Watch quiz Ref. NQ0004 answers, Sept 26, 2026 | NO QUARTZ

Question 1

Which chronograph did NASA certify in 1965 as flight-qualified for all crewed space missions?

Accepted Answer

Omega Speedmaster — The Speedmaster was never designed for space: when it launched in 1957 its intended customers were racing drivers. It was also the first watch to put the tachymeter scale on the bezel rather than the dial. NASA invited four brands to submit chronographs, and the Speedmaster was the only one to survive the tests.

Question 2

Rolex describes the Day-Date as the first wristwatch to show both the date and the day of the week spelt out in full. In what year was it launched?

Accepted Answer

1956 — Both the day and the date are carried on discs that change simultaneously and instantaneously. As of 2026, Rolex offers the day spelt out in any of 26 languages.

Question 3

Rolex's calibre 3235, the date-only successor to the long-serving 3135, has what official power reserve?

Accepted Answer

70 hours — Almost half of the gain came from the Chronergy escapement, Rolex's more efficient redesign of the Swiss lever escapement; the rest came from a higher-capacity barrel with a longer mainspring. The same roughly 70-hour figure now runs across the family, including the no-date 3230 in the Submariner and the 36 mm Explorer 124270.

Question 4

Put these Speedmaster-era spaceflight moments in order by date, earliest first.

Accepted Answer

1. Ed White makes the first American spacewalk 2. Armstrong and Aldrin land in the Sea of Tranquility 3. Apollo 13's crew time a 14-second burn on a Speedmaster 4. Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft dock in orbit — On Apollo 11, Aldrin's Speedmaster was the only one worn on the lunar surface. Armstrong left his inside the Lunar Module as a backup for the in-cabin timer, which had malfunctioned, which is why the first watch worn on the Moon is Aldrin's and not the commander's.

Question 5

Rank these watches by year of launch, earliest first.

Accepted Answer

1. Universal Genève Polerouter (first called the Polarouter) 2. Pasha de Cartier 3. Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre à Chronographe 4. Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 — Two of these link to Gérald Genta: he drew the Polerouter at 23 and the Pasha three decades later. The Code 11.59 nods to another Genta design, the Royal Oak, through the octagonal middle case under its round bezel.

Question 6

Order these milestones by date, earliest first.

Accepted Answer

1. 'The Tudor' trademark is registered 2. The Tudor brand passes to Hans Wilsdorf 3. Rolex launches the Datejust 4. Montres TUDOR S.A. is founded — Tudor existed on paper long before it existed as a company. In February 1926 the watch dealer and maker Veuve de Philippe Hüther registered 'The TUDOR' trademark for Hans Wilsdorf, and the brand only passed to Wilsdorf on 15 October 1936. Montres TUDOR S.A. was created on 6 March 1946, months after Rolex marked its 40th anniversary with the 1945 Datejust. The Tudor name is older than Gleitze's famous 1927 Channel swim with the Oyster.

NO QUARTZ Ref. NQ0004: the answers