Seiko Epson Corporation

The Seiko Epson Corporation began a new era of accuracy, convenience and affordability in timekeeping in 1969, by introducing the Seiko Quartz Astron, a quartz crystal oscillator watch.  Simultaneously, the company laid the groundwork for countless compact, low power consumption innovations to follow. The quartz watch included many inventive technologies, including dedicated integrated circuits, liquid crystal displays, subminiature crystal oscillators and rare earth magnet motors. The dedicated ICs, known as CM OS, are used by the electronics industry worldwide in such devices as cellular phones and wearable electronics.

Suwa Seikosha Co. Ltd., Seiko Epson’s precursor, held patents for most of the key technologies in the quartz crystal oscillator watch. They instituted a policy of granting rights to any company that applied to use the technology, which encouraged the spread of the quartz watches and related electronic devices that have become standard tools of modern living.Epson’s precursor, held patents for most