Gizmodo: Timepieces

Quiksilver's The Ray Watch is Confusing, But Eco-Friendly

Kit Eaton — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:05:00 EDT

All those confusing-display watches from Tokyo flash have nothing on the impeccable eco-credentials of Quiksilver's upcoming watch. The Ray is analog with a 27-jewel movement, though its display is unusual and looks like it'd take a while to get used to... but it's shipped in eco-friendly packaging by ship rather than by air (saving on CO2 emissions) and is made of largely recyclable materials. That's stuff like wood, stainless steel, aluminum, and mineral glass, and though I'm not sure it's the "world's first eco-friendly timepiece" it certainly sounds like a good idea. You'll probably have to be a rich eco-warrior to have one though: it's a limited run of 1,000 pieces, and the price is still to be announced. [Acquiremag]

Suunto X10 GPS Watch is Basically Perfect for Tomb Raiding

Kit Eaton — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EDT

Suunto has just added to its range of GPS watches with the new X10, but this gizmo doesn't just do navigation and time-telling. It's also got an altimeter function, barometer, digital compass and thermometer: Exactly the sort of equipment any self-respecting real tomb raider would find darn useful.

Even better, the X10 has an improved GPS reception for tracking in difficult locations, like under heavy foliage in the rainforest. It's also got a track-back function so you can retrace your steps if you're lost, and 33% more battery life than the previous X9i generation. It also live-records routes and waypoints, so you can pinpoint on your PC later where that ancient undiscovered ruined temple really was, and it charges/connects over USB.

Available in two colors in September, though there's no info on price. [Navigadget]

Spy Camera Watch Looks Like it May Actually Be Good For Spying

Kit Eaton — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:30:00 EDT

Forget those naff spy pens: This spy camera watch from Brando may actually be a decent spying gizmo. For example... can you see the camera in the photo of it? It's in the whorl of the numeral 2, and the watch is pretty convincing. It only shoots 352 x 288 pixel AVIs, but it does carry 2GB aboard, so that should be good for a whole bunch of sneaky vids, and its rechargeable batteries get juice from a USB connection. Just cover up that USB port with a sticker or plug of some kind so it's less obvious, and spy away. Presumably it also tells the time, but that's curiously not mentioned on Brando's web page. Yours for $236. [Brando]

Scope Clock Puts The Cathode Ray Tube Back in Time-Telling

Kit Eaton — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:35:00 EDT

This is the Scope Clock, from designer David Forbes, and if you're into retro-tech chic gadgets, this thing will beat any nixie clock hands down. Just look at it: a cathode ray tube encased in acrylic, with GPS time automagically captured for accuracy, and the ability to display digital or analog clock faces. It's fabulous, and its rear-end is jammed with controls you'd never have thought to see on a clock: an astigmatism knob, anyone? This is the prototype, but there's a limited-edition version to go on sale soon, at a respectably high $999. [Cathode Corner via Gizmo Watch via DVice]

Shape Up Alarm Clock Dumbbell Won't Shut up 'Til You Do 30 Reps

Kit Eaton — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Shape Up from Fred and Friends is one of those bullying-style digital alarm clocks, designed to force you awake. It's shaped like a mini dumbbell and won't stop buzzing until you do 30 reps. This would not get me out of bed in the AM, nossir. But it might make me smile. Smile happily as I grip its conveniently throwable shape and fling it heartily out of the window into the garden, and slip back to sleep. There's no info on price or availability, you may be pleased to know. [OhGizmo]

Caterpillar Watch Crawls 'Round Your Wrist to Tell Time

Kit Eaton — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:58:00 EDT

With timepieces embedded into every electronic gizmo nowadays, the humble wristwatch is on its way out, you might think. That's until you see this bizarrely cool prototype watch from designer Nicolas Lehotzky. Driven by a caterpillar-tread-alike drive, it turns the time-telling process inside out, from a virtual display into a sedate physical crawl around your wrist once every 12 hours. Brilliant! Forget the fact it looks slightly uncomfy... it's such a neat design I'd practically chop my arm off to own one, though that'd then complicate wearing it. [Gizmag]

