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#author("2025-07-24T17:09:15+00:00","default:admin","admin") #author("2025-08-03T14:06:53+00:00","default:admin","admin") #ref(550-017906.jpg,right,around,zoom,0x350); This was the second Japanese quartz watch, (after [[Seiko]],) the first Japanese quartz watch using the now standard 32,768KHz frequency, the first quartz watch displaying day & date, the first quartz watch under 100,000 yen. -Circuit signed "Ricoh 02", wheel bridge signed "Ten 10 Jewels, Ricoh, Adjusted, 0xxxxx, 550" -"RQ2" MOS IC made by AMI -Built in capacitor array, connect or disconnect with screws to adjust rate, six to combine similar to [[Seiko]] Astron or 3823 movement. Increasing capacitance watch loses, decrease capacitance watch gains. -Battery 2x 303 -Maximum consumption 18 micro amps, or 5 with crown pulled out -Coil resistance 5KOhms -Accurate to 5 secs/month ([[550002]]) or 15 secs/month ([[550003]]) -Date corrector button at 4 o'clock -The first quartz watch displaying day & date, as revealed at the New York Hilton Watch & Jewelry show 25-28 July 1971 [although I have seen [[Seiko]] 3823 models with day-date dated May & June 1971 released for sale Dec 1971] -550001 Launched Dec 1971 according to Ricoh manual, rated 0.2s per day 5s per month -550003 launched Jul 1972 rated 15s per month From [[thewatchforum.co.uk>https://thewatchforum.co.uk/index.php?/topic/95876-japanese-giant-goes-missing-ricoh-watches/]] The other product that Ricoh produced with the help of Hughes aircraft was their first analogue quartz watch - the cal550. This was a large, two-battery dinosaur. It is not as elegantly executed as its contemporaries, but it was produced in 1971 - meaning it was around at the same time as the first Seiko 38xx and some Beta21 models. Like most very early quartz watches it was not produced in high volumes. It preceded Citizen's and Orient's first quartz watches by more than a year - a long time during the race for new products in these early quartz years. It is claimed to be the first quartz watch with day and date mechanism. In 1970 there were no quartz models below Seikos 150,000 yen cal 38xx watches. In December 1971, Ricoh released the Riquartz 550 which at 90000 yen was the first quartz watch below 100000 yen. Seiko chased the Riquartz prices but in 1972 were still at 100000 yen with their cal 39xx models. Citizen did eventually bring Hisonic prices down to about 20000 yen with mass production economies, but their efforts were matched by both Ricoh and Seiko with their quartz watches and by the mid-1970s prices were more or less the same for quartz and Hisonic watches. The writing was on the wall and Citizen, by this time was piling resources into quartz and digital development. From the web: "1972 The 'Riquartz' caliber 550, first model with two batteries is introduced. The watch has a frequency of 32 kHz, a stepping motor, a tuning fork quartz and electronic parts made by Hughes Aircraft." [The Hughes anecdote is not verified. Ricoh did make LED watches with movements made in America by Hughes at around the same time.] From "Electrifying the Wristwatch": "In the 1970s, Ricoh evolved into a big producer of 32 kHz analog quartz movements. The first caliber of this kind was the Riquartz 550; production started in 1972. This was a very sturdy, rectangular three-hand movement; the dimensions were 22.0 mm x 24.5 mm (11 1/2 x 12 1/2 lines) with a window at 6 o'clock for the day/date display. The CMOS integrated circuit was supplied either by AMI* (American Microsystems Inc.) or Hughes Aircraft, and the 32 kHz tuning fork-type quartz resonator was made by NDK*. For fine frequency tuning, six ceramic capacitors could be connected to the quartz with a bank of screws. The six-pole stepping motor featured a platinum-cobalt rotor. Two serially connected silver oxide batteries supplied the necessary power." >*AMI founded 1966 in Santa Clara >*Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd are still in business making [[Quartz crystals]]. They are often marked with a code, for example "59F" presumably a date code which would mean it was made in Sep 1975. *Circuit [#d21276c2] Prototype (note "Ricoh 01" and thinner tracks) & production #ref(550-017906.jpg,right,around,zoom,0x300); #ref(550-1.jpg,zoom,0x300); #ref(550-circuit.jpg,zoom,0x300); **Coil [#had6f373] -20,000 turns -20 micron wire -5KOhms resistance -Equals about 92 meters of wire *MOS IC [#k0aa427c] -Made by AMI [American Microsystems Inc.]