Body Glove BGE-2000 Digital Compass

I've talked before about things I realised about my collection through blogging, and today I realised that I have quite a few watches for surfers!

Today's watch is by Body Glove which is a family business started by two brothers in 1953 at Redondo Beach California. They were looking for a way to get protection from the cold water, and came across using neoprene, resulting in the first practical wetsuit. The company has now expanded to cover more elements of water sports, and today's watch is one of those additional products.

The watch is the BGE-2000, and is an LCD watch with digital compass. It has a large round high visibility LCD display with 3 lines of information. The middle line has the largest digits and is the time. Below are the seconds, and above the day and date. Around the outside are 16 blocks that fill and empty clockwise in pairs. When the compass is activated (by holding the mode button), the blocks are used to show where North is (like a compass needle), and the date area shows your compass direction, and heading in degrees. It also has a stopwatch, timer, 4 alarms, and dual time, and there is an el-backlight.

Googling the watch gives only Japanese sites, so this particular version may have been a Japan only model. Don't know when it came out, but I think it will have been from the 2000s or 2010s.

Casio Penta Graph DW-7200

Some watches have a look which makes you think "High Tech", either because they have a futuristic feel, or, like today's watch, they appear so stuffed with dials and moving bits that they must do a lot.

This watch is a Casio Penta Graph, which is one of a group of watches released by Casio that got their name due to featuring 5 LCD dials. In time mode, four of the dials fill up with the seconds (15 sec each), while the 5th doesn't appear to show much. During the stopwatch mode, the 4 dials represent 60ths of a second. The 5th dial seems to function during the timer mode, with different segments representing different options for the start time. There are also alarm functions, and a mode called CT which I haven't worked out yet.

The other part of the display is a two line LCD display, with time along the top (6 digits), and year, day, and date, in small digits below.

It uses a 928 module, and has a model number of DW-7200. It also has a strap part number of AA81B-L.
The watch was released in 1990, and came in various colours, with either metal, resin, or leather strap. There are also slight differences in the face, with the watch showing the water resistance as either "20 bar", or "200m".

Citizen Quartz Multi Alarm III 41-3534

Back to the 70s again today, with a nice retro number by Citizen.

The watch is part of the old Citizen Quartz line of watches which were the early range of LCDs that ran from the 70s and into the 80s. This can be seen by the overlapping CQ symbol that is usually found on the face and the clasp.

The model is called a Multi Alarm III, which to state the obvious, should be the third Multi Alarm that Citizen released. It isn't because it has 3 alarms though, with the name referring to it's two alarm options (but it has an hourly chime too). Quite a lot of Multi Alarm III watches seem to be shown on the web, but I couldn't find any others with this particular face design (although there are others with the same layout)

The display uses a 6 digit LCD panel (-smaller digits for seconds), with 4 icons in a row above the time. These icons show which mode is active and covers the two alarms, chime, and stopwatch. There is also a bulb based light for the LCD.

It has 4 buttons, which unusually are arranged with 3 on one side, and each one has a different coloured ring around the side.

The serial number on the back doesn't follow the modern pattern, so doesn't tell me the exact date. I guess it is from the 1970s though, as the year range on the date is from 1970 to 2009 (so they didn't think the watch would last until today!).

The other model numbers are 41-3534, and 4-099303.

Casio ME-100 - META psychedelia

Today's watch type will be familiar to those following my blog, but not the version.

It seems that this type of watch, the Casio ME-100, is quite uncommon as I don't come across it online very often. The other unusual thing is that of the three different ones I've seen, two of them were specially branded models.

This model is a version is done with META psychedelia, and has that name engraved below the display. The watch also has a pattern of squares on the strap and in the backlight, and what looks like a yacht or arrow passing over a wavy line on the back and the clasp. Searching for the name does not get anything on Google though, except for links to auctions, so I know nothing on who or what Meta psychedelia is. It has also been listed online as meta psychedesia, but although it looks a little like that, I think it's a stylized 'l' rather than an 's'.

