Sunday 14 April 2013

Star Wars Episode 1 Darth Maul Die-Cast Watch with collectible case by Hope Industries

It's silly watch Sunday again, so time for another novelty watch.

This one is another by the New York based manufacturer Hope Industries Inc, and as usual, made in China. They were members of the Toy Manufacturers of America, and L.I.M.A (International Licensing Industry Manufacturers Association). I don't think the company currently exists as their website isn't there anymore. This watch was developed in association with Art Asylum, and sculpted by Paul Komoda. Paul Komoda is a US based sculptor, known for making highly detailed and dynamic works, and has worked with many toy manufacturers. It is, of course, copyrighted to Lucasfilm Ltd too.

The watch is from 1999 and is merchandise for the release of Star Wars Episode 1. It features the Sith apprentice Darth Maul, who had been taken from his Jedi training by Sith Lord Darth Sidious (aka Emperor Palpatine), and trained in the way of the Sith. He was a very distinctive character with a red and black tattooed face. The head of the watch is a die-cast moulding of Darth Maul's head. Under his chin is the lid release which opens the watch up, revealing a vertical LCD display (two digits for hours with the two minutes digits on a separate row). Under the display are the two buttons, and as with most novelty watches, one switches between time, date, and seconds, and the other sets the time.

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