Synchronar to Citizen: The Evolution of Solar-Powered Watches
I have on my wrist today a Citizen G900, a watch that eludes the stigma of a cheap quarts fashion watch. Today I thought I would go through some of the history of Solar Powered Watches.
Solar-powered watches symbolize the fusion of sustainability and horological innovation. Join us at WatchCrunch as we explore this evolution, from the original Synchronar to the apex of Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology.
The journey began in 1968 with Roger W. Riehl's Synchronar, the first solar-powered watch. Despite its size limiting commercial success, it ignited the subsequent development in solar watch technology.
Seiko contributed in 1996 with the Thermic Watch, transforming the temperature difference between the wearer's skin and the air into electricity, marking an important step in self-charging watches.
YEAH YOU READ THAT RIGHT
Parallelly, Citizen launched the world's first light-powered analog quartz watch, the Crystron Solar Cell, in 1976. This led to their iconic Eco-Drive technology in the early 1990s, which harnessed light from any source to power their watches.
The pinnacle of Citizen's solar-powered journey is the Eco-Drive Master Complication G910, representing Citizen's commitment to eco-friendly, yet sophisticated timepieces.
I'm an ardent watch collector and historian, tracing the ebb and flow of time through the lens of horology. My fascination began with the intricate mechanisms that tick beneath each dial and has grown...
Junghans also was at the forefront of solar technology. I think their "first" was a radio controlled solar watch.
Junghans also was at the forefront of solar technology. I think their "first" was a radio controlled solar watch.
They are an old, old company going back from 1861, but they have a release right now called The 1972 Radiocontrolled and Solar Power, but it is an homage to the style of the 1970's rather than holding any significance in the 70's. Junghans was the official timekeeper for the Munich Games in 1972, and in that role, they introduced new standards or innovations in sports time measurement.
HOWEVER! The world's first radio-controlled watch was by Junghans; the 'Mega 1' was released in the 1990s, which would be a really cool subject for another post.
Cool read