The noticeable thing about the design is that the face is offset against the strap, making it easy to hook over a long sleeve to keep it visible.

It has a 1672 module, and this gives it a data bank (with 30 slots), alarm, and stopwatch, and it has a world time feature. There is also an option called auto light which is activated by holding the button until a small sun symbol appears, but I haven't worked out how or when the light automatically works! The display is a square dot matrix LCD panel showing 6 digits, each being 3x5 pixels.

The strap part number is S-695L.

Nintendo Game Watch Boy - Dr. Mario GBE-003 DM

I've been playing on my console today, so thought I'd share another Game Watch Boy.
This is the third of my watches that are designed to resemble a Nintendo Game Boy. It is a game watch officially licensed by Nintendo, and made by Mani. It isn't named a Game Boy Watch, but is a Game Watch Boy, and is described as a 'GameBoy LCD Wrist Gamewatch'. This is the Dr Mario game where you match the right pills with the viruses on the screen helped by Dr. Mario. Mani are based in Hong Kong and released a range of electronic toys and watches for Nintendo.
This watch is a later edition and released in 1995, compared to the 1992 release of the first editions. This edition is marked by the release of six new colours (-this one having a purple patterned strap and clear case).
The model number is GBE-003(DM), which is the same overall number as the other game watch versions, but with the DM game designation.
The watch is simple with time, date, and seconds, but has an alarm. The game has two modes of virus curing, which builds up through levels until you reach the fastest level 9. The two buttons on the side of the watch are for modes, with the three front ones (which look like 5 buttons) mainly for playing the game but also for time/alarm setting.

Kamen Rider Fourze Watch by Bandai

I've had a few Kamen Rider watches before (also known as Masked Rider) - which can be found by looking for the Masked Rider tag. All of those have been modelled on belts, but this one is actually the helmet.

The watch is made by Japanese toymaker Bandai in China. It is a promotional item from 2011 for the Kamen Rider Fourze series, which is the 22nd series overall, and commemorates both the 40th anniversary of the Kamen Rider Series and the 50th anniversary of manned space flight.

The story features a bad boy transfer student who uses strange devices found by other students at a lunar base to fight monsters called Zodiarts. This series is from Japan only, and there is no Masked Rider equivalent.

The watch follows the normal tradition for these watches. The case is modelled on the character, and pressing a button at the bottom causes the lid to slide up and reveal a basic LCD display (with the usual time, date, and seconds options). It also has a small velcro strap, which is only for children, as it doesn't properly go round my small wrist!

Bandi Tokima PII Robot Watch

It's time for watch number 400, so keeping tradition, I'm blogging a robot again :-)

This is the last of the Tokima robot designs to be blogged (but don't worry I've got a few more variations to blog ;-)).

This model is the PII, and it is a variation on the Steam Head model. The main difference is purely in the head design, with this model having only 1 eye. As with the others, the key to transforming the watch is to pull out the legs and this releases the arms. It has the same dot matrix LCD display that shows the time (in 6 digits), or a random message in Japanese (or occasionally English). It too can be set with your name and birthday and will give you personalised messages.

It was released as the last model type in the Tokima range, and came out in 1999/2000.

Nixon The Metal Atom

Time for watch 399 today, and it's a nice retro styled LCD watch by Nixon.

It is a very minimal watch, and has the feel of the 70s LED watches, and has a 70s style font for the numbers too. To go with the minimal style, the buttons aren't obvious either. There are two black bars on the sides of the watch, which are actually 3 buttons! Pressing the top or bottom of the bar triggers the functions, which are display, el-backlight, and time setting (the top of the right side doesn't do anything!). The display is simple, showing 4 digits, and can show time, date, and seconds.

The watch name is The Metal Atom, and the phrase on the back of this Nixon is "Make watches not bombs". There is also a number on the back which may be the model number, and is 6I. The strap for this model is a stainless steel expanding bracelet.

