Seikos first electronic watch, caliber 31
These are rare Seiko calibre 31 watches from the late 60s. The first electronic watch seiko produced. No date is 31-7000 and is the rarest of the bunch. The other two date modles are 3102-7000 one with calibre 3102a and the other 3102b. The only difference is that the "b" movement has hacking seconds. There is no visible difference in the "a" and "b" watches from the outside.
I have nicknamed these watches "The Lab" as they look and feel very sterile but futuristic as if they came from a 1960s laboratory.
They made them for a very short run from 1968 to 1969. I have heard rumors it was from 1967 but I have no evidence of any with 67 serial numbers.
There was two case styles for this caliber this one and a very weird horseshoe shape case. I have yet to aquire one.
In the end Seiko ended up putting all the research money towards quartz. Putting less and less to electronic balance watches. They did make other electronic caliber watches but stopped production mid 70s in favor for quartz.
"I too worship the God of Delusion" -that guy in the back alley.
Cool. Thanks for sharing your research. Any idea If the second hand has a smooth sweep (like Accutron tuning fork) versus a quartz-like per-second tick?
Edit: ah, I see you own one, so you probably know first hand 😉
Cool. Thanks for sharing your research. Any idea If the second hand has a smooth sweep (like Accutron tuning fork) versus a quartz-like per-second tick?
Edit: ah, I see you own one, so you probably know first hand 😉
I own all 3 that I have shown in the photos. They tick the same as a mechanical watch at 21,600 bph.
Heyyy what's the difference between a quartz and a electronic movement??
Heyyy what's the difference between a quartz and a electronic movement??
Electronic balance watches use a balance as a regulating organ just like a traditional macanical watch. They have a battery and magnetic switches to move it instead of a coiled spring. A quartz watch has a small quartz crystal as a regulating organ utilizing the piezoelectric effect to oscillate.
There is more to it, but that's the just of it.
Think:
Power source: Regulator: Type of watch:
Spring >>>>>>> balance >>>>> mechanical
Battery/cell >>>>>> balance >>>>> electronic
Battery/cell >>>>>> tuning fork >>> accutron
Battery/cell >>>>>> quartz crystal > quartz
Electronic balance watches use a balance as a regulating organ just like a traditional macanical watch. They have a battery and magnetic switches to move it instead of a coiled spring. A quartz watch has a small quartz crystal as a regulating organ utilizing the piezoelectric effect to oscillate.
There is more to it, but that's the just of it.
Think:
Power source: Regulator: Type of watch:
Spring >>>>>>> balance >>>>> mechanical
Battery/cell >>>>>> balance >>>>> electronic
Battery/cell >>>>>> tuning fork >>> accutron
Battery/cell >>>>>> quartz crystal > quartz
Thanks for the explanation 😃
I need one!
My favorite watch is the Timex model 62 which is a mechanical watch like this with a quartz controller. a hybrid monstrosity. But I like it.
Those are beautiful. That 62GS reminiscent case is perfect.