Giant, Functioning LED Wristwatch is Actually a Table

Sean Fallon — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:50:00 EDT

The aptly titled 'Big Time' table from artist Lee J Rowland is, in fact, a giant wristwatch with a programmable LED clock. It has a touch button feature like a normal watch that allows the user to switch between time, seconds and date functions. You can even program it to display an 8 letter message of your choosing. As far as the table side of things is concerned, there are also slim utility drawers hidden somewhere in there so you can store coasters, silverware and the like. The price is available upon request, so you know it won't be cheap. However, if money is no object, chrome and gold finishes are also available. [Lee J. Rowland via BookofJoe]

Digimech Clock Does Digital the Old-Fashioned Mechanical Way

Kit Eaton — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:54:00 EDT

The Di Grisogono Meccanica mechano-digital watch is indeed amazing, but I'm almost as impressed with Duncan Shotton's Digimech clock (maybe it's because it looks like I could afford it). The UK designer has crafted another take on mechanical-digital timepieces, with sliding black-patterned bars that comprise the individual seven-segment displays. And actually, that description does nothing for the gizmo—you should check out the video to see it in action.

Driven by servos controlled by a PIC16F628 microcontroller, the numeral bars drop back under gravity when the final digits have been displayed. The clock carefully aligns the patterns when it's time, so the display looks a little funky from time to time. I want one, badly: it'll go well with my attempt at an all-digital apartment. [Duncan Shotton via Notcot via Technabob]

Eleeno Cyber Digital Watch: Time-Confusion Fashion Fusion

Kit Eaton — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:48:00 EDT

I own a perfectly conventional analog watch, and though I confess to a penchant for these weird or confusing digital ones, up to now I'd probably not buy one. But this leaked set of images is of a watch I'd actually consider wearing: the Eleeno Cyber. With 12 discrete LCD dials to read the time from, it's almost more fashion bracelet than watch, and comes in silver or dark stainless steel finish with green or red LCDs. To work out how the displays work, there's a guideline in the gallery: but you'll have to decipher that first. Available in Russia for $198 in July, but apparently Tokyo Flash have carried this brand before. [Technabob]

Get Around the Time with Lexon Around Clock

Kit Eaton — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EDT

Minimalist clocks pop up from time to time, and while sometimes they're just good enough for you to know it's "three-ish," the Around clock can actually let you know it's "three fifteenish." It's about as simple design as you can get: with a rotating dial and a red wire that tells you the time. From Lexon, it's available for $45. And you can't get that tune out of your head now can you? Round round get around.... [Acquire]

Diesel LED Watches Have Hidden Mirror Displays for Sci-Fi Chic

Kit Eaton — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 09:15:00 EDT

Ah, a digital watch with an LED display that's not impossible to read... fantastic! Even better, the LEDs on these new watches from Diesel are a dot-matrix screen, and are hidden behind a mirror surface that makes the whole package look suitably sci-fi. Like something Luke would've worn on his cybernetic wrist. You can even program the display to scroll messages up to 20 characters long. Having "Use the Force..." scrolling past is too much, you think? Available with a mirrored patent strap (DZ7091) or a black leather one (DZ7092) for $170. [Diesel via Technabob]

Asos Disk Dial Watches: Confusing Displays, Analog-Style

Kit Eaton — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:15:00 EDT

These watches sit somewhere between the confusing displays of Tokyo Flash digital watches and the amazing mechanical-digital Meccanica DG. Inside they have two wheels that spin relative to a marker line: and that's where you peek to work out how many hours and minutes of the work day remain (that's the main reason for wearing a watch, yes?). It's all a bit 1970s tech, and rather cool. Available now for about $70. [BBGadgets]

