A new quartz wall clock from Seiko Watch Corporation carries on the design of the world's first household quartz wall clock while telling time with a high accuracy of ±30 seconds per year. It goes on sale on November 20 (Friday), with a suggested retail price of ¥27,500 (tax included).
What Is the World's First Household Quartz Wall Clock?
"Spiral Quartz Wall Clock SPX-961" (スパイラル水晶掛時計 SPX-961)
In June 1968, Hattori Tokeiten (服部時計店, now Seiko Watch Corporation) released the "Spiral Quartz Wall Clock SPX-961" (スパイラル水晶掛時計 SPX-961), the world's first household quartz wall clock, which used a quartz crystal oscillator. Its accuracy was more than 10 times that of conventional mechanical wall clocks, and its battery life was one year or longer. Quartz clocks went on to spread around the world. Even today, "radio-controlled clocks" are built on quartz clocks and use them as the basis for correcting the displayed time, so the technology remains at the core of accurate time display.
In 2020, the "Spiral Quartz Wall Clock SPX-961" was registered by the National Museum of Nature and Science as one of the "Essential Historical Materials for Science and Technology" (重要科学技術史資料; nickname: 未来技術遺産, "Future Technology Heritage").
The "Essential Historical Materials for Science and Technology" (nickname: "Future Technology Heritage") is a system established in 2008, under which the National Museum of Nature and Science registers notable inventions and developments of great significance for passing on to the next generation, as physical materials showing the history of Japan's world-leading science and technology.
Design Inspired by the World's First Household Quartz Wall Clock
This clock takes inspiration from the world's first household quartz wall clock, released in 1968. It keeps the original's metal dial while giving it a modern look, improving both texture and readability.
The Arabic numeral indices faithfully reproduce the original, easy-to-read typeface. On the white-printed dial, the outer ring of the indices is printed in black, with only the graduations used to read the time left unprinted, which sharpens the contrast between the white graduations and the black outer ring. The hour and minute hands have also been redesigned, unlike those of the 1968 original, so the time can be read at a glance even from a distance.
Newly Developed Quartz Movement Delivers ±30 Seconds a Year
The quartz movements used in most of Seiko's quartz wall clocks until now have a monthly deviation of roughly ±20 to 30 seconds. This clock uses a newly developed quartz movement that achieves a high accuracy of ±30 seconds per year. It also runs for three years on a single coin battery, reducing how often the battery needs to be replaced.
The second hand features a sweep movement that glides silently across the dial, so the ticking of the second hand is less noticeable even in bedrooms or meeting rooms.
Product Specifications
Seiko 年差クオーツ掛時計 (annual-accuracy quartz wall clock)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | KX701S |
| Suggested Retail Price (tax included) | ¥27,500 |
| Dimensions | H314 × W314 × D36 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 770 g |
| Materials | Frame: Plastic (silver gloss); Front: Glass |
| Movement | Quartz movement |
| Accuracy | ±30 seconds per year (when used at 5°C to 35°C) |
| Operating Temperature | −10°C to 50°C |
| Battery | 1 × coin battery |
| Battery Life | Approx. 3 years |
| Warranty | 1 year from purchase |
| Release Date | November 20 (Friday) |
For more specifications, see the product page: https://www.seiko-clock.co.jp/product-personal/wall_clock/standard/kx701s.html
