The Untold Story of Seiko’s other Digitals : Pulsar, Alba and Lorus

The Pulsar Time Computer was the first electronic digital watch available in 1972, but its acquisition by Seiko in 1979 marked the downfall of the digital watch industry in the US and Switzerland. However, Seiko's commitment to innovation in technology led to the revival of Pulsar, Alba, and Lorus brands, allowing for experimentation and unique designs. The initial offerings of Pulsar and Alba were affordable versions of Seiko's main brand watches, and while they maintained the branding of the original Pulsar, it didn't quite land.

Seiko and its Pulsar brand made early innovations in the digital watch market with the Y739 calculator watch, Y651 Dimension II, and double layer LCDs in the Y951 and Y950. Seiko also introduced sporty options like the Y771 and Lorus brand, and experimented with gaming watches under its Alba and Pulsar ranges. However, the brand never fully embraced novelty gaming watches like its rival Casio, and instead left that domain to Nelsonic.

In the mid-80s, the Lorus thin Solar watch was a high points, and Lorus had a version of the Seiko A829 Rotocall range that was worn by astronauts in space. The 1985 thin solar digital watch claimed to be the world's first batteryless solar digital LCD watch. In the early 90s, sports watches revived with the introduction of the Indiglo electroluminescent backlight technology to the Ironman Triathlon range. This led to the introduction of the hyper-tech range and models like the Lorus Marine Tech, Alba Racing Pro, V081, V083, V084, and V085.

The rise of the action-oriented surf style culture in the 1990s led to the emergence of youth brands such as Alba and Spoon, which offered a range of watches with various designs, including collaborations with anime character designers and surfers. Other sub-brands such as Vividigi and Alba Wired also emerged in the 2000s, offering unique liquid crystal displays and Tokyo-themed designs.

I hope you enjoy the video!

1:23 Revival and a New Dawn : Pulsar and Alba Beginnings
3:58 Sports watches
5:44 Novelty Watches
7:20 90s Sport
10:30 Getting Hyper
12:32 Youth Focus (Spoon , AKA)
15:06 Lorus Fusion
16:06 Wired

[lulul]

this seems like so much work. for as long as youtube exists as we know it there will be a record of all these watches for people to remember or find. good job!

[jacknjill]

Great video and thanks for making! I thought I had too many watches and watching this video, I realized there are so many more out there I didn’t know about. I just bought a great looking Alba late 90’s digital watch from eBay from a Japanese dealer. I had many when the craze for retro looking space age sort of started in Japan, but you only found a few that was imported to the US and the rest I wished to own but could not find but saw in the trendy Japanese magazines.

Many are more affordable being used and I’m getting the Alba watch for $35. plus $30. shipping. I actually never seen the watch and has a larger screen. I love the fact no body after over 30 years, still don’t know about them and not looking for them, plus if they’ve lasted over 30 years, they must be made very well and beyond the usual one year warranty. I’m gonna grab as many as I can before the prices and interests go up. Bc in Japan they are ending up in second hand stores and I believe most Japanese find these vintage watches as common. Bc I spoke to a Japanese newer vintage watch seller on eBay and apparently I knew much more than he did, but I’m 60 and he was 50 and was much younger when this trend hit.

Also on this Japanese tv channel, this foreigner started an online company to sell Japanese food around the world and now very successful. The key point I’m his success is that many thing in Japan are not widely available in other countries. And bc the Japanese take great care of their items. So compared to used items in other countries, Japan surpasses in terms of condition. Partly why I love buying from the Japanese seller on eBay bc even if I could find the same watch here in America, the chances of it still in excellent condition is very low.

Anyway, please keep doing these video on vintage watches bc I love seeing all the stuff I’ve missed and didn’t know about and including the retro ads.

Thank you!

[StrongZeroPowerHour]

Five videos in and you have immediately become my favorite watch channel. Absolutely love to see the coverage of these ubiquitous, yet somewhat obscure brands. I live in Japan and see these brands all the time, but rarely hear anyone talking about them. Love it!

[ob]

u got the most in depth clips on watches history, very cool

[MarkM]

I owned the SEIKO D031 [4:30] Dot Matrix display watch!! A friend was the GM of a high-line jewelry store and he knew I was into SEIKO watches. Each store only received two of these and he sold me one of their allotment around 1982. The watch displayed in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian and ran across the dial like a ticker tape. My home was robbed a few years ago and some of my older watches were stolen and it was one of them.

[obesetuna]

Yet another excellent over-view. I can remember purchasing a Pulsar Spoon from H Samuel in 1998, next to a Baby G display. This particular model featured a kind of translucent blue plastic case, not featured in your video.

[MrGeirSteinar]

So many crazy and cool watches - your videos always impress me 👍

[marcgoulding]

Great historical content - thank you! I now have two new Ebay searches going ...

[garycollard]

Interesting video as always. On the 1st of the 2 pics of modern Lorus watches at the end I spotted I have an Armitron branded version of the one top row 2nd from left.

[christopherjohnson]

Now it's "The Told Story..." 😆 wonderful job as usual. You never cease to impress! Thank you!

[ericb]

The Alba design team - “ right … we need some funky new ideas … let’s go to the pub ….”

[johanvandersandt]

I own 2 Lorus and 2 Pulsar watches and I like them all. Sadly only one digital between them. I am going to be on the lookout for these! Thanks for the awesome video Gordon!

[HajoBenzin]

just discovered your youtube channel, love it!
i'm a vintage casio watch collector myself. please make a video about all casio marlins (there are also a lot of special, rare ones like the W-750G)
or show some casio calculator watches :)!!

[daaa]

man these are quality videos for watch enthusiasts, and you are great at making content
I am quite sure your channel will reach great heights

[Daud]

Wow.. excellent content and research yet again. 🤙🏼

[Mr.Reality]

Nice video, thank you!! I own a few Lorus and Seiko hyper/Alba and I love wearing them.

[Capt]

Just found a Pulsar Spoon at a yard sale and I knew where to come to get some info on it. Thank you once again for all your hard work on these videos.

[withoutfragrances]

yet another great vid Sir, wish to have seen the Alba Kiki here ;)

[zornikzornuk]

Great video, the Alba world map is so cool.... I never know I need it (what I said after each of your video)

[whatdididolastnight]

Oh my oh my, you have given me so many reasons to go looking for those cool old ana-digi watches. Brilliant video love love love it.