Intermatic by
Interdiscount,
Jegenstorf, Switzerland
Not really a watch brand, but an electronics shop, the
Swiss Radio Shack
Other Interdiscount Brands
Why bother to present Interdiscount
watches?
I like this
automatic Intermatic watch in the resin case with display back and GMT Bezel - it is
pleasant to wear and incredibly light. Plus -
believe it or not - it comes with an ETA movement! I just checked my old notes,
the watch was sold at CHF 79 ca. 1990 making it less then USD 50.
This ETA Cal. 2781 was listed
on the ETA Mechanical Movements
page of Borel & Frei for USD 42.95 (November 2001). You would have to
wear it once, to share my enthusiasm. This watch is so unbelievably light and
this is one of the most comfortable resin straps I have come along. And unlike
many Casio (rubber) straps, it is still perfect after almost 2 decades. Just proves that
a great watch does not have to cost a fortune.
The Quasar was a trade name from Interdiscount for all Eastern watches
they imported. The Swiss "Radio Shack" was one of the first companies to buy all
sort of stuff in Hong Kong and further East. I think this Quasar caliber - which
is in fact a Miyota 1L.11 - was also used by Casio and a lot of other
brands. I am quite sure this is the single most produced analog-digital watch
movement ever. The only disadvantage, the center of the analog hands is pretty
high. Thus the OEMs do not have a chance to use skeleton hands that would sweep
over the digital display. Skeleton hands that overlap the digital display are
today almost a standard.
This very popular movement was a break-through when it first appeared in the
late 80ies. Time, Calendar, Dual Time, Alarm and Chronograph were for the first
time available in USD 5 watches. The movement cost must have dropped to a
fraction of a USD after the first million had been produced.