Seiko Kinetic
The Seiko corporation pioneered a innovative technique that it unveiled in 1991 under the Kinetic brand. Today, Seiko offers a wide range of watches with varying types of Kinetic movements.
The Seiko Kinetic watches operate via a rotating pendulum that is inside the case. This pendulum is attached to a large gear that meshes with a very small pinion. As the person wearing the watch moves, the pendulum turns and spins the pinion very quickly, up to 100,000 revolutions per minute. This is attached to a tiny electrical generator that charges a storage devices which is either a rechargeable battery or a capacitor. When fully charged, the Seiko Kinetic watches will keep accurate time for anywhere from a week to six full months.
Seiko offers many variations of Kinetic watches. With the Kinetic Direct Drive technology, the wearer of the watch automatically generates electrical energy by his wrist movements, but he can also generate energy by winding the crown.
The Sportura collection is the top of the Seiko line and offers Kinetic technology. The Sportura is one of the most expensive automatic quartz watches in the world. The Kinetic technology is also used in some of Seiko’s Lorus and Pulsar watches. The Kinetic watches are a bit heavy and large, weighing around 150 grams or more, so most of Seiko Kinetic watches are only available in men’s sizes for that reason.
The Seiko Kinetic Chronograph watches combines Kinetic technology with the traditional properties of the mechanical chronograph. The time display dials are arranged in a position out of the center. The center hand of the watch is the chronograph second hand that can measure time in 1/5 second increments.
The Seiko Kinetic Auto Relay watches are equipped with a sleep function and a wake up function.
The Kinetic GMT Seikos allow the wearer to set the hour hand without disturbing the accuracy of the Kinetic movement, making it perfect for the international traveler.
From the beginning of it’s launch, over nine million Seiko Kinetic watches have been sold, making this technology one of the most desired features ever developed in the wristwatch world.
