The world's first atomic wristwatch

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In summary, the Seiko Astron, the world's first atomic wristwatch, was a groundbreaking timepiece that used atomic radio signals to adjust its time automatically, making it the most accurate watch of its time. It was invented in 1957 by Seiko, with the first commercial model released in 1969. The watch uses a tiny antenna to receive signals from atomic clocks around the world, resulting in accuracy to within one second in every 100,000 years. The creation of the Seiko Astron posed technical challenges, such as miniaturization and power consumption, but its impact on the watchmaking industry was significant, inspiring advancements in other fields as well.
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  • #2
Wow! I'm off to Wal-Mart. Gotta get me one of those.
 
  • #3
Oddly enough I just got back from hearing a guy talk about this type of stuff, and he said they can now make them around 1cm^3. The one you found must be the older model.

http://www.darpa.mil/mto/csac/index.html
 

FAQ: The world's first atomic wristwatch

What makes "The world's first atomic wristwatch" significant?

The world's first atomic wristwatch, the Seiko Astron, was a revolutionary timepiece that used atomic radio signals to automatically adjust its time, making it the most accurate watch in the world at that time.

When was "The world's first atomic wristwatch" invented?

The first prototype of the Seiko Astron was created in 1957 by Japanese watchmaker Seiko, but it was not until 1969 that the first commercial model was released to the public.

How does "The world's first atomic wristwatch" work?

The Seiko Astron uses a tiny antenna to receive signals from atomic clocks located around the world. These signals are used to adjust the time and date on the watch, ensuring accuracy to within one second in every 100,000 years.

What were some challenges in creating "The world's first atomic wristwatch"?

One of the biggest challenges in creating the Seiko Astron was miniaturizing the technology to fit into a wristwatch. The scientists and engineers at Seiko had to overcome technical hurdles and find ways to reduce the power consumption of the watch in order to make it feasible for everyday use.

How did "The world's first atomic wristwatch" impact the watchmaking industry?

The Seiko Astron revolutionized the watchmaking industry by introducing a new level of accuracy and precision. It paved the way for other watchmakers to develop their own atomic watches and also inspired advancements in other fields, such as satellite technology and global communication systems.

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