Dick Smith LCD Digital Wrist Watch
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1981
This digital quartz wristwatch, accessioned by Museums Victoria under number ST 32356, dates to 1981. It features a stainless steel case and matching metal bracelet.
The timepiece operates using a quartz movement and incorporates an LCD display set against a silvered background. The watch includes an integrated light function for the display and is configured for multiple digital functions, including hour, minute, and second tracking, date, weekday, dual time zones, and a stopwatch with a resolution of 0.1 seconds. The dial features a black surround marked with various operational functions and an inset labelled with the retailer's name, Dick Smith.
The caseback is formed of stainless steel. This object was associated with the Australian retailer Dick Smith Electronics Pty Ltd in Melbourne and was manufactured in Hong Kong.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Digital quartz wristwatch
- Movement
- Quartz
- Retailer
- Dick Smith Electronics Pty Ltd
- Functions
- LCD, dual time, stopwatch, alarm, light
- Object Name
- Wrist Watch - Dick Smith, 1981
- Case Material
- Stainless steel
- Place recorded
- Hong Kong
- Registration Number
- ST 32356
- Manufacturing Origin
- Hong Kong
Design
- Case and Dial
- The watch is housed in a stainless steel case with an integrated stainless steel wrist band. The front of the timepiece features an LCD display positioned against a silvered background. The dial surround is finished in black and contains technical markings for the watch's functions, including 'Melody Alarm', 'Dual Time', 'Chrono', 'Light', 'Time Set/Mode', 'Stop/Alarm Set', and 'Lap/Set Select'. A black plastic inset on the dial is marked with the name 'Dick Smith' in white lettering. The digital display is designed to show the time in hours, minutes, and seconds, alongside the weekday and date. The interface also supports specialized modes such as dual time zones and a stopwatch function capable of measuring to a resolution of 0.1 seconds. The watch includes an inbuilt light for low-light visibility.
- Visible features
- • Multi-link bracelet with fold-over clasp • Rectangular digital display screen • Multiple side-mounted push-button controls • Integrated functional text on bezel surround
- Movement and Functionality
- The watch is powered by a quartz movement. This movement facilitates the various digital timing capabilities, including the display of days of the week using numbers 0 through 9 on the screen. The watch offers advanced features for its era, including the ability to track two distinct time zones and record lap times via the stopwatch mode. The integration of a 'Melody Alarm' indicates that the quartz module is equipped with a sounder component, allowing for auditory alerts. The operation of these various modes is managed through the side push-buttons, with the specific function of each button indicated by the labels printed on the dial surround, allowing the user to set the time, alarm, or manage the stopwatch and lap timer functions.
- Identification and Retail History
- This watch is documented in the collection of Museums Victoria with the registration number ST 32356. The timepiece is specifically linked to the retail activities of Dick Smith Electronics Pty Ltd in Melbourne, Victoria, during 1981. This association indicates its role as a commercial product available in the Australian market during the early 1980s. The caseback of the watch provides specific manufacturing and material information, explicitly stating that it was made in Hong Kong and confirming the use of a stainless steel caseback. This marking corroborates the origin of the watch as a piece of Hong Kong-manufactured consumer electronics distributed through Australian retail channels.
Identification
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: Manufacturer of the quartz module is not specified beyond country of origin
- Research required: Original battery state is not documented