FS: NOS Sutton Astrolon Research Idea
: $1300 net paypal or bank wire
: offers are all welcome
: complete with box and guarantee card

: A 1971 Tissot Idea 2001

: History:

: Tissot started to investigate the field of plastics in 1952 and in
: 1971 introduced ‘Astrolon’ a mechanical (handwinding)
: movement and case in which the wheels, pinions, escapement, case
: and plates were all cast from plastic. The number of parts had
: been reduced to 52 from 90 and by moulding the whole movement,
: Tissot eliminated 40 time – and cost – consuming operations.
: Oiling was unnecessary since the plastic was self-lubricating.
: And assembly work was reduced, requiring only 15 distinct,
: mostly semi-automatic, operations that were done on an assembly
: line.

: Because the new plastic watch movements were cheaper to produce and
: easier to assemble than conventional metal models, Tissot hoped
: that this new invention would revolutionize watchmaking and
: would inject huge profits into their company and the
: distributors of this product under many different brand names.
: Indeed this watch watch was sold in the U.S.A. by Sutton Time,
: Dynasty, Sears & Roebuck and others for prices ranging from
: $22.50 to as low as $8. Though the watch was so light at 17.7g
: (less strap) that it almost floated. Its light weight enhanced
: its shock resistant qualities which enabled it to withstand the
: rigors of repeated shock trials. Being plastic, its non-magnetic
: qualities, too, were enhanced. The watch also withstood normal
: water immersion tests at 30psi. Furthermore, Tissot’s
: engineers claimed that the timepiece was so reliable and
: accurate that it could even compete with a chronometer.

: Got this from Hodinkee:

: Unknown to even some of the most knowledgeable collectors on the
: planet, the Tissot Idea 2001 was one of the most revolutionary
: timepieces of the 20th century. It was the culmination of two
: decades worth of research by Tissot (seriously, research began
: in 1952 and this was released in 1971). The entire watch was
: made of plastic, hand-wound mechanical movement included.
: Everything about it broke the boundaries of of the existing
: watch world, and at the crux of the quartz era, this watch was a
: revolutionary mechanical alternative. Many consider this the
: grandfather to the "Swatch," which did indeed help
: save the Swiss watch industry.

: The watch was designed to run forever. The plastic movement was
: self lubricating, and you couldn't even open the caseback to
: service it. The Idea 2001 was designed to be thrown away if it
: should ever break. This fact, coupled with its immense
: commercial failure when new makes this Tissot one of the holy
: grails in vintage watch collecting. You simply can not find one,
: especially one in great, original, working condition.