Scramble and Progression Tokyo Flash Watches Aren't Totally Confusing

Kit Eaton — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:28:00 EDT

Just a few weeks ago I showed you the Infection watch, which was very much in the vein of befuddling time display that importer Tokyo Flash has become famous for. But now there're the new Scramble and Progression watches from Nekura, and it looks like their LED-backlit LCD displays are slightly more straightforward, if still funky. You can even chose the illumination color from a choice of six, or go for multicolor changing. Those straps are in engraved stainless steel too, and are "self-adjusting" somehow. Available now for about $124. [Geek Alerts]

Sentio Tactile Digital Watch for Blind has Good Looks

Kit Eaton — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:30:00 EDT

Looking like the love child of the mechano-digital Di Grisogono and the F1 watches, this concept is intended to be a timepiece for the visually impaired. Elements of the 7-segment numerals pop out so you can tell the time with a touch (I'm guessing it shows hours, minutes sequentially.) But designer Matthew Wagerfield thought that just because it would be for those with poor vision, doesn't mean it can't look great. And Sentio is attractive enough that many a normally-sighted person would love one. [Sentio via Gizmowatch]

The Veldini Q Wristwatch Was Inspired By James Bond: And it Has the Spy Gadgets to Prove It

Sean Fallon — Sun, 25 May 2008 19:00:00 EDT

Even if eavesdropping on your co-worker's personal phone calls is the closest you will ever get to becoming a spy, a watch filled with spy gadgets is hard for any man to resist. Perhaps that is why Veldini plans on releasing at least 3 different models of their new "Q" James Bond inspired wristwatch. Each will feature its own set of tools geared towards a specific scenario: outdoor use, spy use, and everyday use.

The outdoor version will include a flat Phillips screwdriver, flint stick and combo edge blade while the spy version will utilize a diamond tip glass cutter, Phillips head screwdriver, lock pick, magnifying glass and a straight edge blade. Users interested in the everyday version will get a flat Phillips screwdriver, bottle opener, refillable pen, magnifying glass and a combo-edge blade. As an added touch, the design of the "Q" watch resembles the hammer mechanism of 007's Walther PPK pistol.

The watches are currently in pre-production and a timetable for their release has not yet been determined. However, expect to pay far out the ass to feel like James Bond—to the tune of $2-$3,000 for the sterling silver model, $5-$7000 for Gold or Rose Gold and $10-$15,000 for platinum. [Veldini via BornRich]

TokyoFlash Infection Watch For that Bacteria-Chic Look

Kit Eaton — Wed, 21 May 2008 05:52:08 EDT

TokyoFlash—always guaranteed to surprise us with impossible-to read watch designs— has just stumped up it's newest offering, which this time looks like some kind of organic cell pattern. It's dubbed "Infection"... and you can just imagine the advertising tag can't you? Yep: "No one is immune to infection." The time is revealed by 12 red, 11 yellow and four green LEDs, and you can choose to animate the display or just show the right time. The curved stainless-steel and leather watch is water-resistant to 3ATM and is available now for around $135. [TokyoFlash via Geekalerts]

DIY Clock is Ultimate Minimalist Analog Clock for Creative Types

Kit Eaton — Fri, 02 May 2008 05:17:47 EDT

Whatever it may look like, designer Bomi Kim has not invented a different kind of time-delay sex toy: his "Meaning of time" is actually a DIY clock. In fact, it's about as minimalist a clock concept as you'll ever see. The body contains the mechanism, and has holes for you to stick hands into. Stick in anything, stick in sticks if you like, then use the spike to stick it up somewhere. Complete freedom of creative expression, and rather clever we think. It's just a concept, for now. [Yanko design]

