550002-15.jpg

Introduced about 1972, using calibre 550. Available in stainless steel or gold plated. Advertised in 1973 as the “Ricoh quartz crystal wrist computer, guaranteed accurate to 5 seconds a month ... miniature miracle ... guaranteed for two years” for $295 (the mechanical watches carried a ten year guarantee)

The 550002 features better accuracy than the 550003 (+-5 secs/month vs +-15 secs/month) despite using the same movement. There is a difference in cost reflecting this (¥93,000 vs ¥55,000)

Cases

Dials

Example serial numbers - Case - Movement

Case numberMovement numberCase materialDialDateNotes
122376011346Stainless steelTwo tone silver without stone
122646Stainless steelTwo tone silver without stone
122797022966Stainless steelFading brown dialSep 1972Also marked B54AB
123098Stainless steelSilvered without stone
123117Stainless steelSilvered without stone
123148Stainless steel
123509Stainless steelJuly 72
123605015227Stainless steelFlat white without stoneJul 1972
123???Stainless steelJul 1972
312205Stainless steelSilvered
312603024188Stainless steel marked “550002 CA”Sep 1972YouTube
312928Stainless steel "550002 CA"Two tone silvered
313224Stainless steel “550002 CA”Plain silvered
313465Stainless steel “550002 CA”Two tone painted
313468012683Stainless steel “550002 CA”Two tone paintedOct 1972
313709024887Stainless steel “550002 CA”Two tone silvered
322389015145Gold platedBrown fadeAug 1972
322478Gold platedTwo tone goldSep 1972
323264021906Gold plated “550002 CA”Brown fadeGilt mesh bracelet
422295Stainless steelTiger eye
422372Stainless steelTiger eye signed "Tiger eye"93.000 yen tag
522230Gold plated "550002 CA"Tiger eye signed "Tiger eye"
622112Stainless steel “550002 BA”Dec 1972Case only. Serial number faint so not 100%
622170Stainless steel “550002 BA”Two tone silver
622272Stainless steel “550002 BA”
722353Gold plated "550002 BA"Two tone gold
722439Gold plated "550002 BA"Two tone gold

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