Milestone Products

A confidential project is launched within the company to respond to new watchmaking technology. The objective of “Projet Sablier” (“Hourglass Project”) is to develop a Longines quartz watch before 1970. This goal is achieved when the company presents the calibre 6512, the “Ultra-Quartz.” The quartz bar in this electronic wristwatch movement resonates at a frequency of 9,350 cycles per second. Powered by a 1.35V mercury battery, the Ultra-Quartz movement has a vibrating motor linked to an endless screw. It is a cybernetic movement in the sense that it is made up of two oscillating circuits that stabilise each other. The Ultra-Quartz is designed to use technology that simplifies the manufacture of the movement. In particular, the need for an integrated circuit is avoided by using 14 transistors, 19 resistances and 7 capacitors, which benefits the company’s own production.