Casio Updates Baby-G With Colors, Tilt-to-Zoom Display

Kit Eaton — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:36:25 EDT

Just the other day Casio came up with some colorful retrotastic G-shocks, and now the Baby-G is getting a color treatment, with a neat zooming display. The BG-2000/2001 series come in white, yellow and orange with shiny wrist bands and complimentary colored LCDs that you can customize in five styles. There's also that auto-zoom function that enlarges the digits when you tilt your wrist to read the time. They're shock-resistant, 100m water resistant, with world time and five independent alarms and have auto EL backlighting (LED for the yellow version). No word on pricing yet. [Casio and Fareastgizmos]

Photowatch: Strap-On Digital Picture Frame and Wristwatch

Kit Eaton — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:55:20 EDT

A half-way house between a digital watch and those crazy do-it-all multimedia watches, the digital photo frame watch may actually appeal to more people. The built-in memory can store 60 photos and it can superimpose the time in analog or digital format over the top. And that's all it does: simple. It charges through USB, lasting about 8 hours —its main drawback, perhaps— and is Mac and PC compatible. In leather and stainless steel, it'll set you back $99.95. [EverythingUSB]

Oregon Scientific Delivers Watch for Serious Weather Addicts

Sean Fallon — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:49:00 EDT

When it comes to forecasting the weather, I often think that sticking a moistened finger into the air is about as accurate as all of that fancy doppler radar. However, there is no shortage of weather addicts out there that religiously check the news and treat weathermen like they were friggin' prophets. It appears that Oregon Scientific has developed a weather forecasting watch made specifically for these types of people.

The Meteo watch tracks the weather conditions by measuring barometric pressure trends and displays the forecast for the next 12-24 hours using four easy-to-read icons (sunny, partly cloudy, cloudy, and rainy)—kind of like their previous Weather in Motion Clock. Seems a little simple if you ask me. I mean, you can get a complete weather forecast via the web on just about any phone. Still, if you prefer to get your weather on your wrist, the Meteo will set you back about £40 ($80) when it is released this May. [Oregon Scientific via BIOS]

F1/Carbon Watch has Expensive Looks, Like Real Formula 1

Kit Eaton — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:43:31 EDT

Designer John Pszeniczny was trying to combine elements of Formula 1 racing with gems and crystals, and we think he's done well with his F1/Carbon GMT watch. It's even got a stopwatch and laptimer built in, and has the time in each of the cities on the F1 calendar. The red-lit display looks kinda mean, and the 18 identical embedded rubies sure are in the spirit of the huge cost of F1. The bracelet style would make it look like a high-tech tyre wrapped round your wrist— though we can't help but wonder about chafing. Just a concept. [Yanko]

Casio Futurist Watch Would Get Goldfinger All Excited

Kit Eaton — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:20:25 EDT

The Futurist golden watch certainly seems to be going along with the retro design trend Casio's been exploring recently. The LA-2002G wouldn't look out of place on the wrist of any Bond villain of yesteryear, we think. Inside that matte gold case it's not exactly brimming with features, but it does have a stopwatch, timer, 29 time-zone clock and up to five independent daily alarms. Originally only available in Japan, TokyoFlash is making it available here for $149. Cackling and saying "At last we meet, Meester Bond!" as you strap it on is up to you. [TokyoFlash via Technabob]

DIY Scientific Calculator Watch: Wrist Candy For Mega Nerds

Sean Fallon — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:30:14 EDT

If you thought the original calculator watch was nerdy, get a load of this DIY gem from designer David Jones. According to his website, the "uWatch" is the "world's most powerful programmable RPN/Algebraic scientific calculator watch." Unfortunately, the project site is still under construction, so a step-by-step tutorial has yet to be developed. However, there are a bunch of photos that should give you geniuses a basic idea on how to build one yourself. In the meantime, I'm going to up the ante and attach a watchband to my old TI-86. [uWatch via EMSL via MAKE]

