Klaeuse SK-293 with natural diamond

Last September, I posted about a brand called Klaeuse who were a mystery brand, but one that used expensive materials. Today's watch is my second Klaeuse watch and follows the standard set by the first model.

This is the Klaeuse SK-293-F. It is a 3 hand dial design with a quartz movement.  Instead of titanium, this has a stainless steel case in silver and gold. The glass is shaped with a peak in the middle, and the glass is designed to have 12 flat faces which make it catch the light (like the cut of a diamond). On the face, at the 12 o'clock hour marker is a jewel, and according to the text on the face, this is a natural diamond.

I still haven't found any more concrete information about the Klaeuse brand as I can't find their website. The watches can be recognised by the brand name (in lower case characters) and their logo of a castle shape with a tall central tower. One site I found suggests that they are made by Elgin USA and use Swiss movements, and that model had an rrp of ¥38,000 (potentially confirming it is an expensive brand).

Casio G-Shock Solar MTG-9100J

I'm back to an old G-Shock today, and as it was sunny I thought I'd blog one of their Solar models. 

This watch is the MTG-900J (I think is the Japanese model the MTG-900). It is one of the MT-G sub-line of the Casio G-Shock watches. The MT-G watches are the metal watches in the G-Shock line, and so have the impression of being the smarter and more luxurious watches. Casio stated that this line, and maybe more specifically this series, set the benchmark for men's metal digital. 

This model is an all LCD design with the normal 200m water resistance, and has Waveceptor radio control, and the Tough Solar system as well. It is powered by a 2639 module (some have 2638 modules), which gives the watch world time, time memo, alarm (x4), and stopwatch modes. 

The display is a 3 line LCD which is dominated by the large time display across the centre. The top line is a dot matrix showing day and mode descriptions and along the bottom is the date. In the top left of the display is the charge marker for the solar power, and in the bottom right is the radio reception marker. 

This model came out in the mid 2000s (I found a review from 2007) and it can be found in the Casio G-Shock archive on their website. 

Citizen Vagary CC01

Today is my second Citizen in a row, and my third from the Vagary line.

The Vagary line by Citizen is a little bit unusual as there isn't much published about them. The watches tend to be along the more unusual and more colourful end of the scale, but they produce some normal looking models in the range too. One site suggests they are designed for maximum comfort and high functionality.

This model is an ana-digi design based around the CC01 module. It has a large square design with a round dial (with stylized hours and minutes numbers on the dial). At the bottom on the dial is a small 6 digit LCD display. The LCD shows time, and other display modes are day and date, alarm, and stopwatch.

The full model number is CC01-S037970. The watch only has a 3 digit serial number, so I don't know when it was released, but my best guess would be the 2000s.

Citizen Trans Continents 6350 Lunar Module

Today's watch is my second Lunar Module watch from the Citizen Trans Continents range, and looks like it might be a sequel.

This model is based around the Citizen 6350 module, and has some differences from the 6300 Lunar module I'd blogged about a while ago. Time is shown using a 3 hand dial design, and there are two dials at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions for day (left) and month (right). Instead of the date being in another small dial, it is shown with an extra hand on the main dial, with the date around the edge of the dial.

The moon phase display takes up the bottom section of the dial and has a rotating moon design which does 1 complete revolution every 56 days (and so covers 2 moon cycles). Compared to the other model, this dial moon phase dial has windows at the top and bottom, so you can see a faint outline of the moon picture which is 'hiding' while the earlier model just has a single window.

The Citizen Trans Continents range is a collaboration between Citizen and the fashion brand Trans Continents. The designs tend to have a retro sci-fi style and often look like they should be in a 1960s sci-fi movie.

This model has a model number of 6350-S018111. Assuming I was right about the 6300 being from 2003, and this being a later model, then this watch was made in 2007.

Flik Flak - Jumping Jack kids watch

The Flik Flak brand is one that I vaguely remember from adverts in my childhood days, but I never owned one then. I think it was a brand that I'd always wanted to have, as the adverts seemed like it was what all of the cool kids wore.

Now I'm an adult, I finally have one, and I'm blogging it today.

The Flik Flak watches are a Swiss brand made specially for kids. The brand started in 1987 to bring the creativeness of the Swatch company to the kids watch market. The name comes from Flik and Flak being the tick and took of the watch.

This model is a black and red design with a picture of a whale jumping through a flaming hoop (which is not so politically correct anymore). The velcro strap seems to connect inside the case, and is only really long enough for kids (or just about for an adult if your wrists are as thin as mine). It has a 3 hand dial design with a Swiss quartz movement, housed inside an Aluminium case.

The small text on the face of the watch says copyright ETA 1996 which means this design is likely from 1996 or 1997. 

Update: it seems that the whale is called Jack as the watch is called Jumping Jack and was released in the 1997 Spring Summer collection. It came in two versions with a coloured standard strap and this model with the velcro strap. The model number is FBB341 (or FBB341V if you include the strap part of the number). 

