Before Quartz: Hamilton, Lip, And The First Electric Watch
Before Quartz: Hamilton, Lip, And The First Electric Watch
The dreaded Quartz Crisis leveled the entire watchmaking industry. Quartz watches began replacing traditional mechanical watches around the 1970s. As a result, many of the (primarily Swiss) mechanical watchmakers were out of business by the end of the 1980s. Before the release of the first quartz watch, leading to monumental shifts in the watch industry,
The dreaded Quartz Crisis leveled the entire watchmaking industry. Quartz watches began replacing traditional mechanical watches around the 1970s. As a result, many of the (primarily Swiss) mechanical watchmakers were out of business by the end of the 1980s. Before the release of the first quartz watch, leading to monumental shifts in the watch industry, there was the electric watch. The first electric watch was introduced in 1957 by an American company – The Hamilton Watch Company.
Just a guy that likes watches and watchmaking history.
Informative as always.
I have always had a problem with the term Quartz Crisis. What other innovation that increased accuracy and decreased complexity and costs is called a "crisis"? We don't refer to the "Steam Engine Emergency" or the "Telephone Turbulence". It was a disruption rather than a crisis. We can mourn the lost brands, but we must recognize that it allowed new brands to fill the space.
Informative as always.
I have always had a problem with the term Quartz Crisis. What other innovation that increased accuracy and decreased complexity and costs is called a "crisis"? We don't refer to the "Steam Engine Emergency" or the "Telephone Turbulence". It was a disruption rather than a crisis. We can mourn the lost brands, but we must recognize that it allowed new brands to fill the space.
I have another post I’m working on kinda sorta about this actually. It was more of a quartz revolution, especially for Seiko
Interesting article - thanks for posting.
At a watch meetup last fall, someone was selling their Omega f300Hz Electronic watch, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pick it up. I was drawn to both the hum of the tuning fork, and the super smooth sweep of the seconds hand.
Interesting article - thanks for posting.
At a watch meetup last fall, someone was selling their Omega f300Hz Electronic watch, and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to pick it up. I was drawn to both the hum of the tuning fork, and the super smooth sweep of the seconds hand.
nice watch! Thanks for sharing.