[masswerk]

This assumes that this was intended as a truly practical item. However, this is a product of a watch manufacturer. Its usefulness is also defined in social terms. It's an expensive novelty item, a status symbol, a conversation piece, an icebreaker, etc, then it's also a practical item. This one doesn't achieve these social functions by mechanical complications, a multitude of jewels or fine engravings by monk-like artisans, but by putting the product on the very forefront of modern technological development, something that would be hard to catch up on by more traditional watch manufacturers. It's also a contribution to the ever-ongoing competition between traditional mastery and modern inventiveness and the struggle for status. – That said, I love this product as a period piece.

[masswerk]

Just imagine what kind of statements this products allows its owner to make: You have made your fortune, as may be clearly seen by the fact that you could obtain this product. (That is, it was affordable to the middle classes, but who knows, this must have been as expensive as it is futuristic!) You are aware of and interested in modern developments, which probably relates to how you made your fortune. You're not someone who just inherited their wealth, indulging in sentimentalities. You care for hard facts. You are a modern business man. You are probably self-made. You are important enough to justify a significant investment to keep you as up to date as possible. It's of vital importance to you and probably an unknown quantity of dependents that you won't miss the news. You are always on the go and you have an extraordinary situational awareness. Etc, etc. Also, you are James Bond. (The Yuppiness of this item is quite immeasurable.)

[wolframhempel]

Exactly. This watch was the Bored Ape NFT profile picture of its time. It shows you're rich and you're with / ahead of the current times. And in comparison to a bored ape, it cost less, could be taken to parties and other in-person social functions and you could even sneakily follow sports events during boring meetings.

[masswerk]

I think, it's important to note that consumer goods in the 1980s were very much culture building (in the sense of terms like "nation building"). They allowed consumers to express themselves, to align themselves along a certain set of values, to show off, to organize in recognizable cultural tribes, they provided identity, etc. In a sense, 1980s tech was what the FB profile became to the internet generation. (I personally enjoy this cultural aspect.)

[drewzero1]

There's a scene in season 1 of Halt and Catch Fire where rich grandparents give one as a gift[0], which seemed to say they felt that their daughter had married below her station.

0: https://www.theverge.com/2014/6/30/5855632/close-up-halt-and...

[thfuran]

You get all that? All I get is "feckless blowhard".

[masswerk]

Well, the night has just reached that imperceptible pivot where 2 am turns into 4 am (© Jay McInerney, Bright Lights Big City), you enter that downtown in-place and in effortless elegancy you navigate to the bar like Brian Ferry. Some say, you look like Mikey Rourke, while you haven't quite the looks (however, in a favorable light the mirror never lies, especially, when the hair style is just perfect). Casually you place your hands on the bar top, by this revealing your wrist – it's a Seiko TV watch! Clearly, you're not one of those indulging Patek Phillipe types, who just happen to retract their arms with a sour expression on their face. ;-)

[gryson]

Yes. It's interesting to see so many replies in this thread completely missing the aspects you describe and only focusing on the practical usage of the watch.

I'll also add that bubble-era Japan was full of novelty electronics like this. Companies were investing heavily in R&D, and even if sales weren't great, these kinds of items boosted prestige and reputations for being cutting edge.

[cromka]

Not to mention these creates surely incorporated some R&D inventions that were then used in different, more popular and profitable products.

[mrzool]

All true. Besides, you could take it off and place it in front of you.

[Lio]

This sounds very plausible. I wonder if it was the actual business case for making this watch. They must have had to justify the expense of development, I always wondered if they learn enough from the endeavour or gained enough from new tooling that that was the justification.