quartz watches and clocks are used for personal timing devices, such as wristwatches, but also in other capacities as timers, as found in kitchen appliances, alarm clocks, timed fuses, and bank vault time locks. The modern clocks and watches use LED displays (light-emitting diode) instead of LCD displays (liquid crystal display) because LCD requires much less battery power. Quartz watches are so accurate they can be used in performing celestial navigation.

New developments in quartz watches include solar cell power to change light into electricity, and motion power. The motion powered watches generate electricity through the use of a tiny rotor that spins when affected by movement. Modern quartz watches are made in both analogue and digital formats.