Diff of 550001 - Riquartz

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#author("2025-09-10T22:12:24+00:00","default:admin","admin")
#author("2025-09-10T22:13:38+00:00","default:admin","admin")
#ref(550001-119050-1.jpg,right,around,zoom,0x390);

This is the first Ricoh quartz watch, released around July 1971, the world's first quartz watch with day & date display. Using the newly developed calibre [[550]].

According to the [[570]] technical manual, it was revealed at the New York Hilton Watch & Jewelry show 25-28 July 1971.

Launched Dec 1971 according to Ricoh manual, rated accurate 0.2s per day, 5s per month

Contrary to this, I have seen [[Seiko]] 3823 models with day-date with serial numbers dating to May & June 1971. 

*Cases [#w4495ae1]
-Stainless steel
-Gold plated
-Back held on by four screws and clamps
-Approx 15mm thick

*Dials [#la67ca10]
-Day & date apertures at 6
-Blue-white stone at 12
--Gilt
--Silvered
--Two-tone gilt
--Two-tone silver 
-Different hour markers between flat & two-tone dials
-Signed "Riquartz, LSI [sine wave] 32768, [Riquartz logo], Ricoh Japan", note that Ricoh is mentioned on the dial in miniscule text, but clearly on the caseback.

*Prices [#m8a62cfa]
#ref(550001-5.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x200);
-118,000yen gold plated with strap

*Battery procedure [#xdcd15dc]
-Remove bracelet
-Remove four screws and four clamps
-Remove inner case containing movement from case
-Remove crown & stem by pressing tab
-Movement can now be carefully removed from caseback
-Negative connection (furthest from crown) should be disconnected, followed by positive
-Replace batteries in insulating sleeves
-Connect positive, followed by negative 
-Insert into caseback
-Insert crown
-Insert into case
-Replace four clamps and screws 
-Replace bracelet

*Parts [#redaa162]
-Battery 2x 303 in insulating sleeves
-Crystal unique barrel shaped acrylic
-Caseback/crystal combined gasket flat barrel shaped
-Crown gasket 2x0.8mm
-Date corrector gasket 0.7x0.5x1.7mm G36768

*Serial no. [#if9ce06c]
1st & 2nd digits all "1"
,''Case number'',''Movement number'',''Case'',''Dial'',''Date'',''Notes''
,115?3?,,Gold plated,,,
,115747,,Gold plated,,,
,115924,010829,Gold plated,Two tone,Feb 1972,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6260]]
,115931,,Gold plated,,,
,1160970,010021,Stainless steel,Two tone,Dec 1971,Red seconds hand 7 figure number [[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=6294]]
,116235,010491,Stainless steel,,,
,116266,,Stainless steel,,,Original bracelet
,116565,010904,Stainless steel,,Feb 1972,[[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5999]]
,116633,012084,Stainless steel,,Apr 1972,Original bracelet [[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://www.jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5885]]
,119050,012686,Gold plated,,May 1972,Original bracelet [[jrussbeauchamp.com>http://jrussbeauchamp.com/item.php?id=5814]]
,??????,,Stainless steel,,,Original bracelet
,??????,,Stainless steel,Two tone,,Original box & bracelet
,,,,,,''12 watches recorded''

**115?3? [#m4d9a324]
#ref(550001-11.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-10.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**115747 [#v3f1f83e]
#ref(550001-115747-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-115747-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**115924 [#t6b4249d]
#ref(550001-115924-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-115924-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**115931 [#ve59d5f6]
#ref(550001-115931-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-115931-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**1160970 [#aaa0a649]
--Seven figure serial no., presume extra zero suffix
--Red seconds hand
--As new condition
--Very, very early production with early circuit

#ref(550001-1160970-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-1160970-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**116235 [#tb4900eb]
#ref(550001-116235-1.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-116235-2.jpg,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-116235-3.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-116235-4.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**116266 [#q74a3789]
Excellent condition, original flexible bracelet
#ref(550001-116266-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-116266-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**116565 [#f7641e9b]
#ref(550001-116565-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-116565-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**116633 [#l3ed3c92]
Restored 2024, original flexible bracelet
#ref(550001-116633-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-116633-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**119050 [#ia275533]
Almost as new condition, original mesh bracelet
#ref(550001-119050-2.jpg,around,right,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-119050-1.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**?????? [#s60774b5]
Original bracelet
#ref(550001-1.jpg,zoom,around,right,0x300);
#ref(550001-2.jpg,zoom,0x300);
#ref(550001-3.jpg,zoom,0x300);

**?????? [#w8f550ad]
Original bracelet
#ref(550001-4.jpg,zoom,0x300);