DuFFS brand side watch

It's a simple watch today as I'm on the move again, and want something easy to change.
The watch is made for DuFFs, who are a brand known for their skateboarding trainers. They have been around for a little over a decade, and pride themselves on delivering high quality and comfortable sneakers. As far as I know, they don't make their own watches, and the watch has smallprint on the dial stating "This product is made through an agreement with DuFFS".
The watch is a 3-hand dial with a large D in the face. It's shape is unusual being curved and elongated below the dial making it a sort of fish-shaped. The curvature makes it curl around the wrist (and the back is foam rubber padded), and it seems that it is designed to be able to be worn on the side of your wrist so you can see the time without turning your hand (as in the drivers watches I've shown before). It is similar to the Le Marquand Side Watch (that I'll blog about sometime soon), but the long side is below and not above the dial.
The foam rubber backing and velcro fastening fabric strap make the watch very snug and secure on your wrist, so it's good for sports like skateboarding.
The model number for the watch is ESD-503-R1, but I don't know what year it's from.

Feba Mechanical Jump Hour

It's retro again today, but not an LCD digital watch, although in the early days, these were called 'digital' too.

The watch is a jump hour watch, and uses a system of rotating discs to show the time in a small window. The name Jump-Hour comes from the fact that the hour dial doesn't rotate continuously, but jumps to the next hour (over about 20 min, so I think this maybe needs a service). Both of the other dials run continuously and don't jump.

It has an automatic manual movement which is an incabloc 25 jewel type.

The watch is by Feba, who are a Swiss brand, and seem to have been operating in the 70s making mechanical watches (but I don't know when they were founded and if they've now ceased). From my search, this 25 jewel mechanical movement seems to be one of their top models (as most are hand-wind and 7-17 jewel). They also seem to be interesting to collectors, as one model sold for $400! There is not much more info on the watch, but the are numbers on the back. One looks like a serial number, but the other (3020) could be the model number

The style of this watch is quite interesting, and features a domed front in brass, dropping away to the corners, with a curved rectangular glass. This, with its matching brown leather strap, makes the watch quite eye catching.

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!

Hello Kitty Gachapon - Yokohama

The watch today is one that isn't actually mine. I'd given it to my sister-in-law as a present, and I got it back today so I could change the battery - so I thought I'd blog it while it was here!

The watch came directly from Japan where it was one of the prizes in a gachapon machine. I won it when I was on a trip there in 2008, and it was one of a few gachapon watches I got. The gachapon are a machine where you get a random prize in a small plastic ball from a particular series of prizes (some rarer than others). This watch is a Hello Kitty series featuring watches linked with Japanese cities. This one is for Yokohama, and features a picture of Hello Kitty drinking from a giant bowl of soup.

The watch itself, is a basic four digit LCD watch, same as most novelty watches, and it uses an AG4/377 battery. The back was actually glued on, so it looks like the watch wasn't designed to be kept long enough to need a new battery. There are two plastic buttons on the side of the watch - for choosing time, date, and seconds display, and for setting (if you hadn't guessed already).

The back states the copyright being to Sanrio for 1976 (Hello Kitty's birth), and 2008 (the date of the watch). It also says the watch was made in China.

Quintel Robot Watch

Over the years, I've amassed many different watches, and a fair amount of them are robot watches. From these, there are the main known names such as Tokima and Kronoform/Watch-Q, and there are many brands that are variations on the main brands.

Today's watch is one by a company called Quintel. They are a Hong Kong company who were around in the 80s (at least - but some links suggested much earlier instances of their existence).

The watch looks almost identical to the Kronoform watches (which I'll blog somepoint soon), being a rectangular watch which transforms into a robot. The name printed on the front of the watch states Quintel Robot Watch.

The robot head is just rotated round when in watch mode, and to transform it from the watch into the robot, you just fold out the arms and pull down the legs to get the robot. Sliding the hands out of the arms is the last step (assuming you turned around the head at the start. The robot is held onto the strap by two hooks, and squeezing the two buttons at the back releases the watch head. Compared to the Tokima watches, these are more angular, and have hinged legs as well as arms (making them a little more unstable on their feet).

