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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Wristwatch · Digital quartz wristwatch

Quartz 'Count Down' Wrist-Watch

Partially verified

This quartz digital wrist-watch is a mass-produced, battery-operated timepiece manufactured in Hong Kong between 1995 and 1999. It is presented in its original retail blister packaging, which identifies it as a 'Millennium countdown watch'. The watch features a prominent digital display module intended to count down to 1 January 2000, although the source states it can be configured to track any user-defined event. Constructed with a basic resin or plastic housing and a matching integrated strap, the timepiece includes standard functional features such as a calendar, chronograph, and alarm. The product was marketed with claims of water resistance up to 30 meters and anti-allergic properties. The watch remains in its sealed promotional packaging, which includes multilingual instructions for its operation, The maker of the watch is not identified in the documentation.

The 'Count Down' wrist-watch as preserved in its original retail blister packaging, detailing technical specifications on the backing card.
The 'Count Down' wrist-watch as preserved in its original retail blister packaging, detailing technical specifications on the backing card. — Rooney, D.. Rights pending — permission not yet requested. Original source

Catalogue identity

Source
collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk
Category
Wristwatch · Digital quartz wristwatch
Maker / attribution
Not established
Reference
Not recorded
Catalogue / lot identifier
2000-1288
Source-reported date
1995-1999
Source-reported place
Hong Kong, China

Source-reported attribution and specifications are not independent authentication. A listing does not establish present ownership, current display, availability or permission to reproduce.

Object description

Design and Functionality

The digital module is housed within an octagonal case integrated into a standard flexible strap. The front of the display features a high-contrast panel, visible through the clear plastic aperture of the blister packaging. The watch operates on a quartz movement, supporting a range of utilitarian functions including an alarm, a 1/100 second chronograph, and a multi-year calendar spanning from 1997 to 2099.

The primary advertised feature is a countdown function, which is factory-set to reach zero on 1 January 2000. This countdown capability is user-adjustable for other time-based events. The watch is marketed with additional physical properties including an anti-allergic composition and water resistance rated to 30 meters. The user interface allows for toggling between 12-hour and 24-hour display formats, providing basic flexibility in how time data is presented.

Evidence for this section
  • “Quartz digital wrist watch, with countdown function pre-set to 1 January 2000”
  • “Can be set to count down to any event”
  • “water resistant to 30m”

Packaging and Presentation

The watch is preserved in its original point-of-sale blister pack, which doubles as informational literature. The card backing features gold-toned printed text in multiple languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Dutch. The text identifies the item as a 'Count Down Watch' and outlines its 'Special Features', confirming the inclusion of an instruction manual within the packaging. The design aesthetic uses celestial-themed graphics and bold typography to emphasize its purpose as a millennium-themed product.

The packaging serves as the primary source of technical specifications for the object. It indicates a pre-set target date for the millennium countdown and mentions the inclusion of an Internet address, reflecting the growth of digital connectivity in the late 1990s. The packaging confirms that the watch, while unbranded, was produced in Hong Kong for international distribution.

Evidence for this section
  • “sold as 'Millennium countdown watch'”
  • “Made in Hong Kong, no maker's name evident.”

Provenance and Documentation

The watch entered the collection of the Science Museum Group as object 2000-1288. The provenance documentation indicates an origin in Hong Kong, although no specific manufacturer is named on the object or the packaging. The date range for the object is established as 1995 to 1999, which encompasses the lead-up to the turn of the millennium. The item remains in its original, unopened state, making it a record of contemporary commercial horology.

The documentation provides specific details regarding the watch's intended use and design limitations.

Evidence for this section
  • “2000-1288”
  • “Made in Hong Kong, no maker's name evident.”
  • “1995-1999”

Open research questions

  • What is the name of the original retailer or importer of this model?
  • Are there variations of this model with different casing colors or materials?

Source evidence

Recorded claims and source quotations for Quartz 'Count Down' Wrist-Watch
FieldSource-reported valueSource quotation
MakerUnknown maker“Unknown maker”
Date1995-1999“1995-1999”
Place of manufactureHong Kong, China“Hong Kong, China; Hong Kong”
Accession number2000-1288“2000-1288”
FunctionsCountdown, calendar, chronograph, alarm“With calendar, chronograph, alarm”
Water resistance30m“water resistant to 30m”
MarketingMillennium countdown watch“sold as 'Millennium countdown watch'”

Visible details

  • Digital LCD display
  • Integrated strap
  • Blister pack retail packaging

Research qualifications

  • Maker is not explicitly identified
  • Specific components internal to the module are not detailed

Photograph identity and source facts were screened before import; rights clearance remains pending.

Consulted source

Quartz 'Count Down' Wrist-Watch, 1995-1999

Reviewed 2026-10-26 · Record c598fe4496

Terms in this record

Glossary explanations for terms named in this object’s record.

Other digital quartz wristwatch records