Citizen Independent 1481010 Universal Studios C351

It seems to have been a long time since my last 1481010 watch, so here's another one! This is the newest that I have, and until I saw it for sale, I didn't know this variant existed!

The watch is one of Citizen's Independent 1481010 range from the late 90s. Regular readers of my blog will have read about them many times before, but for anyone else, there is a 1481010 overview page where I have all of the information (link at the top right of the page for those not on a rotating mobile view).

This particular model is a C351, which has an Ana-Digi display, and curved metal strap. The inverse LCD display shows time and seconds, and the electronic dial shows a second time (and can be set independently). A second LCD section is just for decoration, and fills/empties by one block every second. The C351 also has dual alarms, a chronograph, and a timer function.
This variant is a merchandise version made in 1998, and is promoting Universal Studios Japan. The watch is of the standard design, but has the text and studio's logo engraved into the metal strap. Spookily, I picked this watch before realising it was very topical as I'm watching a movie later.

Q&Q Radio Controlled watch HZ24

It's back to a normal size watch today yesterday's giant model.

This is a watch by Japanese brand Q&Q, who are part of the Citizen watch company. Their website states they are the #1 brand in analogue watches, but also sell digital watches and clocks.

It is a radio controlled watch working on both the 40 and 60kHz systems (meaning it should be worldwide compatible), and has a 3-hand dial. Time can also be manually set by pulling out the middle button and using the bottom button to move the hands. Manual setting spins the seconds hand very fast, but it takes a long time if you want to change more than a few hours. The other button puts the watch into receiving mode, pausing the time until it is ready, then turning the hands to the correct place.

It is 5 bar water resistant, and is meant to have a 10 year battery life.

The back repeats the watch functions, and has the initials CBM. There is a model number on the face HZ24-205 WLP.

Swatch Maxi GK102 Nautilus

Some people comment to me that my watch collection is too big, but today's "watch" is bigger than a lot of the others put together.

The watch is a size suitable for a giant and would fit a wrist up to 2 meters in circumference.

It was made by the Swiss brand Swatch, and called the Maxi Swatch. The Maxi Swatch watches first came out in 1985 for advertising and are 10x the size of a normal Swatch (-2.1m or 6.9ft). Of course they weren't designed to fit on your wrist, but instead be hung on the wall (although they almost go from floor to ceiling).

This model is one of 12 designs that came out in 1987 (only the second year they were released) as part of the Fall/Winter collection. It is called the Nautilus and has a model number of GK 102 (or MGK102). It has a 3-hand dial, featuring a nautical theme (compass design and sea green and blue colours).

Star Trek II Wrath of Khan game watch by Ambassador Imports

Today's watch is a game watch for the movie Star Trek II Wrath of Khan.

The gane actually is a generic spaceship shooting game which was released by Nelsonic (as Space Attacker) and Majestron (as Cosmic Wars). This particular version was licenced from Paramount Pictures Corporation and branded for the 1982 film. The handheld museum site says this is made by Collins Industrial, but that is not mentioned on the watch. The back of the watch just mentions it was made in Hong Kong and by Ambassador Imports. From the things I've seen online, I think it's likely that this was released in or shortly after 1982.

It works using a two layer LCD display, with the time, and day on the top layer, and the date and game on the layer below (-the date uses the same digits as the game score).

The game is a shooting game with the launcher/gun in the middle, and three curved paths above where the targets move. The rest is pretty self-explanatory - you use the gun to take out the targets to score points! There are A and B versions of the game which change the speed depending on your skill level.

Apart from the time and game, the watch also has an alarm function and a light. It's original price was $19.95. The watch manual can be found at the Handheld Museum web site.

Alba Spire-G V811 - From Beyond A Wave

From the watches I've blogged so far, we've seen that Casio and Swatch do colourful design watches. Today, I can add the Seiko brand Alba to the list.

The watch is part of a range called Spire-G. Several watches were released under that label, but they weren't all colourful. A lot of them seem to be designed to be competitors to the Swatch watches though. Not much information is available that isn't in Japanese, so I think this was a Japan only range.

This model uses a V811 module, and is a basic 3-hand dial watch. The face and strap are covered in patterns in a multitude of colours, but the pallette seems very 80s.

The strap also has the text Spire-G 19XX From Beyond A Wave.

The full model number is V811-2250, and it looks like it could be from 1993 (maybe 83). It was originally sold for 5500 yen, and had a catalogue number of AMJF011.

Casio Casiotron S-19

Casio made many watches under the Casiotron name. The original watches came out in the late 70s, and there was a new range released in the late 90s.

This is the simplest Casiotron that I have seen. It is called the S-19 and us a basic LCD model. It uses a 3 1/2 digit LCD display, with a small marker in the top left to designate pm. The watch only has time, date, and seconds, making it as basic as I have seen a Casio.

The back doesn't have any module number, but there is a number in small print on the face 208A1-24. Date-wise, i think this was from around 1976.