Casio Poptone Calculator watch LDF-40

Today's watch is a modern colourful take on the classic geeky watch - the calculator watch!

This model of calculator watch is by Casio and part of their Poptone range. The Poptone watches are designed to be a fresh take on retro designs with a combination of futuristic and retro designs and bright eye-catching colour schemes.

This watch is the Casio Poptone LDF-40. It was marketed by Casio as colourful and cute, and a fresh take on the classic 8-bit calculator watches. It has the general setup of a calculator watch, with an 8 digit LCD display, which also has a second smaller line above. Below the LCD are the 16 calculator buttons which are a deep design going through a clear plastic sheet to the layer below where the text and design is printed. It uses a 437 module, and as well as the calculator, the watch has alarm, chronograph, and dual time modes.

This particular orange and grey stripy design has the full model number of LDF-40-7ADR. It was first released in October 2008 with a price of ¥6980. This model is still available on the Casio website, and the Casio US site has it for $30.

Deadman Deluxe LSD5857

I'm back with the 6th of my Deadman watches today. I'm gradually piecing together information, and I think I might get a breakthrough from a recent purchase.

But in the interim, here is my Deadman Deluxe model.

The Deluxe is a 3 hand dial watch with a round dial, and is one of the more normal Deadman designs. It has hour markers, with numbers only at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions. Around the edge of the dial are markers for a tachymeter, which you can use against the normal seconds hand.

The watch uses a Japanese quartz movement, and in at least this model it is a Seiko Epson module (-this may be the same for all Deadmans, but I haven't been able to check yet).

The Deadman watches were released in the late 90s, and have a 60s or 70s feel. They appeared in several watch magazines when they were released, but not much is known online.

The watches came with a model number either starting GV or LSD, and this is a LSD model with the number LSD5857 (or LSD 5857).

Alba W325 Exercise Walking

In my collection I have many watches by known manufacturers, but I'm surprised about how many can't be found on the internet, and today's is one of those.

The watch is by the Seiko brand Alba, and is likely from 1991 (but there is a chance it is 2001 although from the design I'd think that was unlikely).

This model is called the Exercise Walking, and is a watch designed for keeping track of your walks. The main feature for this is that the watch contains a pedometer, although not one that counts your steps. Instead, you set your step length and the pace you want, and the watch beeps a rhythm. Keep up with the pace, and the watch will then tell you how far you've walked. Inside is a W325 module which also has timer and alarm modes.

The display is a two line LCD. The top line covers day and date, and the distance n walking mode, while the bottom line has 6 digits for the time, or time related numbers. The watch is cased in plastic with a stainless steel back, and is 5 bar water resistant.

The full model number is W325-4000.

C Citizen Phynox rectangular watch

Today is probably the oldest Citizen watch I've blogged so far.

This watch is one of a Citizen range called Phynox. The Phynox range seems to have been released in the 1950s, and ran into the 60s. I've not been able to find out more about the history of the range, but there are a few other watches that are for sale from the time period, and they all seem to be hand wind mechanical models.

This watch uses a Citizen mechanical movement. It doesn't have a listed number of jewels on the case or on the movement itself, but the movement was adjustable if running fast or slow. The watch has a 2 hand main dial, but has a secondary dial for the seconds at the 6 o'clock position.

The dial is a rectangular design in gold, with a C symbol above the Citizen name and the Phynox name above the rectangular seconds dial. It comes with a matching gold coloured metal chain strap (part number 1BGF).

There are a few pieces of information on the watches back. It mentions 20 microns C.G.P (which I think relates to the gold plating), and there is the word star in a box too.

Vestal MicroDAT v.8

Today is my 4th of my Vestal watches, and is maybe one of their most well known (and sought after) designs.

The Vestal brand has been around since 1997, when it was started by David Bonaventura in California. They make all manner of watches, eye wear, soft goods, and accessories with the themes of image and style, and they are marketed by music culture linked artists, bands, and sports personalities.

This model is the MicroDAT, or more specifically the MicroDAT v.8. It is a large heavy metal design with a face resembling a music cassette (or maybe a Digital Audio Tape). It came in various colours, and this is the steel model with a pearl face (which one site stated was a limited version).

The watch is a 3 hand dial design, and has a date marker at the 3 o'clock position. The face is wide, and has two additional dials at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions which are used for a little stopwatch function (seconds and minutes) which runs using the buttons above and below the crown.

It is a large and chunky watch with quite a weight as it is large and made of metal. I have quite a small wrist, and although it is so large, the strap design means it isn't overwhelming. The strap is stainless steel as well, and has the Vestal name on the clip.

The MicroDAT came out in the mid 2000s and the first references seem to be about 2006, but the watch isn't available anymore. This design also was part of quite a few websites top 10 cool geeky watch lists in the late 90s (which is why I think it is one of the most well known models).

LaiXin XXL Quartz Watch

Keeping up the run of unknown brands is today's watch (-don't worry, I'll be back to the more well known brands soon).

