Post #30 Electromagnetic balance
At around the time quartz watches were launched, manufacturers were also engaged in R&D of various alternatives. The electromagnetic balance, an American technology developed by Hamilton, was one of those trials & errors. My amateur explanation would be that these watches have a balance wheel driven by batteries, not a main spring. I’m (very) slowly trying to build up a mini collection of these. I have only these two pieces now, one from Seiko and another from Citizen. My present target is a “Hamilton/Ricoh”. Hamilton had a brief joint venture company with Ricoh and the Mitsui Corporation of Japan for the manufacturing of electromagnetic balance watches. I’m patiently waiting for good piece.
Semi retired businessman from Japan. Visited 80 countries and resided in 4. Watch collection > 100 pieces, including digital / quartz, new and old, but no PP/VC (edit ; deleted AP from here because I...
Fascinating! Never heard of this. If you find a great example post some pics, neat bit of history 👌
I have a Seiko Elnix Superior Grade 0723-6010 in my collection. It's my only electronic watch, but I really love it and I'm already thinking about getting another Elnix. They're such well put together, lost pieces of technology. It's a bit of a shame that they're so overlooked, but at least that means that they can be pretty affordable compared to other vintage watches.
Very cool, been looking at the electric Omega's myself - not taken the plunge yet, but it's inevitable. Cheers 🍻
Fascinating! Never heard of this. If you find a great example post some pics, neat bit of history 👌
Thanks! You can use your timegrapher for these battery run watches.
I have a Seiko Elnix Superior Grade 0723-6010 in my collection. It's my only electronic watch, but I really love it and I'm already thinking about getting another Elnix. They're such well put together, lost pieces of technology. It's a bit of a shame that they're so overlooked, but at least that means that they can be pretty affordable compared to other vintage watches.
Your dial is beautiful! I can barely read the Elnix logo on mine. I’m fascinated by innovative trials & errors of the American, European and Japanese manufacturers of the time. Todays timegrapher readings.
Your dial is beautiful! I can barely read the Elnix logo on mine. I’m fascinated by innovative trials & errors of the American, European and Japanese manufacturers of the time. Todays timegrapher readings.
Thanks! It's astonishingly well preserved for a 50 year old watch. The last time it was serviced (which was shortly before I bought it), the old crystal was replaced with an aftermarket sapphire. The improved clarity of the sapphire crystal really brings out the beauty of the dial.
Here's the numbers for mine. It runs like a champ!
Thanks! It's astonishingly well preserved for a 50 year old watch. The last time it was serviced (which was shortly before I bought it), the old crystal was replaced with an aftermarket sapphire. The improved clarity of the sapphire crystal really brings out the beauty of the dial.
Here's the numbers for mine. It runs like a champ!
Sugoi !
Thanks for the interesting info!! 🧐
I had a collection of Hamilton Electrics back in the day. Sold them all when my trusted watchmaker retired and the parts supply dried up, he was the only one I knew that was able to keep all of them running.