Wittnauer Hexagonal Dial Mechanical Watch

A relatively plain watch for me today, but I don't know much info about it.

The watch is by Wittnauer who were founded in the end of the 19th century in New York by a Swiss immigrant. The company no longer exists, and the name is now a brand under the Bulova company.

It is a two hand dial watch with a windup mechanical movement. Each of the hands has a "diamond" on the end, and the black hand on the black face makes it look like these float around the dial. The dial is a rounded square mounted in a gold ribbed hexagonal face. The strap is an expanding metal bracelet in gold and black to match the face.

There are no model numbers or any other information on the watch, so I don't have any details. I'd guess from the design that this is from the 70s.

Manchester United Crest watch

A topical watch today! Those of you who follow the English Premier League will probably know that yesterday's victory over Aston Villa gave Manchester United the league title this year, and for the 20th time overall.

So to mark the occasion, I'm blogging a piece of Manchester United merchandise that I got given as a present a long time ago.

The watch is a novelty item from the line of official club merchandise. There is no information about the manufacturer, but it was made in China.

The watch face is the club crest with the club name and the Red Devil logo made from moulded plastic. Lifting the face reveals the display on the small LCD screen. The box says this is a 5 function watch, but that just means it has hours, minutes, seconds, month, and date. The box also goes to say this has a fully adjustable strap, just meaning that it has a standard buckle fastening.

I think the watch is from the late 90s or early 00s, but don't know exactly when I got it.

Wize & Ope WO watch

The brand for today's watch is a little unusual. It is by a company called Wize & Ope (which is likely a play on words for the phrase 'wisen up').

On their website it says that Wize is from outer space and has come to earth for research. Ope is Wize's alter-ego while here to let he/she blend in (and is short for open minded). The character looks like a panda with x's for eyes, and there are many arty pictures on the site. This is about all the background that the site gives about the brand. The only thing it really says is that it is a French company based in Paris.

This model is the WO watch, and came in an LCD (featured) and analogue version. The notable feature is that the WO watch has a system for replacing the plastic sections between the head and the strap with different colour pieces. Design-wise, there are slogans on the front of the watch, saying "mind resistant" and "push the world" and as well as Wize's head. The light button is also named as "chill on/off"! The back has another picture of Wize and says the watch was designed in Paris. There is a metal plate covering the battery, and on this it says "Help the world be a better place. Please recycle. Wize&Ope"

The main part of the inverse LCD display is the time. It shows 4 digits, but each is a 13 segment digit, making the digits look more distinctive. Below the time, in very very small digits, is the day, month, and date. Changing the time took a while to work out as holding the one button starts the setting mode and makes adjustments, but doesn't cycle through the things you want to change. To do that, you press on the face of the watch instead. It doesn't have any other modes un the module, and there are no alternative display options either.

The full model number is WO-77-6.

Ricoh Riquartz 812 module

Another old, and slightly worse for wear, watch today, and by a manufacturer I haven't featured before. There is a loose connection inside, so it only works when I hold the buttons in.

The watch is by Ricoh, who are a Japanese electronics and imaging company. They were founded in 1936, and are much better known for their office equipment (printers, photocopiers etc) and cameras (and they made the processor for the Nintendo Entertainment System). It also seems that they made watches, probably in the late 70s or early 80s under the name of Riquartz.

Today's model is a Riquartz LCD watch. It has a 4 digit display, and only the basic functions of time, date, and seconds (although it does also have a light). Inside the watch is a Japanese made Ricoh 812 module, powered by two AG3/392 batteries. The back doesn't have much information, but has a 6 digit number, the first 3 are the module number, and the last are probably the serial number (although that wouldn't let them make very many...). The strap is a Ricoh stainless steel model, and has a clasp which is more solid looking than the common design.

Bulova Benetton Blue, Pink, and Green

Today is another dial watch and another collaboration.

This watch was made for the brand United Colors of Benetton. The Benetton group are a global fashion brand, based in Italy, who were founded in 1965, and named after the Benetton family. They are renowned for their bright colours, and provocative marketing campaigns.

It was made by Bulova, who are an American based luxury manufacturer of clocks and watches, and best known for their tuning fork watches. It was founded in 1912, and since 2007, it has been part of the Citizen Watch Co. The collaboration with firms like Benetton started in the late 80s.

The watch itself is a 3-hand dial in a stainless case. The dial and strap features a pink, lime green, and navy blue abstract pattern. The strap is a vinyl and fabric band, and due to age is prone to cracking.

Trans Continents GSX Exclusive 5537 module

A lot of collaborations happen in the world of watches - between brands, with fashion labels, or for advertising. Today, it's a mix of a these from 2008 (i guess - it could be 1998, but that's maybe too early for a GSX watch).

The watch was produced for the Japanese Trans Continents fashion line. They have a range of watches made by Citizen, but released under their own name. But this is also a GSX exclusive! The GSX range produces many different exclusive watches, often in collaboration with various brands.

