Freestyle Shark - Tigershark

Today's watch is another from the Shark watch range by the American brand Freestyle USA. This time, the watch is called the Tigershark, and is a different shape than the other Shark watches I've blogged.

The Freestyle USA brand has been around since the 80s, gaining popularity through word of mouth, and becoming recognised for the Shark fin silhouette that they chose for their logo. The Shark watches continue to be popular today, with many different types of Shark being produced.

The Tigershark model is an LCD model, but with a more unusual round design. The case is primarily made of plastic, but has a metal top making it look more solid than the normal all-plastic designs. For the LCD, it has a two line design with day and date along the top, and time (6 digits with smaller seconds) on the lower line. The LCD has an el-backlight, and when pressed there is a very visible Shark logo in red on the display. This model has the normal modes for a sports watch, with stopwatch, alarm (multi), timer, and dual time options. All of the modes actually display along the top line, leaving the bottom for the normal time, which is unusual, as this is usually swapped.

The back has the Freestyle Shark logo and name, along with the statement 'performance timing'. The back also states this was designed in California, but made in China.

I've looked around online for this model, and it appears that this isn't one of the models which is currently being sold, so I'd guess it was an older model. To me, the design looks to match with the styles seen in the 90s, so it may be that old (but there are no indications on the watch as to when it was actually released).

Milkfed x Freestyle Shark Classic

Today it's the turn of a special collaboration watch between a surf wear company and a fashion brand.

The watch is one of the Freestyle Shark watches by Freestyle USA. The Freestyle USA brand has been around since the 80s and produces rugged waterproof watches aimed at surfers. Their most known range are the Shark watches which are LCD models with a range of different designs.

This particular model is a collaboration with the Japanese fashion brand Milkfed. Milkfed are known for making simple and cute clothing which is designed by girls for girls. They were started in 1994 by the Hollywood movie producer Sofia Coppola (daughter of Francis Ford Coppola) after she had participated in a fashion show for the brand X-Girl. The brand is Japan only with no (official) stores outside of Japan.

This is a Freestyle Shark Classic model with a rubbery plastic case and strap (which has Shark logo and text moulded on the inside). The display has the time in large digits with seconds in small digits above. The design has dual time settings along with date display, along with dual alarms, stopwatch, and timer modes. The case is 100m water resistant.

The watch has special Milkfed branding, and comes in the same red as represents the Milkfed line. The Milkfed name is shown above the LCD and printed on the strap, and the el-backlight shows the brands heart symbol. The back has the text Milkfed <3 Freestyle Classic (or Milkfed Loves Freestyle Classic), along with a lot of etched hearts. There is also a model number on the back of FS84865-A126-10, and the earliest reference over found for the watch was 2010.

Freestyle Shark b-cross

Today it's time for another of my Freestyle watches, and another LCD model.

Working out a model name on the Freestyle watches is always a little challenging. This says Night Vision on the face, but after a bit of research that seems to just mean that the watch has an el-backlight. The strap has the name b-cross (maybe b cross) and bX, so I think this may be the name (or specific line) as it doesn't refer to a feature of the watch. The watch is also one of the Freestyle Shark line which are mainly aimed at surfers (and are the "raddest watches in the universe"), although I think this may be for snowboarders. The reason I think this is a snowboarders watch is that the name b cross and bX can refer to the sport Boardercross (snowboard cross) which is a downhill snowboard race for 4 simultaneous racers which includes various jumps and sharp turns. This use would fit with the very secure fabric strap with two fastening mechanisms (both clip and velcro) which would be suitable for cold weather and rough use. The watch is also white and clear colours, which fits with a snow and ice theme.

The case is similar to the other Freestyle Shark watches I've blogged with the same shape and plastic screw-on bezel around the LCD glass. Both the Freestyle and Shark logos are on the face above and below the LCD. The back has the Freestyle USA logo with the statement that this is a "high performance timing machine" (and that the back is stainless steel and the watch was made in China).

The LCD has two lines of 6 digits, with the first digit on the top line being different to show letters for the day. For modes, it has a stopwatch, alarm, and timer which all use the top line, leaving the bottom line to keep displaying the time.

Freestyle USA have been making watches for around the last 30 years, so it's difficult to age the watches without finding them specifically online (which is almost impossible due to the lack of model name/number). For this watch, I think it is one of their 90s LCD models, but it could be newer. A 90s date may also fit with the first Boardercross event in 1991, or the sports inclusion in the Winter X-Games from 1997.

Freestyle Shark Alarm Chronograph

Today I decided to wear my 2nd Freestyle Shark watch, and go back to the retro LCD watches.

I think this one is also from the 90s, but is a ladies /unisex /kids? watch (based on the smaller size).
It is by FreeStyle USA, who have been making watches for around 30 years, and part of their Shark range. The Shark watches are meant to be the "raddest watches in the universe", and are aimed at surfers.

The front of the watch says this is an Alarm Chronograph, and on the back, they are 'performance timing machines'.

It is an LCD watch with a 5.5 digit display (it can't do a 24hr display). The mode button switches between time and chronograph modes, and the alarm is accessed by the lap reset button.

Freestyle Shark Countdown Timer

The more I go through my blogging, the more I find out about my collection. It's been built up over so many years that I don't really know how it's really made up. It seems, for example, that I have many more retro LCD watches than I'd thought (which aren't so unusual looking, but still quite interesting).

Today it's the turn of another LCD watch, which I think is from the 1990s. It is a Freestyle Shark watch, with the name Countdown Timer written across the top. The watch is by FreeStyle USA (-many places refer to Shark brand, but I think that is just the line of watches), who have been making watches for around the last 30 years. The back says that this is one of their performance timing machines, and they only make sports watches. The Shark watches are the ones aimed at surfers and are proclaimed to be "the raddest watches in the universe".

The Freestyle Shark watches are still going today, but I think that this is one of the earlier models they released. It is an LCD watch with two lines, showing day and date along the top, and the time below (6 digits). It is an alarm chronograph countdown timer, so has all of those features, along with dual time. Lighting is provided by a small bulb. The strap is fabric with a shark logo and fastens with a plastic clip, so is good for it's surfing intentions.

The text on the back makes it appear that this is a limited edition, as it says 045/106 (maybe 108). Searching for the number gets no hits implying it isn't a model number, so, it appears this is a very limited model!