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Very rare CEH (Centre Electronique Horloger) Ref. 8444-1 wristwatch cased by Longines, with unique Beta 21 movement, made circa 1970s.
The purpose of the C.E.H. was to focus on researching, creating, and producing a quartz movement efficient enough, reliable enough, and accurate enough for the next generation of watchmaking. After six years of research in CEH consortium, the first prototype, the Beta-1, was produced in 1966, using a 8192 Hz quartz oscillator mounted in an in-house integrated circuit. The Beta-21 was created in 1969 and it was agreed by the 20 Swiss houses to produce 6,000 of theses movements. Later that year, a few hundred of the Beta-21 watches were released at Basel, setting a new record at the Fair. The Beta-21 movement was accurate to 5 seconds per month, which was far superior to any automatic and manual-winding watch at the time.
quartz jewelled movement, silvered dial, applied indexes and luminous indexes, inner minute track, luminous hands, aperture for date; stainless steel cushion-form case, screw-down back, crown at 4 o’clock; case, dial, and movement signed, case number 755897;
Dimensions 42 x 49 mm including lugs, bracelet circumference 185 mm.
Watch is in overall good condition, running and ready to wear or gift!