1969

1968    <<    1969    >>    1970

 

• On 10 January Zenith presents the first self-winding chronograph movement "El Primero".

• On 3 March, the manufacturers Breitling, Heuer-Leonidas, Hamilton/Büren present their competing product in Geneva, New York , Hong Kong and Beirut under the name of Calibre 11 "Chronomatic".

• On 20 August, Longines introduces the Ultra-Quartz, the first quartz wristwatch to be announced for production.

• On 21 July 1969 Buzz Aldrin, with the Omega Speedmaster Professional on his wrist, enters the moon's surface.

• On 25 December, Seiko releases the Astron for sale in Japan, the first commercial electronic quartz model.

• Jaeger-LeCoultre introduces the "Speedbeat" Memovox with Cal. 916. This was one of the company's most successful models for the next decade.

• The Favre family purchases SAPHIR, bringing Jaeger-LeCoultre and Favre-Leuba together.

• Zenith and Movado combine, then add Mondia later in the year to become Movado-Zenith-Mondia.

• Sicura, Longines, and IWC introduce their first quartz watches.