Best Japanese Watch Brands: Seiko, Citizen, Orient & More

Time for a new watch? Japanese watches are known for being incredibly reliable, often sporting high-tech features, and unique designs, and generally offering great value. They've truly earned their rising global status, while the lower value of the yen makes for an opportune move on some affordable luxury. From serious haute horlogerie to multi-functional gadgets, there’s no reason to break the bank for a flashy wristpiece. 

This guide will walk you through a brief history of Japanese watchmaking innovations, compare top Japanese watch brands across segments and price ranges, and offer practical advice on where you can buy your perfect Japanese timepiece.

A Brief History of Japanese Watches

Not long after Japan shifted to the Western time-keeping system (1873), a company called Seikosha began making wall clocks. Seikosha then went on to produce Japan's first pocket watch, the ‘Time Keeper’ in 1895, and Japan's first wristwatch, the ‘Laurel’ in 1913.

Seikosha officially adopted the familiar brand name Seiko in 1924. 

This heralded the start of modern Japanese watch-making with the Shokosha Watch Research Institute, the forerunner of Citizen, joining the race to produce Japanese-made timepieces for the general populace. 

However, Seiko grabbed the initiative to revolutionize the industry by introducing the world's first commercially available quartz wristwatch, the Seiko Quartz Astron, on Christmas day, 1969. This set Japanese watch making on a new trajectory.

Japan’s innovative drive didn’t end with capitalizing on the quartz revolution. Seiko went on to develop automatic kinetic quartz technology in 1988 and groundbreaking hybrid technologies in the late 1990s. Citizen pioneered radio-controlled atomic watches, while Casio became renowned for its durable G-Shock line.

Top 10 Japanese Watch Brands: Comparison Overview

Seiko, Citizen and Casio still dominant key segments of the Japanese watch industry, but newer brands have managed to gain prominence. For easy reference, we include this handy overview of best Japanese watch brands, ranked from highest to lowest in terms of general perceived luxury, exclusivity, and technical craftsmanship.

Mainstream Giants

Seiko

Seiko watches range from the robust Seiko 5 Sports and reliable Presage dress watches, to professional Prospex dive and field instruments. Their luxury Grand Seiko and Credor lines offer exquisite mechanical, Spring Drive, and high-accuracy quartz models.

Citizen

Citizen is defined by its diverse technologies. Their range includes versatile Eco-Drive (light-powered) watches spanning casual to dress styles, durable Promaster professional sports watches, and sophisticated Satellite Wave GPS models for ultimate accuracy. High-end lines like Campanola showcase advanced quartz and artistic complications. 

Casio

Casio is defined by its iconic G-Shock line which sets the standard for shock resistance, while Pro Trek offers outdoor enthusiasts sensor-laden tools. Edifice provides stylish analog chronographs, and their extensive digital collection includes everything from calculator watches to retro classics. 

Luxury Picks

Grand Seiko

Grand Seiko is one of Japan’s top luxury watch brands. Their unique time pieces stand out for their distortion-free Zaratsu mirror polishing technique. This creates a brilliant surface that reflects light flawlessly in all conditions. Spring Drive is their proprietary hybrid technology that combines the best of mechanical and quartz, with astounding accuracy of ±1 second per day. Every Grand Seiko watch is meticulously hand-assembled and inspected by master craftsmen in Japan. 

Minase

Minase is a niche luxury brand that hails from Akita in the north of Japan. Their ‘case-in-case’ design embeds moving parts within an inner structure that appears to float inside the outer case. This creates an unparalleled three-dimensional depth and allows light to interact uniquely with the dial. They also deploy ‘Zaratsu’ polishing and their watches incorporate exquisite dial artistry, often featuring complex textures, multi-layered designs, or collaborations with traditional artisans using techniques like Urushi lacquer.

Credo

Credo is a Seiko ultra-luxury sub brand. Credor focuses on timepieces that blend exquisite craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, typically produced in limited numbers. Intricate hand-engraving, gem-setting, and use of precious materials is common. Dials frequently showcase unique textures, traditional Japanese crafts like Urushi lacquer, or elaborate motifs. Their use of micro-technologies rivals what any Swiss watchmaker can produce.

Best Microbrands

Kuoe

Kuoe is a relatively young Japanese microbrand from Kyoto, established in 2020. Their focus is reviving the charm of classic vintage watch designs, inspired by watches aesthetics from the 1930s to 1970s. Try your arm at military and field watches with their legible dials, thick Arabic numerals, classic hands, or dressier numbers including smaller, historically accurate sizes.

Knot

Knot, a microbrand based in Kichijoji, Tokyo, takes customization to the next level. Rather than selling pre-assembled watches, Knot allows customers to build their own timepiece by choosing from a vast array of cases, dials, hands, and interchangeable straps. You can mix and match over 4,000 combinations of watch heads and premium straps from unique traditional fabrics and materials. Their designs are clean and elegant with an understated sophistication, ranging from classic dress watches to casual field watches.