. By 1975 they were only making ICs for digital watches -294 transistors -6.35x5mm #ref(550-IC-2.jpg,right,around,zoom,0x300); #ref(550-IC.jpg,zoom,0x300); Pinout -1 Crystal -2 Negative -3 Crystal -4 Reset switch -5 Motor via HIC drive circuit -6 Motor via HIC drive circuit -7 Test point 8,192Hz -8 Positive ground #ref(550-IC-3.jpg,zoom,0x300); **Hybrid IC [#b915c80a] A hybrid-integrated circuit converting the motor pulses to alternating positive-negative, containing two transistors, marked with (M logo for Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. *Quartz [#w2915eb7] -32,768Hz -4x15mm -Made by NDK *Prices [#ta2345c3] ,''Ref'',''Spec'',''Year'',''Yen'',''Dollar'' ,550001,Gold plated painted on strap,,118.000, ,,,,, ,550002,Gold plated Tiger eye dial,1973,118.000,$295 ,550002,Stainless steel Tiger eye dial,1973,93.000,$265 ,550002,Stainless steel painted dial,1973,88.000, ,,,,, ,550003,Stainless steel painted dial,,59.000, ,550003,Stainless steel [[Tiger eye]] dial,,64.000, ,550003,Gold plated [[Tiger eye]] dial,,74.000, ,,,,, ,Automatic,Most expensive in Playboy advert,,38.000,$95 ,35 18K,Seiko Astron,1969,450.000, ,3602,Seiko,1970,215.000, ,3502,Seiko,1970,180.000, ,3823,Seiko,1971,140.000, ,38,Seiko quartz,1973,70.000, ,,Grand Seiko stainless,1973,50.000, ,,,,, ,1016,Rolex Explorer,1970,,$210 ,1016,Rolex Explorer,1973,70.400,$260 ,1016,Rolex Explorer,1975,107.000,$360 ,,Rolex Submariner no date,1970,,$230 ,5513,Rolex Submariner no date,1972,56.500,$185 ,1680,Rolex Submariner date,1972,81.200,$268 ,,Rolex Submariner date,1973,140.335,$385 ,,Rolex Submariner date,1975,,$470 ,,Rolex Day-Date President concealed clasp,1972,417.840,$1.379/DM4.100 ,,Rolex Day-Date President,1973,501.350,$1.850 ,,Rolex Day-Date President,1975,894.300,$3.300 -1970 a Nikon F was 49,000 -1973 a Canon F-1 was 78,000 Yen to dollar -1971 348 -1972 303 -1973 271 -1974 292 -1975 297 * Brochure [#z796c5e1] There is a brochure featuring a [[Tungsten carbide]] [[570]] & movement on the cover. Many 550 watches are featured inside, all four references alongside various 570 models so it must date from 1973/4. **550001 [#wa6152cf] -Stainless, Silvered dial, flexible bracelet -Gold plated, Two tone dial, leather strap 118,000 **550002 [#e90e0616] -Stainless, Silvered -Gold plated, Gilt dial -Gold plated, two tone -Stainless, Tiger eye -Gold plated, Two tone -Gold plated, Gilt dial, 110,000 -Stainless, dark blue or black dial -Stainless, two tone, 95,000? -Stainless, brown dial? -Gold plated, Green stone, 115,000 **550003 [#ma249546] -Stainless, green stone -Gold plated, Tiger eye -Stainless, two tone? **550004 [#hc0c27a6] -Stainless, Blue dial **570 [#h5035dac] -Gold plated, Tiger eye, 103,000 -Stainless, -Tungsten, 115,000 -Tungsten, Tiger eye, 120,000 *Example movement serial numbers [#h1e280d2] -Earliest recorded watch [[Feb 1972>550001]] -Latest recorded watch [[Apr 1973>550004]] -Production of new Cal [[570]] started before Aug 1973 ,''Number'',''Ref'',''Watch no.'',''Date'',''Quartz''#,''Symbol''*,''Notes'' ,010435,550002,312207,Nov 1972,C122,-,Early engraving [[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6103]] ,010491,550001,116235,,,, ,010904,550001,116565,Feb 1972,2898,-,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5999]] ,011346,550002,122376,,,, ,012084,550001,116633,Apr 1972,4189,タ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5885]] ,012683,550002,313468,Oct 1972,,, ,012686,550001,119050,May 1972,3267,タ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com >http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5814]] ,012980,550002,622399,Dec 1972?,3434,レ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6110]] ,013148,550002,123594,Sep 1972,1009,レ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6149]] ,013272,550004,822351,Jan 1973,,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6240]] ,014253,550003,134546,Dec 1972,953,レ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6109]] ,014283,550002,,,,,Instagram ,014425,550003,133793,,,, ,014675,550002,322225,Aug 1972,639,レ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5938]] ,015145,550002,322389,Aug 1972,1040,ソ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5377]] ,015227,550002,123605,Jul 1972,,, ,015239,550004,325941,,,,[[YouTube:https://youtu.be/ng4ypGF0oOs]] ,016048,550003,134232,Oct 1972,1500,ソ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5833]] ,016214,550003,134086,Oct 1972,Replaced,ソ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5831]] ,016286,550002,123464,Dec 1972,,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6217]] ,016531,550002,123528,Jul 1972,Replaced,ソ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5958]] ,017704,550003,134366,Nov 1972,,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6242]] ,017704,550003,134366,Nov 1972,Replaced,ソ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6242]] ,017906,550002,,,,, ,018007,550002,313174,Dec 