The watch is by LaiXin (or Lai Xin)  which seems to be a Chinese watch manufacturer. This watch is designed to be impressive from a distance, but isn't so convincing close up. The watch case is huge, and basically covers the width of my wrist. It has a 3 hand dial with a quartz movement, and 3 small dials on the face. When you get close, you notice that the 3 small dials are purely cosmetic, and are not able to turn (and the buttons for those dials are also fake). The strap continues with the bulky theme with a large thick black rubber construction.

It looks like the watch is modelled on the Swiss Tendence brand which releases models in the same size and with the same hour marker design (which stick out from an edge sloping towards the dial).

It has a model number on the face back of 9049, but there is no other information about its background written on the watch.

There are a few sites selling this brand, and they are a low price brand. I think that this model is quite modern (based on the watches it looks like), and is likely post-2010.

Nicola Valentino NVG-1215

It seems I'm on a roll with quite a few random watch makers/brands recently, so here's another one.

Today's watch is by Nicola Valentino. The watch suggests that this is a Milan based company (is the dial says Nicola Valentino Milano), but I think that it may really be one of the Japanese Italian watches. Over the years I've found a few supposed Italian watch designers (for example CoGu) which report to be Italian, but there is no sign of them outside the Far East. When I've searched for Nicola Valentino, I only find Japanese and Thai links which are either from users or shops (where the watches are pretty cheap). So far, I've not found any Italian link to the brand, so I think it is just made to sound Italian.

The watch itself has a model number of NVG-1215, and is a 3 hand dial design. There is also a date marker at the 3 o'clock position with a magnifying bulb of glass over it. It is a very shiny and noticeable watch being in gold and black with sparkling jewels on the face (one for every minute marker, and an additional one for each hour marker too). The back has the maker and model number, and the clasp also have the maker's V logo.

I'm not sure when the watch was out, but a lot of the other hits were from around 2010, so I'd guess this was similar.

1964 The Clock House automatic watch

I'm going mechanical today with this small and mysterious watch.

The watch is a 3 hand dial design in a small bulbous case, and with a date marker at the 3 o'clock position. It uses an automatic mechanical movement, and the centre of the back plate is glass so you can see the rotating weight as well as the mechanism inside. It has quite a smooth movement running at around 14,400 bph.

On the front, the watch says 1964 The Clock House. From my research, it seems that The Clock House is a watch store chain based in Japan which now has around 250 stores. The chain was founded in 1984 (according to the Japanese wiki), which leaves the 1964 date a bit of a mystery (-there are some forums which state the shop/brand started in 1964, but this contradicts the wiki entry). The back also has the name imprinted on the glass, and the clasp on the strap has the initials TCH.

On the back there is also a model number, which is 0K9009-00. Inside, there is a number on the weight which is 0K9 21J and it is marked Japan.

Alba Twin Sensor W750

After a few newer watches, I'm taking it back to the 90s with today's watch.

The watch is one of the Twin Sensor range of watches by the Seiko brand Alba. The watches were released in the 90s to be high tech watches for outdoor use, with sensors designed to help with your outdoor activities.

This model is the W750 and comes from 1995. It is a smaller design than some of the Twin Sensor designs, but still has a barometer /altimeter, and a thermometer.

The LCD display is quite packed with 3 lines of information. Along the top is the altitude and barometric pressure display and the bottom line covers the time. The middle line has a dot matrix array and additional digits which normally shows the date and day. The dot matrix can also show a graph of your altitude over time as well as some text. As well as these, there is a set to do markers down the right side of the watch which show the trend of air pressure, and uses that to predict the weather.

The modes I'm this model are aimed at climbing and hiking. As well as the altimeter and barometer and temperature sensor, the watch has a memory recall (for altitude), alarm, and an Alti-Chr. The Alti-Chr is like a stopwatch, but it also measures your altitude and rate of climb, and is controlled by the front button. As needed for an outdoor watch, it is also 10 bar water resistant. The time adjust is unusual on this model in that you pull out the mode button to activate.

The full model number is W750-4A00. It has an Alba strap with the part number FA89FE 20. The catalogue number was ADQB003, and it originally sold  ¥14,000.

IME Black Stripe Swiss Watch

Today's watch is most likely a cheap brand watch, judging by the lack of internet presence, but it looked interesting enough for me to include here.

The watch is by IME who I've been trying to research, but just get all manner of spelling/typing mistakes of the word time instead.

The only text on the face are the words Swiss made at the bottom of the dial, although, I'm not sure I completely trust that...

The watch is a two hand dial design, in a simple, but effective design. It has a large round case, but only the middle is filled with a plain black stripe (with a fine ribbed pattern). The quartz movement is hidden behind the black stripe, as well as the crown, making it feel more sophisticated than it really is. The simple look is completed with a plain black leather strap.

As I don't have any knowledge of the brand, I don't know when this was made, but I'd guess sometime in the 2000s.