1970s Helbros Minicom Red LED Digital Watch Gold Speidel WORKING USA

This is the kind of vintage watch that instantly tells you what decade it came from. Before LCD displays took over the world, the glowing red LED wristwatch was cutting-edge technology — futuristic, expensive and unmistakably 1970s. Offered here is an original vintage Helbros electronic digital LED men's wristwatch, presented in a gold-tone case with a dark red crystal and matching vintage Speidel gold-tone expansion bracelet. And most importantly: THE RED LED DISPLAY WORKS.As shown in the actual photograph, pressing the side button illuminates the display with bright red digital numerals. That is an important distinction with surviving early LED watches, many of which are now encountered completely or sold strictly for parts. PURE 1970s SPACE-AGE DESIGNForget a conventional dial, hands and hour markers. Helbros gave this watch a dramatically dark red circular crystal surrounded by a wide brushed gold-tone case. At rest, the display virtually disappears behind the crystal. Press the button and the red LED numerals suddenly illuminate. It was futuristic technology when new, and more than 50 years later it has become an outstanding example of the brief but fascinating pre-LCD LED watch era. Specialist vintage digital-watch references identify the Helbros Minicom LED as dating to approximately 1974, with gold-tone versions paired with Speidel bracelets. Digital Watch Period examples of Helbros red LED watches are also documented as USA-made circa-1970s pieces. Wikimedia Com