SICURA – INSTALLITE

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SICURA – INSTALLITE  

SICURA – VOLTA INSTALLITE

SICURA – INSTALLITE

El Sicura Volta De 1973,  

SICURA VOLTA III Model ref # 954143

Mucho mas conocido como Sicura Installite,

Fué otro de los avances destacados de Ernest Scheider en los 70.

Si amigos,  estais ante el primer reloj con luz en comercializarse

El SICURA VOLTA III,

No solo fue uno de los relojes mas innovadores de su tiempo sino que ademas es uno de mis favoritos

Originalmente diseñado en 1969 y popularizado en los 70

El installite no se comercializo hasta 1973

Los Relojes mecánicos suizos, se enfrentaron a un reto enorme por la creciente popularidad de los LED digitales y pantallas LCD de los años setenta. Tomando un viejo concepto llamado Salto horas o lectura directa (rotación de los discos con números impresos en ellos, en lugar de mano) y su adaptación para los relojes como el Amida Digitrend con su vision inversa, el Installite SICURA destacado aquí fué el primer reloj mecánico de salto de horas con una función de la iluminación eléctrica con potenciometro lámpara de pilas y calibre de carga manual a la vez . 

Al pulsar el botón superior de la pantalla se iluminaba, gracias a su basica circuiteria con una pequeña lampara de 3v,  alimentada por 2x 1.5v pilas de botón tipo 357 actuales

Así como tres ojos de buey extrañamente colocados en la parte superior de la caja inspirada en la Era espacial.

Usando dos pilas de la recien nacida tecnologia de boton y con el carateristico cubrepilas de facil acceso que popularizaria el Spaceman Audaciuse de 1974 con luz

y posteriormenente.., el grupo swatch en sus diseños de los 80

Su estrafalario diseño dejo huella en lo 70 y se hizo mitico en
los 80 con su aparición junto con un modelo de la casa Compuchron que veremos mas adelante en las muñecas de Lorne Greene (Lt.Adama..Bonanza) y otros actores en la inefable pelicula 
Battlestar Galactica de 1979

Aqui teneis una unidad original  en su caja presentacion

Y esta es mi unidad absolutamente *NOS*

Originariamente en dos versiones cepillada y cromada la mia es la cromada,

detalles de la version con caja cepillada Vs cromada

Se Trata de un reloj raro y por tanto bastante cotizado, apesar de su simplicidad

No obstante, si teneis suerte aún se pude encontrar alguna unidad en buen Estado atraves de coleccionistas o vendedores selectos suizos

El Sicura Volta III Tambien fue comercializado en Uk por la marca Sutton

Unidad de Piotr (Crazy watches)

por ultimo os dejo con vistas de un despiece y la sencillez de sus soluciones

(El sutton de Piotr desmontado y detalle del movimiento  EB8461 )

http://www.crazywatches.pl/sutton-instalite-jump-hour-1970–s

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SICURA – INSTALLITE

SICURA VOLTA III Model ref # 954143

 

This model was a desparate bid by swiss watch makers to counter the challenge from LED and growning LCD displays of the seventies. The Sicura was the first mechanical jump hour watch with a separate battery powered (electric) lighting function. The top button lit up the display as well as three holes on the case. Same watch was also sold using Sutton name.

The Sicura Volta III, From 1973,

Much better known as Sicura Installite,

Was one of the major advances of Ernest Schneider and the house of Sicura in the early 70´s.

Yes friends, you are watcing  the very first wristwatch with a light Function to be mass marketed.

The SICURA Volta III

Not only was one of the most innovative watches of its time but also is one of my favorites

Originally designed in 1969 and popularized in the mid 70s

The installite did not hit the market until 1973

The Swiss mechanical watches, faced a huge challenge for the growing popularity of digital LED and LCD screens of the Seventies.

Taking an old concept called Jump hours or direct reading (rotation of the discs with numbers printed on them, instead of a watch hand) and their adaptation for watches, was a hugh success back in the day and helped the swiss watch industry to stand the slap in the face from the emerging and much more affordable japan watch industry.

The Amida Digitrend  broke the ice first, but the SICURA Installite highlight was being the first mechanical jump hours with electric lighting function, a simple lamp with batteries and manual potentiometer.

Pressing the top of the screen it » magically» lit up,

And with the three oddly placed portholes at the top of the box inspired by space Age…it was a shocking design at the time

Using two batteries of the newborn button technology ,  thanks to its basic circuitry with a small lamp 3v, 1.5v 2x powered by button cells type (like current 357´s) , and the characteristic cell hatch  to be easily accessible for replacement,

A solution also popularized by the Spaceman Audacieuse backlite 1974 afterwards..  and much later adopted by the swatch group in their designs of the 80

This quirky design  was a hit  and became legendary in the early 80´s  with an appearance along with a model from Compuchron we will see later in the wrists of Lorne Greene (Bonanza Lt.Adama ..) and other actors in the movie Battlestar Galactica, 1979

This is a rare watch and therefore fairly priced, in spite of its simplicity

However, if you have a bit of luck with a bit of research you may still  find some units in fair condition either through Watch collectors or selected Swiss dealers

The Volta Sicura III was also sold in Uk by the Sutton Brand

In the gallery

you have bigger resolution photos unit in its original presentation box

And photos from my unit in absolute * NOS * imacculate Condition

(Originally in two versions with brushed case or chrome,  mine is the chrome)

Details of the brushed vs chrome Versions  plus finally I leave you with an exploded view of the simplicity of their solutions,

(Details of the movement dismantled, the EB8461)

and a must see disasembly of the Piotr  Sutton Unit (Crazywatches)

http://www.crazywatches.pl/sutton-instalite-jump-hour-1970–s