1972,,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6197]] ,018081,550003,134966,Dec 1972,-,ツ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5886]] ,018308,550004,822793,,,, ,018866,550002,622120,Jan 1973,A947,ナ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6000]] ,019518,550002,312668,Dec 1972,1400,ナ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6180]] ,020042,550002,122293,Dec 1972,,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6187]] ,020042,550002,122293,Dec 1972,118,ナ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6187]] ,020055,550003,333220,Nov 1972,,ナ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5964]] ,020379,550004,822814,,D514,ナ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6159]] ,020464,550002,622166,Dec 1972,Replaced,ナ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6078]] ,020495,550003,133945,Nov 1972,357,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5832]] ,020678,550003,135038,Dec 1972,2868,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5845]] ,021743,550003,135052,Dec 1972,1208,ナ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6179]] ,021906,550002,323264,,2129,ラ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5712]] ,022197,550003,135316,Jan 1973,402,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5976]] ,022483,550004,823819,Mar 1973,,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6253]] ,022569,550002,312390,Dec 1972,-,ラ,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5989]] ,022774,550004,825139,Apr 1973,,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6239]] ,022966,550002,122797,Sep 1972,,, ,023968,550003,134984,? 1972,B22,ム,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6148]] ,024188,550002,312603,Sep 1972,,,[[YouTube:https://youtu.be/ng4ypGF0oOs]] ,024597,550002,312311,Sep 1972,251,ム,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5377]] ,024887,550002,313709,,,, ,0?????,550003,133615,Aug 1972,,, ,,,,,,,''46 movements recorded'' ,,,,,,, ,010856,570xxx,,,,,Ricoh service manual ,010901,570xxx,,,,,Ricoh brochure ,011818,[[570001]],,Aug 1975,UWIH-53F,,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5795]] # Quartz tube hand numbered in ink '*' Symbol stamped on main plate under coil *Used in reference numbers [#g3dbe4d6] -[[550001]] - 11 recorded -[[550002]] - 45 recorded -[[550003]] - 28 recorded -[[550004]] - 15 recorded -Total recorded ''99 watches'' **010435 [#c7367053] #ref(550-010435-1.jpg,right,around,zoom,0x250); Note early style engraving on wheel bridge #ref(550-010435-2.jpg,zoom,0x250); **010491 [#iaa14f3b] #ref(550-010491-1.jpg,zoom,0x250); #ref(550-010491-2.jpg,zoom,0x250); #ref(550-010491-3.jpg,zoom,0x250); **010904 [#h922afec] #ref(550-010904-1.jpg,zoom,0x250); **011346 [#ud943b17] #ref(550-011346.jpg,zoom,0x250); **012683 [#qd78d446] #ref(550-012683-1.jpg,right,around,zoom,0x250); #ref(550-012683-2.jpg,zoom,0x250); #ref(550-012683-3.jpg,zoom,0x250); **012686 [#s716a7a2] #ref(550-012686.jpg,zoom,0x250); **013148 [#pff0ed90] #ref(550-013148.jpg,zoom,0x250); **013272 [#lca968fe] #ref(550-013272.jpg,zoom,0x250); **014283 [#te2824ff] #ref(550-014283.jpg,zoom,0x250); **014425 [#tfa482d1] #ref(550-014425.jpg,zoom,0x250); **014675 [#rb9d84a1] #ref(550-014675.jpg,zoom,0x250); **015145 [#y840a8d9] #ref(550-015145.jpg,zoom,0x250); **015227 [#d03434cf] #ref(550-015227.jpg,zoom,0x250); **016048 [#z79a5e89] #ref(550-016048.jpg,zoom,0x350); **016286 [#qb8bced2] #ref(550-016286.jpg,zoom,0x350); **017906 [#m6979734] #ref(550-017906.jpg,zoom,0x250); **018007 [#neaa4946] #ref(550-018007.jpg,zoom,0x250); **018308 [#a84d33c2] #ref(550-018308-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x250); #ref(550-018308.jpg,zoom,0x250); #ref(550-018308-3.jpg,zoom,0x250); **019518 [#lc24f57d] #ref(550-019518.jpg,zoom,0x250); **020042 [#ra387bf7] #ref(550-020042.jpg,zoom,0x250); **020055 [#m1e4ff6c] #ref(550-020055-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x250) #ref(550-020055-1.jpg,zoom,0x250); **020379 [#q38c382b] #ref(550-020379.jpg,zoom,0x250); **020464 [#o35ba99c] #ref(550-020464.jpg,zoom,0x250); **020495 [#q768343b] #ref(550-020495.jpg,zoom,0x250); **020678 [#v4ada8f7] #ref(550-020678.jpg,zoom,0x250); **021743 [#x842acc7] #ref(550-021743.jpg,zoom,0x250); **022197 [#z6fef3eb] #ref(550-022197.jpg,zoom,0x250); **022569 [#l2a88f1d] #ref(550-022569.jpg,zoom,0x250); **022774 [#k1c26e7c] #ref(550-022774.jpg,zoom,0x250); **023968 [#z1412a5c] #ref(550-023968.jpg,zoom,0x250); **024887 [#f3bab981] #ref(550-024887.jpg,zoom,0x250); **0????? [#mcc3da6e] #ref(550-17.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x250); #ref(550-18.jpg,zoom,0x250); *See also [#q2c0d631] -[[550 servicing]] -[[Technical]] section #ref(550-collection.jpg,zoom,0x250);