This watch is a 3 hand dial design, with a Citizen 5537 module, and has elements of GSX and Trans Continents designs. The strap is a metal mesh belt and buckle.

The watch has many of the recurring design elements of the Trans Continents range - the second hand is a clear disc with the standard 50s/60s space rocket design, and the face of the watch is covered with the 3-D style globe latitude and longitude lines.

The back of the watch has the Trans Continents details, an information on the producers and designers. The watch was produced by N. Ishida (as with most of the GSX watches) and H. Hamada, with the designers being H. Yamamoto and Rica.

The full model number is 5537-L19371.

Casio Marlin W-35 LCD

At a first glance, today's watch looks like a normal 80s LCD model. But just above the display, in the top right, is a symbol which makes it a lot more collectable.

The watch is a Casio Marlin watch, and it is the Marlin label that increases it's collectability by a lot. I haven't found out what makes them so special, but there is a lot of discussion and even dedicated forums for the Marlin watches. The Marlin fish, after which the model is named, has a distinctive long body, sharp pointed snout, and large dorsal (back) fin. It is an extremely fast swimmer, and is hunted for sport in tropical regions.

This model was released in 1980 and is the W-35. As a marine model, it has a 50m water resistance, and is a lithium model too. The W-35 is one of the Stainless Steel Marlins, and is Japan made.

It uses a 248 module, which was a very common Casio module in that period. It has the usual modes of alarm, chronograph, and timer. The LCD display is two lines, having a 6 digit time display along the bottom, and day/date along the top. Night use comes from a bulb based light.

Sanyo Amorton Solar Watch 514-67

The sun isn't really out anymore, but I found that this solar watch I thought was dead had been revived. So to avoid the risk of it dying again before it was blogged, I thought I'd share it today.

The watch is by Sanyo who are a Japanese electronics company and are now part of the Panasonic group (since 2009). The Sanyo logo can be found on the face and engraved into the back.

The watch has an Amorton Solar panel to provide the power. Amorton is Sanyo/Panasonic's range of integrated amorphous silicon solar cells. Sanyo was one of the first companies to focus on this type of solar cell. They used the technology on self branded watches originally, but now the panels are normally made for others.

Internet searches for the model number (514-67) lead to no hits, suggesting that the watches may not have been produced in large numbers. I'm guessing that it is from the 80s, but haven't been able to confirm that. It was made in Japan and has

It is a standard LCD display watch the with a 6 digit display and day marker along the top. Mode-wise, it has multi alarms and a countdown timer. The model number is on the back, along with a two part number split into 3 and 4 digits which I guess is a serial number.

Casio Surfing Timer DW-403

Another Casio LCD watch today, but rarely for an LCD, it has a rotating bezel.

The watch is called the Surfing Timer by Casio, and is designed for ease of use for surfers. It is 20 bar (200m) water resistant, and has large metal protruding buttons for ease of use. Even the band on the strap to hold the loose end is metal for extra strength.

The LCD display has 3 sections with numbers, and two graphical sections. The numbered sections are (from the top): month, date and day, time (6 digits). The graphical bits are bars for the seconds, one filling by the second, and the other in groups of 5.

The watch feels quite colourful with the black of the face, silver red and blue of the LCD, and the gold of the bezel. It came out in 1991 and there was also an inverse LCD version (which states 200m instead of 20 bar).

The model number is DW-403 and it has a 906 module with a countdown (surf) timer, stopwatch, and alarm. The bezel has many segments covering kilometres and nautical miles, and these correspond to the minute marks on the face.

The strap is made of resin, and has the watches name, Casio, and the water resistance printed on it. It's part number is F2 294.

Seiko Alba Alarm Chrono Game Y760

I buy a lot of watches that are classed as junk, completely unsure as to whether they will ever work. Today's watch looks a little worse for wear, but somehow actually still functions.

It is an old LCD watch by Alba (a Seiko sub-brand) with a few options under it's basic exterior. The watch is actually a game watch, and is unusual I'm that there are two different games available. The games appear to be called G-Shot and G-Point, and use the normal LCD display. The first game is a shooting game with a gun that you can move up and down (the gun looks like an upside down L) and seems to be like a quick draw (although I couldn't work out exactly how to play it). The other game is a slot machine where you press to stop the reel (each reel being one digit on the LCD), and get points for getting the same symbol.

The watch uses a Y760 module, and this also has an alarm and chronograph functions. There is also a bulb based light for night use. There is a 5 1/2 digit LCD display, with smaller seconds and the date above the seconds (which shows the game score in that mode). For the day, there is a marker at the top of the LCD, and this also acts as a mode indicator when you press the mode selection button.

It was originally released in 1981, at a cost of 7800 yen, and there were several different colours produced. This model was also released under the Pulsar sub-brand too. The full model number is Y760-5000T