On Christmas Day of 1969, a shocking event for the entire world of watchmaking took place in Japan: the first quartz watch made his appearance in Tokyo stores, triggering the longest and dreadful crisis for the Swiss. The Seiko Quartz-Astron debuted in Tokyo stores on December 25, 1969 as the world’s first commercial quartz wristwatch, with a luxurious 18-karat solid gold case, hand carved by skilled craftsmen. It was priced …

Read moreQuartz-Astron, the world’s first quartz watch

The Seiko Quartz-Astron 35SQ can be considered the most important timepiece of modern horological history. So it’s no surprise to see a lot of articles and books discussing it and its impressive legacy. When you read about the Quartz-Astron, one of the first things you’ll probably learn is that only a limited edition of 100 or, depending on the source, around 200 pieces were produced. Let’s start with two of …

Read moreHow many Quartz-Astron watches were really produced?