Orient Watch is a brand name of the Seiko Epson Corporation used for the designs, manufacture and marketing of watches. Until April 2007, it was a wholly owned sub-subsidiary of the corporation known as the Orient Watch Company, Limited (オリエント時計株式会社, Oriento Tokei Kabushikigaisha).^[2] It was founded in Hino, Tokyo, Japan (13 July 1950). From 2001, it was a subsidiary of the corporation (the one of three core companies of the Seiko Group) and became a wholly owned subsidiary in 2009 ^[3] until the company was dissolved and its assets absorbed by its parent company.

Orient primarily markets mechanical watches (self-winding & hand-winding),^[4][5] but it also produces some quartz, light-powered (solar), and radio-controlled models.^[6][7][8][9] Outside of the main business, the company produces some moving parts and electronic components that are then assembled into Seiko Epson's electronic devices.^[10]

The company manufactures all of its movements in-house in Japan.^[11][12][13]

History

The origin of Orient Watch Company dates back to 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened a wholesale shop called "Yoshida Watch Shop" in Ueno, Taito, Tokyo, Japan. Yoshida Watch Shop was successful, selling imported pocketwatches. In 1912, Yoshida expand his business and began producing gold wristwatch cases. In 1920, Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was established, originally producing table clocks and gauges. It was not until 1934 that Toyo Tokei Manufacturing started the production of wristwatches. in 1936, the Hino Factory was built in Hino, Tokyo, Japan. For several years, Toyo Tokei Manufacturing boomed at the Hino Factory. However, affected by the poor Japanese economy after World War II, the company shut down in 1949.^[3]

After Toyo Tokei Manufacturing was shut down, Yoshida’s wristwatch manufacturing company was reborn in 1950, founded under the name Tama Keiki Company. Tama Keiki Co., Ltd. continued manufacturing watches at the Hino Factory. Just one year later, in 1951, Tama Keiki Co., Ltd. changed its name to Orient Watch Co., Ltd., and in the same year the first Orient Star went on sale. Orient Watch was able to expand their visibility overseas after a memorandum trade agreement with China in 1955. The Royal Orient subsequently went on sale in 1960. Other important watches in the company's history include the "Dynamic" in 1956, "Grand Prix 100" in 1964, "Fineness" (the world's thinnest automatic wristwatch with day and date calendar function for its time) in 1967, and the "Tenbeat" in 1970.^[14]

In 2003, the Orient Technical Center (OTC) was established and the assembly of luxury watches began in Ugo, Ogachi, Akita, Japan.^[11] In 2004, the high-precision Caliber 88700 movement went on sale via the Royal Orient watch line. In 2005, Orient Star Retro-Future collection was launched. In 2010, Orient Watch Co., Ltd. celebrated its 60th anniversary with a limited edition model.^[14]

Gallery

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  Orient (CEY04002B)
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  Orient (CFHAA004W)
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  Orient
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  Orient Star - Classic (SEL05004W0)