C1 Tourbillon Watch Has 18th Century Tech to Correct for Gravity

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EDT

We've shown you some beautiful retro-digital watches recently, but this timepiece takes the prize for integrating real old technology: a tourbillon escapement. Invented in 1795, this type of escapement actually rotates inside its frame and was designed to counteract lop-sided gravity effects caused by the vertical position gentlemen's pocket watches usually sat in. Concord's C1 mechanical watch has this movement mounted outside the case and dial, and presumably it adds to time accuracy. As well as making the watch look damn fine. Will it go on sale? We don't know, but we suspect a massive price. [C1 via Watchismo]

Astronomer's Watch Tells Best Time to Watch the Skies

Kit Eaton — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:30:25 EDT

At first glance this watch looks pretty ordinary, until you notice the lack of minute hands and the 24-hour dial around the edge. It's actually designed to help amateur astronomers work out the best conditions for sky-watching, so it tracks sunset and sunrise, moon phase and moonrise/set times. All you have to do is tap in your location from one of its 583 pre-programmed cities, and its combination of hands and detailed LCD displays will tell you all you need to know. If only it could predict the cloud-cover conditions, eh? You're going to have to really enjoy astronomy if you want to buy it, though: it's $495.95 from Hammacher Schlemmer. [OhGizmo]

The Opus 8 Watch Puts a Pin-Art Spin On The Mechanical-Digital Display

Sean Fallon — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 19:30:00 EDT

If the Di Grisogono Meccanica DG was the first watch with a mechanical-digital display, the Opus 8 watch by Harry Winston comes in at a close second. While the DG used mechanical tubes to display the time, the Opus 8 works using a complicated system of mechanical pixels that rise up from the display when the user activates a mechanism on the side of the case. But that's not all.

From the press release:

An exceptional and advanced timepiece, Opus 8 utilizes hand-wound mechanical movements to create a modern, digital time display. Inspired by pin art games, which create 3D impressions of objects pressed against them, the numbers in the display will only appear "upon request," activated by a bolt on the right hand side of the case. Nothing appears until the mechanism is wound.
A plate joins together small segments, both mobile and fixed. Just underneath is a disc driven by the movement, which turns independently in real time. When the mechanism is wound, the pieces adjust to display the time. As the plate descends, the small segments remain visible, "blocked" by the crystal, allowing the hour to be read for 5 seconds. Technically, all functions are related, enabling everything to be displayed on demand - the minute hand turns the hour that then turns the AM/PM function.

In addition, the back of the watch features a design resembling a printed circuit that functions as a second time display. AM and PM status are featured on the left, hours and minutes in the center, and a power reserve indicator is located on the right. Throw all of that fancy technology in a case with a cool looking retro vibe and you have yourself one hell of a timepiece. Just don't get your hopes up about owning one yourself. The series is limited to 50 watches and the rumor is that they were sold out before the unveiling. [Worldtempus via Watchismo and ViaLuxe]

Home-Appliance Alarm Clocks, Wake You by Simulating Real Thing

Kit Eaton — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:18:54 EDT

Forget boring alarm clocks: now you can buy an alarm toy that looks like a washer, and shows bubbles and vibrates like it's on spin cycle to wake you. Or one that looks like a '60s fridge, but has a radio hidden inside, or even a blender that spins and plays '70s game show themes. How about an iron look-alike clock with a speaker on its foot, an FM radio and a plug to connect up your MP3 player? Or a stove version? They're dubbed "Homade," (no, seriously they are) all take AA batteries and are available for between $17 and $20. And you want one, you know you do. [Homeloo via DVice]

First Watch with All-Mechanical "Digital" Display (Verdict: Absolutely Amazing)

AddyDugdale — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:15:00 EDT

Looking at this limited-edition Di Grisogono Meccanica DG, you probably think it's a hybrid mechanical-digital watch. Well, chaps, you're wrong. Despite its appearance, the Meccanica DG is completely analog, comprising of 651 pieces and absolutely no digital parts or LEDs whatsoever. Video and pics after the jump.