Hajime Asaoka

Hajime Asaoka, considered one of the greatest living watchmakers, personally crafts his exquisite haute horlogerie timepieces in Tokyo. These watches are celebrated for their unique movement architecture, meticulous hand-finishing, and distinct modern designs. With less than 10 pieces typically produced a year, they are hard to come by. Kurono Tokyo is the more affordable sister brand. They are produced in greater numbers but equally sought after for their neo-vintage aesthetic with highly polished cases, multi-faceted hands and often vibrant, lacquered or textured dials.

Niche & Collectible 

Campanola

Campanola (by Citizen) is loved for its three-dimensional dial work, each a miniature artwork, often featuring traditional Japanese Urushi lacquer, complex multi-layered dials, and high-tech extras. Citizen luxury brands typically include Eco-Drive technology which exploits any source of light powering, and their Super Titanium alloy offers unparalleled lightness, comfort, and durability.

TokyoFlash

TokyoFlash is the watch brand you will need to go back to the future! Their highly specialized watches are known for their unconventional, and often cryptic digital time displays. They eschew traditional analog hands or easily readable digital numbers, instead creating design puzzles that require the wearer to learn a unique method of interpretation to tell the time.

Budget-Friendly 

Orient

Orient is a brand still dedicated to mechanical watches, although they also feature solar and quartz technologies. They showcase a diverse range of watches including classic, contemporary and sports designs. They are well-known for their dive watches. Their commitment to in-house manufacturing, rare for a more affordable brand, ensures consistent quality and exceptional value. They are a top choice for budget-conscious enthusiasts and those seeking an authentic mechanical watch experience.

Q&Q

Q&Q, which stands for "Quality & Quantity”  is a sub-brand of Citizen Watch Co. and is a go-to-choice for quality, affordable Japanese watches. They are primarily quartz-powered, but respected for their durability, straightforward functionality, with an array of designs from classic analog to digital and even solar-powered. 

Casio

Casio, as a popular budget option, focuses on versatility together with accessible style. Their range of polished Edifice analog watches integrate Tough Solar technology which can run perpetually on even limited light sources. Retro-inspired digital models blend nostalgic charm with practical features. RunMetrix watches, meanwhile, use GPS and a 9-axis sensor to track body movements and can connect to a Smartphone App. Casio G-Shock series can range from budget to mid-range and even luxury segments for G-Steel and MT-G or MR-G lines.

Where to Buy the Best Japanese Watches

If you are living outside of Japan, there are various ways in which you can become the proud owner of a Japanese luxury watch with exquisite craftsmanship. 

• Authorized dealers, major department stores, and official boutiques are the best choice to ensure authenticity, official warranty, and after-sales support. 

• Brand websites offer the same assurances, except for additional costs that may be associated with internation shipping and customs regulations.

• Specialist watch stores, both online and physical, often carry Japanese brands, and can provide professional advice.

• Major online retailers such as Amazon provide access to a wider variety of Japanese luxury watches at competitive prices, but make sure to check seller authenticity, reputation, and warranty.

There are a couple of things to note when buying a Japanese luxury watch outside your customs territory. Customs and tax duties applied on luxury goods can add a significant percentage to the watch's general retail price.

If the watch comes with an international warranty, make sure it's valid in your country or if it's a ‘gray market’ warranty offered by the seller, which might require sending the watch back to the seller for service. Authorized dealers should provide the official manufacturer's warranty.

Don’t forget to factor in exchange rate fluctuations and any foreign transaction fees in the case of bank transfers. When dealing with shipping and insurance, check that the seller offers secure, insured shipping to your location.

Love Japanese Minimalist Aesthetics? You’ll Also Love These Thoughtful Gifts

If you appreciate the quiet refinement of Japanese watch design, you’ll likely enjoy these objects crafted with the same attention to detail. They also make meaningful, timeless gifts.

• A minimalist brass incense holder could easily find its place on a stylish dresser.

• Delight Labo unique floating spinning pen and pen holder will make a catchy addition to your desk or workspace.

• For timeless charm, a classic hammered steel letter opener offers subtle sophistication.

• Natural bamboo lacquerware brush pens, combining traditional artistry with clean, minimal design

• Isuke lacquered vase, with a design that quietly evokes a single flower blooming beneath the moon, an elegant piece that brings a sense of calm and beauty to any space.

Why Now is the Time to Invest in Japanese Watch Brands

The current low value of the Japanese yen relative to major global currencies is not the only reason to make a great value purchase on a Japanese luxury watch. There is a rising global appreciation and recognition of Japanese watches, which could lead to higher prices and value in both the short and long term. 

Additionally, brands like Grand Seiko and Credo, with their limited edition designer watches, also offer unique collectible opportunities. 

If you own a luxury Japanese watch, a unique microbrand timepiece, or a specialized utility field watch, or if you have any questions, let us know in the comments below.