The 1970s was a decade of technological innovation, and one of the most significant advancements in watchmaking was the rise of quartz technology. The introduction of quartz movements revolutionized the industry, offering unprecedented accuracy, affordability, and reliability. This chapter explores the origins of quartz technology, its impact on the watch industry, and the key models and brands that embraced this groundbreaking innovation.
The Origins of Quartz Technology
Quartz technology in watches can trace its origins back to the late 1960s when Seiko, a Japanese watchmaker, introduced the world's first quartz wristwatch, the Seiko Quartz Astron, in 1969. The Astron was a game-changer, boasting an accuracy of +/- 5 seconds per month, a significant improvement over traditional mechanical watches. This revolutionary watch utilized a quartz crystal oscillator to regulate the movement, powered by a small battery.
The Impact on the Watch Industry
The introduction of quartz technology had a profound impact on the watch industry, leading to what is often referred to as the "Quartz Crisis." This period saw a dramatic shift in the market, with quartz watches quickly gaining popularity due to their accuracy, low maintenance, and affordability. Traditional Swiss watchmakers, known for their high-quality mechanical timepieces, faced a significant challenge as consumers increasingly opted for quartz watches.
The Quartz Crisis forced many established brands to adapt or face obsolescence. Some Swiss manufacturers embraced quartz technology, developing their own quartz movements and incorporating them into their product lines. Others focused on preserving the art of mechanical watchmaking, emphasizing the craftsmanship and heritage of their timepieces.
35SQ 1970 Seiko Special Luxury Catalog - Credit: plus9time.com
Key Models and Brands
Hamilton Electric
Credit: Hondinkee.com
The first watch to introduce a battery in place of the mainspring was the Hamilton Electric. While this movement was unquestionably innovative, it had two major drawbacks. Firstly it was an unbelievably fragile and temperamental movement. Secondly, while the battery solved the issue of power generation and stable power transmission, there was still a traditional balance wheel oscillating at 2.5Hz. This meant that the movement did not achieve any greater accuracy than a mechanical watch, and was still negatively impacted by the shortcomings of slow oscillation and a hairspring.
Seiko Astron Quartz
Credit: Hondinkee.com
In 1969 Seiko came out with the Astron quartz watch. It is worth mentioning that there is some contention as to the actual date of the invention of the quartz mechanism, and the Beta 1 built in 1967 does pre-date the Astron but the Astron was the first one sold to the market.
Seiko 5 Sports Speed-Timer
Omega Electroquartz
Credit: thewatchcollector.co.uk
The Omega Electroquartz was introduced in 1969 as the first Swiss quartz watch to be produced. It was the collaboration of 20 Swiss watch companies and the movement was utilised by Rolex, Patek Phillipe and Omega amongst others. The Beta 21 movement used in the Electroquartz was accurate to 5 seconds per month, far better than any automatic or manual wind movement of the day.Girard Perregaux Caliber 350
Credit: Hondinkee.com
Released in 1971. The Girard Perregaux GP-350 First watch with the quartz oscillating at 32,768 Hz, a frequency adopted since then as a universal standard.
The GP-350 movement was equipped with an integrated circuit produced by Motorola, bringing together the equivalent of 300 transistors within an area equivalent to 5 mm2. Its consumption was reduced to 4 micro-amperes, enabling sufficient battery life. This was the first time that quartz wristwatches passed the static and dynamic tests (impacts, magnetism, temperatures) at the Neuchatel Observatory. After 38 days of tests, the GP quartz watches certified by Neuchâtel Observatory for the year 1971-1972 had proven their extraordinary accuracy and their reliability.
Omega Megaquartz 2400
Credit: omegamegaquartz.com
In Switzerland, brands like Omega and Longines embraced quartz technology, developing their own quartz movements and integrating them into their collections. The Omega Megaquartz 2400, introduced in 1974, was a notable example, featuring a distinctive design and exceptional accuracy.
Lip Nautic-ski Electronic
Credit: musee-lip.fr
Following the release of the MK1 Nautic-Ski in the late 1960s, Lip issued a second version in the later part of the 1960s and early 1970s. Using their proprietary R184 movement, the Lip Nautic-Ski Electronic was not a Quartz movement per say, but was instead characterized by the use of a battery instead of a barrel spring, thus eliminating the tedious task of daily winding of a conventional mechanical watch.
Rolex Oysterquartz
Credit: Moonphase.fr
In 1972, Rolex embarked on a quest to develop its own quartz movement, and introduced the Rolex Oysterquartz In 1977. It was a remarkable interpretation of the quartz movement that even used a pallet wheel to move the seconds hand. It was also the first Rolex to be fitted with a sapphire crystal; the rest of the Rolex collections had to wait another seven years to get one.
Concord Delirium
Credit: revolution watch.com
Although the Japanese watch industry dealt the Swiss a hard blow with quartz technology, the Swiss proved that they could come back with a fight. The mutual choice for the battleground was in ultra-thin quartz watches. When Seiko introduced a quartz watch with an overall thickness of 2.5mm in 1978, ETA struck back with the Delirium I, which became available in 1979. This watch had a thickness of only 1.98mm and was used in watches by Eterna, Longines and Concord, with Concord being the only one to introduce it to the US market.
Explore our series about The forgotten innovations of 70's watchmaking:
- Intro - The Forgotten Innovations of 70's Watchmaking
- 1 - The Rise of Quartz Technology
- 5a - The Emergence of Design Icons
- 5b - Gerald Genta: The Maestro behind 1970's Watch Design
- 6 - The Impact of Space Exploration
