Astron (wristwatch)

Seiko Quartz-Astron 35SQ
Type	Quartz
Display	Analogue
Introduced	December 25, 1969

The Astron wristwatch, formally known as the Seiko Quartz-Astron 35SQ, was the world's first "quartz clock" wristwatch. It is now registered on the List of IEEE Milestones as a key advance in electrical engineering.

History

The Astron was unveiled in Tokyo on December 25, 1969, after ten years of research and development at Suwa Seikosha (currently named Seiko Epson), a manufacturing company of Seiko Group. Within one week 100 gold watches had been sold, at a retail price of 450,000 yen (US$1,250 (equivalent to $10,386 in 2023)) each (at the time, equivalent to the price of a medium-sized car).^[1] Essential elements included a XY-type quartz oscillator of 8192 Hz (8192 = 2¹³), a hybrid integrated circuit, and a phase locked ultra-small stepping motor to turn its hands. According to Seiko, Astron was accurate to ±5 seconds per month or one minute per year, and its battery life was 1 year or longer.^[2]

Anniversaries

In March 2010, at the Baselworld watch fair and trade show in Switzerland, Seiko previewed a limited edition new version of the watch and related designs of the original Astron watch, commemorating the fortieth anniversary in December 2009 of the debut of the Astron watch.^[3]

Second generation

Seiko used the "Astron" trademark again as "Seiko Astron" when it released a satellite radio-wave solar-powered wristwatch using GPS satellites in 2012.^[4]

50th Anniversary Model

In 2019, Seiko released several limited edition Astron models to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the quartz Astron.^[5]^[6] Among them, the model produced in a limited edition of 50 pieces (3.8 million yen) mimics the original case design and has a rough engraving pattern by craftsmen belonging to Epson's "Micro Artist Workshop".^[6]

Footnotes

"IEEE History Center: Electronic Quartz Wristwatch, 1969". IEEE.
"Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ December 1969: The quartz watch that revolutionized horological history". Seiko Epson. Archived from the original on 2012-03-10. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
"The Watch That Changed Horological History" (PDF). Seiko Epson. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2010. (alternate version Archived 2022-03-16 at the Wayback Machine)

References

^ The price of Toyota Corolla E10 was 432,000 yen (US$1,200) when it was released in 1966.[1] Archived 2009-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ" (PDF). Seiko Epson Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
^ "The new SEIKO Quartz Astron: A demonstration of SEIKO’s four decades of dedication to the perfection of the quartz watch", Archived 2013-03-19 at the Wayback Machine Seiko press release, March 18, 2010
^ 世界初。全世界39のタイムゾーンに対応。ソーラーGPSウオッチ<セイコーアストロン>衛星シグナルをキャッチし、地球上どこでも現在時刻をすばやく取得 - セイコープレスリリース（2012年3月5日）
^ クオーツアストロン 50周年記念限定モデル - セイコー
^ ^a ^b "セイコー、「クオーツアストロン」誕生50周年を記念したトリビュートモデルを数量限定発売". トラベル Watch. 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2020-11-29.