Astron (wristwatch)
First quartz wristwatch, unveiled in Tokyo on December 25, 1969.
The Seiko Quartz-Astron 35SQ, known simply as the Astron, was the first wristwatch to use a quartz clock mechanism. It debuted in Tokyo on December 25, 1969, following a decade of development at Suwa Seikosha (now Seiko Epson), a Seiko Group manufacturing company. The watch is recognized as an IEEE Milestone for its significance in electrical engineering. Within a week of its release, 100 gold versions sold for 450,000 yen each (about US$1,250 at the time, roughly the cost of a mid-sized car). Its key components included an XY-type quartz oscillator operating at 8192 Hz, a hybrid integrated circuit, and a phase-locked ultra-small stepping motor to drive the hands. Seiko rated the Astron’s accuracy at ±5 seconds per month (or one minute per year), with a battery life of at least one year. In March 2010, at the Baselworld fair in Switzerland, Seiko previewed a limited-edition reissue and related designs to mark the watch’s fortieth anniversary (which had passed in December 2009). The “Astron” name returned in 2012 with the Seiko Astron, a solar-powered watch that synced via GPS satellites. For the 50th anniversary in 2019, Seiko released several limited Astron models, including one limited to 50 pieces (priced at 3.8 million yen) that replicated the original case design and featured a rough engraving pattern by craftsmen from Epson’s “Micro Artist Workshop.”
- field
- Horology, Electrical Engineering
- known_for
- World's first quartz clock wristwatch
- introduced
- December 25, 1969
- manufacturer
- Suwa Seikosha (Seiko Epson, Seiko Group)
- original_price
- 450,000 yen (US$1,250 in 1969)
- accuracy
- ±5 seconds per month or one minute per year
- battery_life
- 1 year or longer
Quick Facts
- Introduced
- December 25, 1969
- Display
- Analogue
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Astron was unveiled in Tokyo on December 25, 1969, after ten years of research and development at Suwa Seikosha, a manufacturing company of the Seiko Group. Within one week, 100 gold watches had been sold at a retail price of 450,000 yen (US$1,250 at the time), equivalent to the price of a medium-sized car. Essential elements included an XY-type quartz oscillator of 8192 Hz, a hybrid integrated circuit, and a phase locked ultra-small stepping motor to turn its hands. According to Seiko, the Astron was accurate to ±5 seconds per month or one minute per year, and its battery life was one year or longer.
Reader's Guide
The Astron wristwatch holds significance as the world's first quartz clock wristwatch, marking a pivotal advance in electrical engineering and horology. Its registration on the List of IEEE Milestones underscores its technical importance. The watch introduced essential elements—a quartz oscillator, hybrid integrated circuit, and stepping motor—that became standard in quartz timekeeping. Its debut in 1969 initiated a shift from mechanical to quartz watches, affecting the entire watch industry. Seiko later released commemorative editions for the 40th and 50th anniversaries, and reused the Astron trademark for a GPS solar-powered wristwatch in 2012. The original Astron's accuracy and battery life set new benchmarks for consumer timepieces.
Did You Know?
- The Astron was unveiled in Tokyo on December 25, 1969.
- Its retail price of 450,000 yen was equivalent to the price of a medium-sized car at the time.
- The watch used an XY-type quartz oscillator of 8192 Hz (2^13).
- It is registered on the List of IEEE Milestones as a key advance in electrical engineering.
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