Watches (1975-77)
Released five years after the first digital watch, the Black Watch entered a fast-growing market shaped by Bond-era films and 1970s gadget culture. It featured a five-digit red LED display that lit up when the case surface was pressed. Released in black and sold assembled or as a kit, it was also promoted in other colours—though it’s unclear whether these versions ever reached market. Despite its appealing design and Sinclair’s ambitious hopes for market share, it suffered from reliability issues, leading to high return rates and significant financial losses. As smartwatches reimagine digital timekeeping today, the Black Watch recalls an earlier wave of innovation—and ambition.
This silver-finished version of the Sinclair Microquartz digital clock was likely produced as a promotional item for the frozen food company Findus. Designed for dashboards but marketed for wider use, it featured a red LED display with single-touch activation and adhesive pads for easy mounting—no drilling required. Internally, it reused components from the Sinclair Black Watch. The Findus edition reflects how branded electronics became part of promotional strategies in the 1970s consumer market.
Marketed primarily for in-car use, this compact digital clock displayed time in hours, minutes, and seconds at the press of a button. Sold only as a pre-assembled unit, it reused components originally developed for the Sinclair Black Watch, including its red LED display. Promoted as immune to vibration and powered by quartz timing, the Microquartz offered a durable, battery-powered solution for drivers and became a commercially successful part of Sinclair’s product line.