Astron (wristwatch)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Astron wristwatch, formally known as the Seiko Quartz-Astron 35SQ, was the world's first "quartz clock" wristwatch, i.e., one based on a quartz crystal oscillator. It is now registered on the List of IEEE Milestones as a key advance in electrical engineering.
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) each (at the time, equivalent to the price of a medium-sized Japanese automobile).[1] Essential elements included a quartz crystal oscillator (8,192 cyles/second), a hybrid integrated circuit, and a miniature stepping motor to turn its hands. The Astron was accurate to ±5 seconds per month, or one minute per year.
[edit] References and Footnotes
- "IEEE History Center: Electronic Quartz Wristwatch, 1969". IEEE. http://www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/history_center/seiko.html.
- "Epson Milestones: Seiko Quartz Astron 35SQ". Seiko Epson. http://www.epson.co.jp/e/company/milestones_05_35sq.htm.
- ^ The price of Toyota Corolla E10 was 432,000 yen (US$1,200) when it was released in 1966.[1]
