This Citizen CQ has a unique hacking method that blinks via a LED light at 12 – hence the nickname Blinker. Model reference 8601-863011.
HOW DO WE DATE THIS WATCH?
From the serial number on the case back movement we can accurately date this watch to being made in August 1975. This is is the earlier watch, as after October 1974 these watches were renamed Crystron on the dial instead of Quartz.
CONDITION
Quartz technology moved incredibly quickly in the 1970’s. It was on 25th December 1969 when the first quartz watch, a Seiko, was made available for very wealthy people to buy, and by the end of the seventies quartz had closed a large proportion of traditional watchmakers. This blinker model was not only highly accurate, at +/- 10 seconds per month when new, but had a light at 12 that served two purposes. It would blink at 60 seconds – something this example does not do – and it could be used to ‘count’ when hacking the seconds to zero.
So if your watch is nine seconds fast, you press the pusher at 8 at nine seconds past the minute and the led light will count to nine by flashing nine times, while the second hand freezes. That resets your watch. If the second hand is past 30 seconds, it works differently. Presuming your watch was fifteen seconds slow, you wait until 15 seconds to the next minute, press the same pusher, but this time the second hand flips to zero instantly. We show this in the video.
Condition wise, this is pretty good. The striped dial has a couple of small marks, as does the unpolished case, The crystal is free from significant chips or scratches. The movement is running at +0.51 seconds per day, so still very accurate. Most of the Blinker models we have seen have both day and date, using the 8600 movement, but this is rarer having just the date (which can be quick set via the CQ signed crown). We will install a brand new battery before sending the watch out to the new owner. The bracelet is a later design and not by Citizen, but is full length and requires no special tools to adjust. The bracelet has been cleaned in our ultrasonic bath. The watch is signed on the dial, case, movement and crown.
This watch will be supplied with our branded presentation box and our Certificate of Authenticity.
Please see the HD video for more detail. All photos and videos are part of the description and are of the actual watch unless mentioned. We do not photoshop any pictures, and the images are copyright of birthyearwatches.com and should not be used without permission.
SIZE
Width with crown 38.0 mm
Width without crown 38.0 mm
Between lugs 18 mm
Lug to lug length 41.0 mm
Case Thickness 12.0 mm
Bracelet will fit a maximum wrist size of 220 mm.
All sizes are approximate. The watch is photographed on a wrist of 190mm/7.5 inches.
Included with this watch is a 3 month guarantee and free delivery to UK addresses. If you live outside the UK we can still deliver to most countries. Please see our Worldwide Shipping information, or Contact Us. Payment can be made by most credit or debit cards, bank transfer or PayPal.
From 1st September 2021 we will be planting a tree for every watch we sell, working with the International Tree Foundation (Est 1922) to make this business positive on carbon. By buying anything pre owned you are effectively reusing what already exists, but this takes it further and makes us feel good.