Just 177 of these amazing timepieces are going to be made to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Geneva-based horloger. Billed as the most complicated digital-analog timepiece in the world, the digital display is actually mechanical, with rolling tubes forming the digital segments. This is how it works, according to the press release.

The mechanically operated digital display of the second timezone shows tens of hours, single hours, tens of minutes and single minutes, all displayed by mobile microsegments driven by an assemblage of 23 cams connected to a set of gears and a triggering and synchronization system. The time information is displayed by an array of 23 horizontally and vertically positioned microsegments. Vertical segments are 9 mm high and weigh at most 25 milligrams while the horizontal segments measure 2.90 mm in length and weigh only 10 milligrams. The segments have four faces: two opposing visible faces fitted with colored strips and two opposing unmarked faces. Time changes are effected by 90° rotations of the required segment or segments. Involving one to twelve segments, time changes are lightning fast.

Forward to 40 seconds in to hear Fawaz Gruosi, the CEO of Di Grisogono, talk about the watch. "Some people, they say, 'Do you smoke something when you came out with the idea?'" he tells the CNN journalist. Available in four styles—red gold, titanium and gold, titanium and platinum and titanium and rubber—the Meccanica DG is waterproof to 100 feet and, presumably, is heinously expensive. [Sybarites and timezoneitalia.com and YouTube]

Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk Watch Brings Out Your Inner Space Cowboy

AddyDugdale — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EDT

Just 100 of Seiko's Spring Drive Spacewalk watches, space-proof wristwatches being developed with a little help from the Russian Federal Space Agency, are expected to be made. Designed for Richard Garriott, the video-game honcho-turned-future space tourist, the titanium-encased timepiece weighs just 92.5 grams and is airtight, and waterproof to 100 meters. Seiko has developed a new luminescent material so that Richard will be able to see if it's teatime yet on the International Space Station, and it has large control buttons so that he doesn't have to take his space gloves off to adjust the time. Full specs are below.

Spring Drive 5R86 movement for accuracy under the extreme temperature swings of space (-20° to +70° Celsius, or about -4° to 160° Fahrenheit).
Titanium case with the sides etched out by a new CNC (computer numerical control) machine that Seiko built in order to help get the weight down to only 92.5 grams.
Completely air-tight case capable of surviving direct exposure to space.
Oversized buttons for use while wearing space gloves.
Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
Waterproof to 100m, or 330ft (in case of a water landing, I guess).
12-hour chronograph.
GMT hand for 24-hour UTC time (which is used in both space and aviation).
New luminescent material that Seiko says is three times as bright as a typical luminescent watch.
A special dial and hand design for maximum readability.

The Spring Drive Spacewalk is expected to be "marketed" in December 2008, and until then we have no idea of the price. Cheaper than a return ticket to Mars, I expect. [Seiko via Watch Report]

Time-It Watch's LED Display Curls Around Your Wrist

Kit Eaton — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:13:32 EDT

This new LED watch curls around your wrist automagically, a bit like those weird snap-on bracelet thingies that were all the rage a while ago. Time-it's display is suitably LED-geeky, with several different modes, much like the Tokyo Flash or Nooka designs. Strangely its got a rechargeable battery, so it has to lie in its "magic case" to wirelessly charge every now and then. Inconvenient, perhaps, since it lasts between a day and two weeks depending on how often you activate the display.

Still, it's a neat design and is pretty unusual. Its shape and silicone waterproofness may even make it useful for sporty types. Available now, in brown, orange, black and white for $189. [LEDwatchstop via Technabob]

G-Shock GW-9200 Riseman Has Everything You Never Needed on a Watch

AddyDugdale — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:11:47 EST

Casio's new G-Shock GW-9200 may not have a phone or MP3 player, but that's about all it lacks. With an altimeter, barometer and thermometer, the chunky black plastic timepiece hits the US on June 28 and will cost you around $230. Full specs are below.

