Q&Q Alarm Chronograph Ana-Digi Watch

Today's watch is another by one of the more elusive brands, who are quite well known, but their links to the larger watch manufacturer are relatively hidden.

The watch is by Q&Q (or QandQ as I've had to write it in the tags as the & symbol isn't allowed), who are a budget but quality brand started in 1976. The name stands for Quality & Quantity, and the links I've found suggest they were part of the Japan CBM Corporation, which seems to mean Citizen Business Machines - so the watches may be Citizen watches after all.

This model is one of the 80s watch staples - the Ana-Digi, with a main 3 hand dial analogue display and a small 6 digit LCD display at the bottom. The analogue display is operated by a crown, while the 3 buttons operate the LCD. All of the different modes are displayed on the LCD, with the watch having date, dual time, alarm, and stopwatch as options.

The back has the Q&Q logo, and states this has a Japanese movement, but assembled in Korea (and that it has the usual stainless steel back and base metal bezel), with a case that is 30m water resistant.

I don't know exactly when this model is from, but the style was very popular in the 80s, so I'll guess that it is from that era.

Q&Q Vintage small LCD watch

Today's watch is a nice vintage LCD model from a large, but relatively unknown, brand.

This watch is by the brand Q&Q, which is a name that appears on many watches, but doesn't seem to be too well known. On the back, there is also the name Japan CBM Corporation. The Japan CBM Corp is a sales group rather than a manufacturer, and were formed in 1964. It is a subsidiary of Citizen Watch Company, becoming more integrated into the main brand over time, and it is reported that CBM stands for Citizen Business Machines. The Q&Q line of watches was started in 1976 as a brand for entry level and extremely low price but still quality models. The Q&Q name is meant to mean Quality & Quantity, and this is a theme found throughout their website. The line is still running and quite themselves as being the number one (selling) analogue watch supplier in the world.

This model is a basic LCD design but in a very small package. It has a 5 1/2 digit LCD (meaning it can only show a 1 on the first digit of the hours and needs an am/pm symbol instead), and has a two button operation. One button is there to change the display modes between time and date, while the other is for setting the time. The watch case is approximately square and measures about 2.5cm x 2.5cm. It is a black watch with colourful touches printed in red, yellow, and blue. The case is resin, with a plastic strap, and is quoted as being water resistant (to an unspecified level).

There is nothing on the back apart from the Japan CBM Corp name, so there is no quoted model number.

Having no model number means I can't find a true manufacturing date, but based on the style, complexity, and colour scheme, I'd guess this was an 80s model.

Q&Q Radio Controlled watch HZ24

It's back to a normal size watch today yesterday's giant model.

This is a watch by Japanese brand Q&Q, who are part of the Citizen watch company. Their website states they are the #1 brand in analogue watches, but also sell digital watches and clocks.

It is a radio controlled watch working on both the 40 and 60kHz systems (meaning it should be worldwide compatible), and has a 3-hand dial. Time can also be manually set by pulling out the middle button and using the bottom button to move the hands. Manual setting spins the seconds hand very fast, but it takes a long time if you want to change more than a few hours. The other button puts the watch into receiving mode, pausing the time until it is ready, then turning the hands to the correct place.

It is 5 bar water resistant, and is meant to have a 10 year battery life.

The back repeats the watch functions, and has the initials CBM. There is a model number on the face HZ24-205 WLP.