The Untold Story of Seiko’s other Digitals : Pulsar, Alba and Lorus

The Pulsar Time Computer was the first electronic digital watch available in 1972, but its acquisition by Seiko in 1979 marked the downfall of the digital watch industry in the US and Switzerland. However, Seiko's commitment to innovation in technology led to the revival of Pulsar, Alba, and Lorus brands, allowing for experimentation and unique designs. The initial offerings of Pulsar and Alba were affordable versions of Seiko's main brand watches, and while they maintained the branding of the original Pulsar, it didn't quite land.
Seiko and its Pulsar brand made early innovations in the digital watch market with the Y739 calculator watch, Y651 Dimension II, and double layer LCDs in the Y951 and Y950. Seiko also introduced sporty options like the Y771 and Lorus brand, and experimented with gaming watches under its Alba and Pulsar ranges. However, the brand never fully embraced novelty gaming watches like its rival Casio, and instead left that domain to Nelsonic.
In the mid-80s, the Lorus thin Solar watch was a high points, and Lorus had a version of the Seiko A829 Rotocall range that was worn by astronauts in space. The 1985 thin solar digital watch claimed to be the world's first batteryless solar digital LCD watch. In the early 90s, sports watches revived with the introduction of the Indiglo electroluminescent backlight technology to the Ironman Triathlon range. This led to the introduction of the hyper-tech range and models like the Lorus Marine Tech, Alba Racing Pro, V081, V083, V084, and V085.
The rise of the action-oriented surf style culture in the 1990s led to the emergence of youth brands such as Alba and Spoon, which offered a range of watches with various designs, including collaborations with anime character designers and surfers. Other sub-brands such as Vividigi and Alba Wired also emerged in the 2000s, offering unique liquid crystal displays and Tokyo-themed designs.
I hope you enjoy the video!
1:23 Revival and a New Dawn : Pulsar and Alba Beginnings
3:58 Sports watches
5:44 Novelty Watches
7:20 90s Sport
10:30 Getting Hyper
12:32 Youth Focus (Spoon , AKA)
15:06 Lorus Fusion
16:06 Wired

[@lulul]

this seems like so much work. for as long as youtube exists as we know it there will be a record of all these watches for people to remember or find. good job!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! My hope is that the videos should have a long life!

[@jacknjill3000]

Great video and thanks for making! I thought I had too many watches and watching this video, I realized there are so many more out there I didn’t know about. I just bought a great looking Alba late 90’s digital watch from eBay from a Japanese dealer. I had many when the craze for retro looking space age sort of started in Japan, but you only found a few that was imported to the US and the rest I wished to own but could not find but saw in the trendy Japanese magazines. Many are more affordable being used and I’m getting the Alba watch for $35. plus $30. shipping. I actually never seen the watch and has a larger screen. I love the fact no body after over 30 years, still don’t know about them and not looking for them, plus if they’ve lasted over 30 years, they must be made very well and beyond the usual one year warranty. I’m gonna grab as many as I can before the prices and interests go up. Bc in Japan they are ending up in second hand stores and I believe most Japanese find these vintage watches as common. Bc I spoke to a Japanese newer vintage watch seller on eBay and apparently I knew much more than he did, but I’m 60 and he was 50 and was much younger when this trend hit. Also on this Japanese tv channel, this foreigner started an online company to sell Japanese food around the world and now very successful. The key point I’m his success is that many thing in Japan are not widely available in other countries. And bc the Japanese take great care of their items. So compared to used items in other countries, Japan surpasses in terms of condition. Partly why I love buying from the Japanese seller on eBay bc even if I could find the same watch here in America, the chances of it still in excellent condition is very low. Anyway, please keep doing these video on vintage watches bc I love seeing all the stuff I’ve missed and didn’t know about and including the retro ads. Thank you!

[@ericb8888]

The Alba design team - “ right … we need some funky new ideas … let’s go to the pub ….”

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha yes now that’s my kind of watch design process!

[@ericb8888]

@@IlluminatingWatches Superb research as always. Thank you ;)

[@StrongZeroPowerHour]

Five videos in and you have immediately become my favorite watch channel. Absolutely love to see the coverage of these ubiquitous, yet somewhat obscure brands. I live in Japan and see these brands all the time, but rarely hear anyone talking about them. Love it!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

That made my day Thankyou! Appreciate you taking the time to look through some of my videos. Lots more to explore!

[@marcgoulding5230]

Great historical content - thank you! I now have two new Ebay searches going ...

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha Thankyou! Yes that is the unfortunate after effect of looking into watch history!

[@MrGeirSteinar]

So many crazy and cool watches - your videos always impress me 👍

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I know right! I didn’t know about half of them before making the video. Thanks!

[@ob4149]

u got the most in depth clips on watches history, very cool

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou!! I try my best!!

[@MarkM58]

I owned the SEIKO D031 [4:30] Dot Matrix display watch!! A friend was the GM of a high-line jewelry store and he knew I was into SEIKO watches. Each store only received two of these and he sold me one of their allotment around 1982. The watch displayed in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian and ran across the dial like a ticker tape. My home was robbed a few years ago and some of my older watches were stolen and it was one of them.

[@christopherjohnson4276]

Now it's "The Told Story..." 😆 wonderful job as usual. You never cease to impress! Thank you!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha Thankyou sir! I’m sure there are angles I missed but tried my best!

[@davidcrandall4958]

@@IlluminatingWatches aa3ww by

[@obesetuna3164]

Yet another excellent over-view. I can remember purchasing a Pulsar Spoon from H Samuel in 1998, next to a Baby G display. This particular model featured a kind of translucent blue plastic case, not featured in your video.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ah yes I know the one! Thankyou!

[@M_____ff55]

Awesome video!

