Lassale was introduced in the late 1970s as a high-end sub-brand of Seiko, drawing inspiration from the Swiss watchmaker Jean Lassale, whose name was synonymous with ultra-thin, elegantly engineered timepieces. Originally known for producing some of the thinnest mechanical movements ever made, Jean Lassale’s minimalist design philosophy deeply influenced the brand’s aesthetic. Seiko acquired the rights to the Jean Lassale name and partnered with famed designer Gérald Genta to create quartz-driven Lassale watches that combined Japanese technology with Swiss luxury styling.
By the late 1980s, Seiko absorbed the brand fully, but Lassale’s legacy continued through Seiko’s refined dress watch offerings rooted in that same sleek, minimalist tradition.