- 6 Band Atomic Time Sync
- Barometer (air pressure range 260 to 1100 hPa)
- Altimeter (-700 to 10000 m)
- Thermometer (-10 ℃ to 60)
- Stopwatch (1 / 100 seconds, 24 hours, with a split)
- World Time (33 world cities, 29 time zones)
- Countdown Timer (24 hours max)
- 5 Alarms (1 with snooze)
- Full auto EL light (with afterlight)
- Tough Solar (large solar charging system)
- Dimensions: 51.0mm × 48.9mm × 15.9mm
- Weight: 60.9g
The version with a Geiger counter is, I assume, coming out at a later date. [My G-Shock]

Retro-Styled Matrix M6001 Watch Takes You Back in Time

Charlie White — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:46:47 EST

The Matrix M6001 watch reminds us of a perfectly restored 1960 Ford we were riding around in at CES this week, with its shiny dashboard and retro speedometer numerals. Unlike most gimmicky watches from the East, this $74 one's easy to decipher. Bonus pic on the next page:

Take your pick of band colors to go with its stainless steel case, and you're good to go, daddy-o. [Funshop, via BeSportier and Technabob]

Twelve 5-9 Q Watch Means Time-Telling has Never Been So Impenetrable

AddyDugdale — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:57:33 EST

Tokyo Flash's latest addition to its Twelve 5-9 watch range, the Q, is an interesting timepiece. And by interesting, I mean that you probably need a PhD in disco-light time-telling to be able to work out just what it is you're late for. (May I just add that, by the time you've worked out the time, you're going to be even later than you originally were.) "How-To" masterclass, plus a gallery of the $114 watch, is after the jump.

Giz's resident boy genius Adrian has waxed lyricalabout similar watches before, but I just don't get 'em, I'm afraid. The Twelve 5-9 Q series is available in black and chrome and will be available in the first quarter of 2008. [Tokyo Flash via 7Gadgets]

Stanley Brings out a Pair of Watches, One of them Strange

AddyDugdale — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:09:40 EDT

Ah, Brando. The soft "ping" in my inbox that heralds yet another slice of pedestrian weirdness from everyone's favorite purveyor of odds 'n' sods. And today's offering was no different: a pair of watches from toolmaker Stanley. One sports a 16-position compass, but it's the other one that got me all excited—a calculator watch with 6" ruler. Full specs for both after the jump.

Ruler/Calculator Watch
Calculator function with eight digits, "E"(Error)-signs, and decimal point.
24 hour Alarm
6 inch ruler
Automatic calendar for the month and date (it adjusts for 28, 29, 30 and 31 day months automatically)
Quartz crystal time source for high accuracy and reliability.
Sensitive, easy-to-use keyboard for setting the time, date, alarm, calculator operation and changing the mode.

Compass Watch
16 Position electronic compass in English characters display
Digital direction indication in degrees with 1 degree intervals
Displays hour, minute, second, month, date & weekday
12/24 hour display format
3 Daily alarms
Hourly chime signal
1/100S resolution choronograph with 24 hours working range
Chronograph with split function & bargraph animation
Dual time (TM2) with hour and minute
Water resistant to 100FT/30M
Night light electroluminescent (EL) backlighting

Both watches come in a nice toolbox, if you like that sort of thing. [Brando and Brando]

Backside Watch: Timekeeping for Contrarians

Charlie White — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 15:33:46 EST

For those contrarians who like to do things a bit differently, here's a watch that presents its back as the front, and whose text engraving is in mirror image as well. The Backside Watch is the first Swiss-made timepiece created by Russian designers, and is crafted out of stainless steel with a quartz movement.

The watch's designers encourage you to wear the watch upside down, or else, they say, you won't be able to tell what time it is. Well, considering that the watch just shows you one window with a gauge inside that makes time appear to be moving in reverse, it's not quite a precision timekeeping instrument, nor was it intended to be.

But who cares? It's fun. In a limited edition of 99 pieces, they're $1,000 while they last.

Backside Watch [Krunker]
Product Page