[@Mr.Reality3000]

Nice video, thank you!! I own a few Lorus and Seiko hyper/Alba and I love wearing them.

[@Daud76]

Wow.. excellent content and research yet again. 🤙🏼

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou sir!

[@johanvandersandt8904]

I own 2 Lorus and 2 Pulsar watches and I like them all. Sadly only one digital between them. I am going to be on the lookout for these! Thanks for the awesome video Gordon!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I only superficially knew about their range so I’ve got lots more on my list now! Thanks! 🙏

[@daaa278]

man these are quality videos for watch enthusiasts, and you are great at making content I am quite sure your channel will reach great heights

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou so much! That is very kind of you to say. More on the way!

[@HajoBenzin1]

just discovered your youtube channel, love it! i'm a vintage casio watch collector myself. please make a video about all casio marlins (there are also a lot of special, rare ones like the W-750G) or show some casio calculator watches :)!!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Welcome to the channel! I really appreciate it. Hope you stick around. Lots and lots of casio content already on here , but totally an option to do a marlin deep dive at some point (working on a giugiaro video at the moment)

[@withoutfragrances2547]

yet another great vid Sir, wish to have seen the Alba Kiki here ;)

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ah nice! I’d missed that one . Very cool!

[@zornikzornuk3187]

Great video, the Alba world map is so cool.... I never know I need it (what I said after each of your video)

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha yes I felt the same. So many more watches I want!

[@Capt620]

Just found a Pulsar Spoon at a yard sale and I knew where to come to get some info on it. Thank you once again for all your hard work on these videos.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Very glad to have been able to help!

[@MichaelAguila]

Thanks a lot. Really enjoying these videos

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Glad to hear it!

[@whatdididolastnight]

Oh my oh my, you have given me so many reasons to go looking for those cool old ana-digi watches. Brilliant video love love love it.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha good I’m glad - but also sorry if I’m costing you too much indirectly!!

[@elgatto3133]

Something about these feels so much more futuristic than smart watches, though I'm hard pressed to explain why. I quite like my Casio AQ-100W, using the same module as the Arnie.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I think it’s the “retro future” thing. It feels like the future we imagined as a kid

[@brianmsahin]

At last have a chance to watch this. Some iconic brands. As I mentioned on Instagram under my other handle I have a Pulsar Solar Chronograph! Excellent video!! 😊

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ah yes I saw that comment! Thanks for watching the video and glad you enjoyed!

[@timtimecollector9808]

Very interesting history and super cool watches, great video 👍

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! Enjoyed your recent mod too!

[@HGSolberg]

That's a lot of cool and interesting watches in 17 and a half minutes. 👍

[@rulliergeorge3643]

Many thanks 👍 great as always 😊

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Hope you enjoyed!

[@jamesblonde2271]

That Alba ZIK s a real X33 looker.....wild

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I thought the same!

[@joeldfisher]

that was fascinating, I need to find more vintage digital watches

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! Plenty more content on the channel on vintage digitals!!

[@davidcrandall4958]

Thanks I'll hunt for these now!

[@thetimebombardier]

superb vid dude, really like these historical perspectives 😎😎

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thanks very much! Yes I’ve weirdly ended up up in that niche!

[@thetimebombardier]

@@IlluminatingWatches you're owning that niche right now mate LOL, bloody great stuff :)

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha don’t think there is a substantial amount of competition

[@jouwenlee7829]

Try looking for Alba Trailmaster and was introduced by this video. You have a new subscriber

[@BladeRicsi]

Very nice video, again. Maybe you should make a video from the brand Miyoko. When i was a youn pup, my first digital watch was a miyoko, with melody alarm. During the years i lost the watch, but i love to know the story of the brand.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I don’t actually know the brand. Looks like some research is due! Thankyou!

[@OnTimeRelojes]

Great video... 👏👏👏

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! Much appreciated!!

[@lacowie]

Dude some of those voice cracks sounded like you are getting too emotional about the watches and about to cry. Don't worry I love watches too haha. Just kidding anyway the amount of information here omg this must have took forever to research. Great work comrade!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha it’s called being poorly hydrated and talking for too long! (Plus my daughters were making a lot of noise in the background so probably suppressed annoyance at that :D )Labour of love!

[@choond]

Awesome video 👍🙂

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou!!

[@momoiunder17]

fantastic video！

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou!!

[@dadandvideogames]

Thanks for this!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

A pleasure!

[@coffeeisgood102]

In 1986 I purchased the Lorus solar powered watch. I still have it. Also, could you do a video on the rise and fall of the hour and half hour time signal. Casio still offers it but at a much lower volume, unfortunately.

[@russellhamner4898]

That rotating bezel Seiko astronaut watch was some damn fine design. It's so inspired you almost have to wonder if it was dreamt up whilst moving their bowels or taking a shower - both frequent birthplaces of good ideas.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

I love it! (The watch rather than the bowel movement ha ha)

[@monsterquinn30]

amazing video I love digital watches❤

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou! Very glad you enjoyed!

[@monsterquinn30]

@@IlluminatingWatches you are very welcome

[@ElderPinto254]

i love your vids....

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Thankyou!

[@jon_23546]

How do you find these old catalogs? I've got a couple old watches that I've been trying to date with no luck, one of which is a Pulsar. Thank you!

[@IlluminatingWatches]

The coolest vintage website had some snips, and the adverts o get from old newspapers via my newspapers.com subscription.

[@jon_23546]

@@IlluminatingWatches thank you!

[@vintagewatches-pk]

Great Watches

[@FuglyStick]

Looks are subjective, but some of those are hideous

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Ha ha I find a certain charm in them

[@alf3071]

I have a Lorus haha

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Well hopefully the video gave you some broader context for the brand!

[@ricardosoriano7446]

Imposter ahh watch