Founded in 1881, Seiko is a Japanese, luxury watchmaker with a long-standing legacy in timekeeping and innovation, holding a unique position in a global industry that is commonly associated with the Swiss.

Operating in India since 2007, Seiko has 20 exclusive stores across the country, which retail the Seiko and Grand Seiko models; it has seven exclusive boutiques and 13 salons. As the brand recently opened its flagship store in Mumbai,Niladri Mazumder, president & COO, Seiko Watch India spoke to Forbes India about the ways in which Japanese craftsmanship and technology make Seiko products stand apart, the lack of luxury retail spaces in India and how people who buy Apple Watches almost invariably upgrade to luxury watches. Edited excerpts:

Q. How does a Japanese luxury watchmaker stand out in an industry that is often associated only with Swiss watches?

Niladri Mazumder: There is no doubt that whenever, over centuries, watches have been spoken about, Switzerland is linked with them. Other than that, the country that has made huge headway as far as watches are concerned, alongside craftsmanship and technology, is Japan; Seiko, in fact.

Our horological history spans the last 145-odd years: We were the first to make the wristwatch in Japan; in 1913, we were pioneers in mechanical watches; in 1969, Seiko invented and sold the first quartz watch—we did not patent it for obvious reasons, so that everyone could have access—that revolutionised the industry at that time; in 1975, we made a diving watch that could be used below 600 m; we also created the first sports watch.

Then, for the Grand Seiko, we created a new technology called Spring Drive, which was researched for 25 years; it's the only technology in the world where the seconds hand glides smoothly. Typically, in a watch where you see the seconds hand gliding, it's actually stopping every one-eighth of a second, which you see with the naked eye. But in case of our Spring Drive mechanism, it actually glides smoothly; the hand doesn’t stop. If you have a chronograph spring drive, it gives you the perfect analogue time.

So, we have many firsts in the industry. Where craftsmanship comes in is our high-end products, like the Seiko and the Grand Seiko.

Q. What role does Japanese craftsmanship play in this?

NM: What we have concentrated on over the years, from Japan and from Seiko, is that we don't follow the Swiss, we don’t mimic the Swiss. We create our own identity, which is a distinct Japanese identity. We take inspiration from Japan’s nature, history and culture. Japan is a developed country like any other, and it has a distinct identity of its own, distinct food type, culture and way of life. So, while it's one of the most modern and developed countries, it has a fantastic mix of modern technology and heritage, and that's what is imbibed in our products.

Rajesh Patel [Deputy general manager, marketing]: Craftsmanship is intrinsic to the people of Japan. When it comes to Grand Seiko, we call our master craftsmen ‘Takumis’, and the spirit of the Takumi lies in every Grand Seiko they hand-create. It's carefully crafted by our Takumis in both our studios in Japan, at Shizukuishi........

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