Jean Colonna D400 G.S.D

After collecting this long, it's interesting when I find watches with links to other brands/models than expected.

Today's watch is from the Jean Colonna brand, but shares a movement with one of the 1481010 watches.

Jean Colonna is a Belgian fashion designer, who's emerged in the 1990s. His style was different than many of the others during that period, bringing a grungy raw edge to Paris fashion. Some commentators suggested his designs had a wonderfully seedy and perverse style, more like a nightclub than a catwalk.

As with many designers, watches were part of the collection, and today's watch is one of those. This model is based around the Citizen D400 module, and with the design of the back, I'd guess that the watch was actually made by Citizen. It doesn't seem to have been a common watch though, as I've not found anything online linking Jean Colonna with the D400 module...

The D400 is am LED module, with what Citizen calls its Graphic Sparkle Display (G.S.D). It has a 4 digit display in red and green LEDs, and when activated, the LEDs flicker giving a sparkly effect before showing a short light pattern (which changes depending on the hour). In this version, the module is housed in a round metal case, with the LEDs hidden behind a mirrored face with the Jean Colonna name at the bottom.

The back has the Jean Colonna name too, along with the serial number (indicating a 1999 fabrication date) and full model number D400-A05397.

Citizen Independent 1481010 GSD - Chipie Edition

There are many of the Independent 1481010 watches I still have to blog, and today is another.

The Citizen Independent 1481010 range came out in the late 90s, and are probably my most extensive collection. Much more about these watches are can be found on my overview page.

This model is one of the GSD LED watches. The GSD stands for Graphical Sparkle Display, and describes the type of LED display that was used in the 1481010 models with a D400 module which has a shimmering effect. The display uses 7 segment LED groups to show 4 digits. It only has time and date options

Today's model is another of the collaborations with the clothing brand Chipie (which seems to be based in Paris judging by the attached label). Chipie are a brand making girls/womens clothing since 1972 and are influenced by American college clothing. The Chipie name is marked on the face of the watch under the display (and engraved on the back plate), and this model has a unique colour combination in the buttons (black and orange). Looking at the serial number, it looks like the model was released in 1998.

It seems that the catalogue number for Chipie is WTCXKS0002, and the watch came in a plastic pack rather than the normal box. The attached cardboard label has a slightly different number CWTCX KS 0002 and shows it was sold for 12,000 yen. The full model number is D400-S69314

Citizen Independent 1481010 GSD - As Know As De Base - White

Happy New Year!
Time for my first post of 2013, and it's another 1481010 watch.

The Independent 1481010s were released by Citizen watches in the late 90s and were marketed as a brand for the young and fashionable. More information about the range can be found in the 1481010 overview page (link).

Because of this, they regularly collaborated with Japanese fashion brands like with today's watch.
This watch is a collaboration from 1998 between Citizen and 'AS KNOW AS de base'. This is one of five related brands all with the 'AS KNOW AS' prefix (including one for dog accessories). The AS KNOW AS company was started in Japan in 1989 by two people who like to remain anonymous. The AS KNOW AS de base range is the original line of clothes and offers street style clothing with high quality and attention to detail.

The watch itself is a standard LED watch from their G.S.D (Graphic Sparkle Display) range. It is a 3.5 digit LED panel in 2 colours (hours in green, and minutes in red) which has a shimmering sparkle effect when activated. The time shows for a few seconds followed by an animated flashing pattern depending on the hour. It has a D400 module powered by a CR2032 battery, and works with 2 buttons - one to show time, and the other to start the animation (and an inset adjust button too).

It looks like the standard watches in this design, but has the text AS KNOW AS DE BASE above the LEDs. It also has 'spruce up' written on the strap, and the brand name written in script type font on the battery cover.

The full model number is D400-L17131

LTJ Bukem Good Looking Records Citizen Independent 1481010 D400 LED

This watch is another of the collaborations between Citizen and LTJ Bukem / Good Looking Records, released as part of the Citizen Independent 1481010 collection.

The 1481010 range was released in the late 90s and was marketed at the young and fashionable. It released quite a few special editions with DJs, musicians, and clothing brands. At least 3 different designs were issued with LTJ Bukem, and this is the D400 G.S.D LED model. More information about the 1481010 range can be found in my overview page (link).

Good Looking Records was founded in the early 90s by Drum & Bass pioneer LTJ Bukem (otherwise known as Danny Williamson). The watch collection with LTJ Bukem had a distinctive black metallic sheen and gold writing, and had the LTJ Bukem and Good Looking Records name on the back.

The collection were released in 1998, and this one has the model number D400-S68784.

Apart from the unique colour, the watch is a standard G.S.D (Graphic Sparkle Display) LED watch. When lit, the LEDs seem to flicker (or sparkle) giving it the name. After the time is shown, the LEDs flash in a pattern depending on the hour. If no pattern flashes, just dots, it means the CR2032 battery needs changing.

Citizen Independent 1481010 GSD D400 Blue & Yellow

Today's watch is the same type as one I've shown you before.

The GSD (Graphical Sparkle Display) watches are an LED watch from Citizen's 1481010 brand from the late 90s. They have a large true LED display which flickers / sparkles when the time is displayed, followed by a pattern of flashing LEDs. The watch uses  D500 module which gives it time, date, and seconds.

The GSD D400 watches came in various styles and colours, with either a metal or plastic strap and case. This is one of the dual-colour versions with a blue case/strap, and yellow buttons.

This was made in 1998, and has a full model number of D400-L18331

Citizen Independent 1481010 - D400 G.S.D Purple

Another of the 1481010 collection today!
This is another of the D400 LED displays from the range, and the Freshjive version of the model has previously been blogged.

The LED module for this watch is what is dubbed the G.S.D display. This stands for Graphical Sparkle Display, and is so called because the LED lights seem to flicker (or sparkle if you prefer). As with all of these D400 watches, it is a true LED watch with time and date functions. Pressing the bottom button shows the time followed by a pattern depending on the hour (or a series of dots if the battery is running low).

The full model number is D400-L18790, and it was made in 1998.

For more info on the 1481010 range, see here.

Citizen Independent 1481010 - D400 Freshjive Special Edition

Time to get back to the 1481010 range today.

This is a special version of the D400 LED range of watches, released for Freshjive in 1998. Freshjive was founded in 1989 by Rick Klotz. Originally intended to reflect the varied influences of his California lifestyle, the company became known as one of the originators of streetwear culture.

The face has the shadow image of a running man, and the phrase "you are running out of time". The watch head also has this phrase below the display, and Freshjive above, and the strap has a small symbol printed upon it.

The watch has an LED display, with the hours in green, and minutes in red, and is illuminated when the bottom button is pressed. After the time is displayed, there is an animation from the LEDs, with either patterns or numbers. The animation depends on which hour it is. The watch also warns of a low battery by replacing the animation with a single flashing LED (4 flashes for low, and 10 for very low).

The full model number is D400-L18340 and the catalogue number is IT21-4308H

For more on the 1481010 range, see the overview page. LINK