The watch This rare Seiko Quartz 3803-7060 from 1972 is another Studio favorite and a true gem from the early days of quartz technology. Featuring one of the earliest iterations of Seiko’s iconic snowflake dial, this model showcases a distinctive, space-age case design and is topped off with a beautifully faceted crystal.
In very good, unpolished condition, the watch shows minimal signs of wear on the case and crystal. It is fitted with a Citizen bracelet from the same era, which not only complements the watch aesthetically but closely resembles the original Seiko bracelet. Interestingly, this exact bracelet can also be found on the Citizen Quartz with faceted crystal that we offer.
The quartz crisis The "quartz crisis," also known as the "quartz revolution," refers to a period in the late 20th century when the Swiss watch industry faced significant upheaval due to the rise of quartz technology. This technological shift began in the 1960s and 1970s, primarily driven by Japanese companies like Seiko.
Quartz watches, which use a battery-powered quartz crystal to keep time, offered several advantages over traditional mechanical watches. They were more accurate, less expensive to produce, and required less maintenance. Seiko, a pioneer in quartz technology, introduced the world's first quartz watch, the Astron, in 1969. This innovation demonstrated that quartz watches could offer precision and affordability, challenging the long-standing dominance of Swiss mechanical watches.
The Swiss watch industry, which had long been revered for its craftsmanship and mechanical expertise, struggled to adapt to this new technology. Many Swiss companies initially underestimated the impact of quartz watches and were slow to innovate. As a result, they faced financial difficulties and market share losses. The quartz crisis led to the decline or bankruptcy of several traditional Swiss watchmakers and forced the industry to undergo significant restructuring.
Ultimately, the quartz crisis reshaped the watch industry, leading to a renewed focus on innovation and a blend of traditional and modern technologies. The Swiss watch industry eventually rebounded by incorporating quartz technology alongside their mechanical expertise.