As for the watch part, it is just a standard 4-digit basic LCD display with two buttons. One button switches the display between time, date, and seconds, and the other is for setting the watch. Unfortunately, this one has a damaged module and so won't work anymore :-(

Casio Twincept ABX-23 World Time Data Bank

Another travelling watch today, and one which has had it's sibling blogged before.

It is one of the Twincept watches by Casio, and like it's relatives has a combination of analogue and digital, but with the digital display showing over the front of the analogue, rather than in a separate window (like most Ana-Digi watches). This design is the Twincept display.

The dial is a normal 3-hand dial, operated with the crown. The LCD display sits over the dial, and by default shows time (5-6 digits) , date, and day, as well as a dotted map of the world with the current time zone flashing. The 'forward' button also changes the LCD display and allows it to be switched off, or just show the day and date.

The other modes from the 2358 module are data bank (30 page), world time (27 cities), alarm, and stopwatch. There is also a backlight which illuminates the whole dial (as a series of very small dots).

The model number is ABX-23, and seems to be the ABX-23UD-8E.

Seiko Wired - Dodecagon Dial 5Y66

Happy Valentine's Day to all my readers.

I'm using a smart watch today as I've got a dinner date with my wife tonight.

The one I've chosen is part of the Seiko Wired range of watches that was released in 2000. The range seems to target up-market looking designs that are quite flashy. You can see more of the different Wired watches using the list of tags in the right of the page.

The watch is a heavy steel item, with a thick 12-sided (dodecagon and dodecahedron shaped) glass covering the face. It is a 3-hand dial, with 3 dials on the face, one showing the 24-hr time, and the other two for the date. For the date, it has a standard 31 point dial, but for the day, it has a retrograde dial on which the hand jumps back from Saturday night to Sunday morning.

The design of the watch has lots of shiny and matt faces at angles making it catch the light really well. The shape and polishing inside the jump-hour dial looks like it is a deep hole with the centre raised where the hand is (but the shadow of the hand tells me this is just an illusion).

This particular model was made in 2007, and has a model number of 5Y66-0AG0. It uses a Japanese movement, and was cased in China. It has a design matched steel strap, which has a part number of F2S1-E.Q

Jackpot LED Watch

It's been a while since I did a flashing watch, so I thought I'd remedy that today.

The watch I chose is the Jackpot watch. As with a lot of these types of watch, it is produced by Tokyoflash and SeaHope. More information about SeaHope can be found in my SeaHope overview page.

It has four arrays of LEDs of 3x5 lights, each one showing a character. When you press the time button (top right), the display seems to spin like a fruit machines wheels, before slowing down and showing the time. This is accompanied by beeping which also slows as the animation slows. Double pressing the button jumps straight to the time, and minimises the beeping. Pressing the button after the time has come on switches the display to date.

Pressing the left button 'spins the wheels' too, but this time it acts more like a fruit machine, displaying symbols at the end, followed by a score based on how close to a matching line you get.

Pressing the bottom right button displays a number, which cycles through the numbers 1 to 4 and sets the amount you want to bet on the spin. The total at the end then gives you the accumulated score based on your bet and the results.

Text on the watch isn't very detailed, as it only tells the material of the watch and strap (steel and leather respectively), and tells that is uses a CR2032 battery.

Data Piston-lid watch

Today's watch definitely has a touch of steampunk about it - although without the grimy feel that style often has.

The watch is by Data, whom I can find nothing about. Their logo is shown on the face (at the 12 o'clock position), and on the back, and is an X with a crosshair aimed at the centre.

The watch part is a 3-hand dial, with a crown to the bottom right. The module is a standard Japanese movement.

The interesting part of this watch is the flip-top lid. Normally, you can only see a slice of the dial through a diagonal gap in the lid. When you pull out the latch on the bottom left, the lid springs open and reveals the whole dial. The lid doesn't actually open the whole way, but there are two piston design pieces which connects the watch case to the lid. They are only cosmetic, but make it look like the lid is operated by a piston.
I've had the watch for a while, so it's likely to be from the 2000s (possibly earlier), and the design reminds me of Time Design or Storm watches.