Seikosha Empire - New Empire Mechanical Pocket Watch - Hayashi “Super” Case - Circa 1930 This is an early Japanese mechanical pocket watch from Seikosha, the direct predecessor of modern Seiko and the manufacturing foundation from which the Seiko watchmaking tradition developed, belonging to the historically important Empire family. The Empire occupies an important position in the early history of Japanese watchmaking. Introduced by Seikosha in 1909, the Empire became one of the company's most important early pocket watches and remained in production until around 1934. It was also an important export product during Seikosha's formative years. The Seiko Museum describes the Empire as an epoch-making model that combined mass production with a high level of mechanical performance for its period. This example is especially interesting because its movement carries a clearly visible: SEIKOSHA EMPIRE marking on the barrel wheel. Specialist Japanese horological references identify this type of marked movement with the later “New Empire” generation introduced during the early 1920s. The clearly visible SEIKOSHA EMPIRE marking is an important identifying feature of this later Empire movement and is particularly appealing because many surviving Empire movements are unsigned or do not display the Seikosha and Empire names so prominently. Based on the movement type and the historical period of the Hayashi “Super” case, this example is estimated to date from the late 1920s to early 1930s, approximately around 1930. Dial The white dial has a classical early-Japanese pocket-watch layout with large stylised Arabic numerals, an outer minute track and subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock. The centre of the dial is signed: EMPIRE The elegant dark hands retain visible blue-toned areas, giving the watch strong period character. The dial shows natural spotting, light discolouration and other age-related marks, while the numerals and Empire signature remain clearly visible. Movement Inside is a traditional Seikosha hand-wound mechanical movement. One of its most important and visually interesting details is the large winding wheel clearly marked: SEIKOSHA EMPIRE This visible factory marking adds considerable historical and collector interest, particularly because many Empire movements are found without such an immediately recognisable Seikosha/Empire signature. The watch is running at the time of listing. Hayashi “Super” case The inside of the case back carries the distinctive: Super marking together with an H emblem, as well as: STAINLESS BACK The H / Super marking is associated with Japanese Hayashi watch-case manufacture. The history of the present-day Hayashi Seiki company records that its predecessor was founded in Tokyo in 1921, began business with Hattori Watch Store in 1925, and was renamed Hayashi Watch Case Works in 1929. This historical connection makes the Hayashi “Super” case itself an interesting part of the development of Japan's domestic watch industry during the same formative period in which Seikosha was establishing the foundations of what would become modern Seiko. The STAINLESS BACK marking indicates a stainless-steel back, while the main case is plated base metal. Condition The dial shows spotting, light staining and natural age-related patina. The hands show age-related oxidation and wear while retaining attractive dark blue-toned areas. The case shows noticeable scratches, plating wear, corrosion and rust-coloured marks, particularly around the front bezel and case edge. These areas are clearly visible in the photographs. The case back is comparatively clean but also shows signs of age and previous use. The crystal shows age-related surface marks. Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the condition description. No chain, box or papers are included. Measurements Case diameter: approximately 43.4 mm, excluding crown and bow Case thickness: approximately 10.9 mm Weight: approximately 44.1 g Important information The watch is running at the time of listing. The service history is unknown, and accuracy and power reserve have not been measured. Please regard this primarily as a vintage collectible mechanical pocket watch. If regular use is intended, inspection or servicing by a qualified watchmaker is recommended. This vintage pocket watch is not water-resistant. Shipping The watch will be carefully packed and shipped from Japan with tracking. Customs duties, import taxes and any other charges imposed by the destination country are the responsibility of the buyer. Combining one of Seikosha's most historically important early pocket-watch names with a clearly signed SEIKOSHA EMPIRE movement and a Hayashi “Super” case, this is a fascinating surviving piece from the formative period of the Japanese watch industry. The significance of the Empire extends far beyond that of an old Japanese pocket watch. It belongs to the period when Seikosha, the direct predecessor of modern Seiko, was establishing the domestic manufacturing and mechanical-watchmaking foundations from which the later Seiko tradition would develop. For collectors interested in the origins of Seiko and the rise of Japanese mechanical watchmaking, this New Empire with its prominently signed movement and historically interesting Hayashi case represents a particularly compelling surviving example from that formative era.