Happy Halloween - Super Lovers Skull Watch

Hi blog followers.
It's been a while!
As it is Halloween today, and I'm wearing a spooky watch, I thought I'd do a quick blog post while I'm sitting on the bus.

Today's watch is by one of my favourite brands for unusual designs - Super Lovers. The watches are from the Tokyo based company Super Lovers, who seem to release many different watch designs, but only in small quantities.

This particular design uses a watch head designed as a skull, with a small round dial in its forehead. The face also has text around the centre, with phrases "1950-1998 good future for you!", "Tokyo Rock", and "80s New wave ivy punk".

This skull design is coupled with a black leather strap with a presstud type fastening. The strap is also decorated with a skull design, and the words SUPER and LOVERS on the top and bottom sections of the strap.

Inside is a typical Miyota quartz movement, using an AG4 battery.

Super Lovers Floating Dial

Sorry it's been a while since my last blog, so I home some of you out there are still following! I plan to get back to blogging a bit more, but don't think it'll be back to daily updates just yet.

For today's watch, I'm wearing something that expands the mystery of the linked designs even further. Regular readers may remember that I've been following various Japanese fashion watch brands which seem to be linked by common designs. Watches by Deadman, Module, Deep, etc. seem to have produced their own versions of the same watch over different time periods.

Until today, the Super Lovers brand seemed to be separate from this group, but this watch shares a remarkable similarity to the Deadman Live Wire I posted last year. As I have a hunch that the Super Lovers brand commission watches from a variety of manufacturers, I guess it shouldn't be unexpected that they ended up with something similar though!

The Super Lovers brand originate from the  Harajuku district in Tokyo and have been known for their mix of punk, clubbing, and cute influences.

This watch I've nicknamed the Super Lovers Floating Dial as the dial and mechanism is surrounded by glass so you can see right through the watch from front to back, with the only connection to the case being the stem linking the module to the crown. The back glass in this design isn't completely clear, but is in red glass, and has the text Super Lovers All Stars written around the edge. I think the All Stars name might refer to a line of watches, as I've seen it before on other designs.

Time is shown on the "floating" 3 hand dial and is powered by a Japanese quartz module. The dial features the Super Lovers logo which is like the Superman symbol but with a heart instead of the S. The strap is metal mesh with a buckle, and matches with the metal case. There is no information on the back of the watch, but you can see right through to the quartz module.

I don't know exactly when the watch wad released, but I'd guess this was late 90s or early 00s based on the link to the Deadman design.

Super Lovers - Love Love Message watch

Today, I'm back to the Super Lovers watches again, and yet again, it's a completely different style (which is the reason I like this brand so much).

This model I've called Love Love Message based on the text written at the top of the case. As may be expected from the name, this watch is one with a message /memo function where short messages can be stored in its memory. These are shown using the top line of the LCD which is a dot matrix array (5x41 so it can show 7 5x5 letters at one time). The bottom line of the LCD is a standard set of digits (6) which normally shows the time. The rest of the modes are pretty standard, with there being dual time, stopwatch, timer, and daily alarm options as well as the message mode.

The case is round and made of see-through plastic with 4 buttons on the edges. There is a large button on the front below the LCD, and this activates the el-backlight. The strap is a matching clear plastic, and has the Super Lovers logo and the text Lovers Digital printed on both the halves. The back of the watch is stainless steel and just has the Super Lovers name printed across the middle.

I don't know when this model is from as there isn't much about this brand online (but all the info I've gathered so far can be found throughout my other Super Lovers posts). My guess is that this would be an early 2000s model, but it is purely a guess.

Super Lovers 60's Classics - Blue Rectangle

Today marks the 20th post about one of my favourite lines of Japanese fashion watches.

This watch is another by the Super Lovers brand from Tokyo, Japan. They aren't originally a watch producer, but are a fashion brand specialising in club, cute, and punk influenced clothing and accessories. They have been around since 1988, and during this time have sold a large variety of different watches under the Super Lovers, Lovers House, or Lovers Rock labels. From what I've seen so far, the watches use many different manufacturers for the cases and modules, so I would think that each one has been commissioned directly rather than being collaboration pieces.

This model comes from a specific line of watches under the Super Lovers name called 60's Classics. The watch isn't from the 60's, but is a quartz analogue aitch with a 60s feel to the design.

The watch has a rectangular case design in silver metal which is quite deep and is angled down to the strap connections. The glass is also thick with a rectangular cut and sloped edges giving a shape like a gold bar.

The face is a shiny blue metallic design, with the Super Lovers logo (a heart in a superman shaped surround) embossed at the centre. Above the logo is the Super Lovers name, while below it says 60's Classics Quartz.

There are no other markings to tell when this watch is from, so I'll guess it is a 90s or early 2000s model (but in reality, I have no idea...).

Super Lovers Calculator Watch

At the weekend I was chatting to someone who was really interested in the 90s calculator watches. That conversation inspired me to choose a calculator watch today (especially as the colour fits well with today's clothing choice).

This calculator watch may look like an 80s/90s Casio model, but it is actually a Super Lovers watch. The Super Lovers brand is a fashion/clothing brand based in Harajuku, Tokyo who produce many club/cute/goth lines of clothing. When it comes to watches, they never cease to amaze with the breadth of different designs they have made, seemingly in small numbers.

The Super Lovers calcuator watch is a full calculator model with a 4x4 rubber keypad and LCD display. The LCD display is set up for the calculator mode and can show 9 digits and also has a day marker below the numbers. Getting around the modes can be difficult as the mode button (C) only switches between time and calculator. To show the date, you need to press and hold the bottom right buttons marked 'select' (3,6,9,0,.,+), and for the alarm mode you use the bottom left buttons marked 'advance' (1,2,4,5,7,8). Setting the time is done by holding the mode button until the time starts flashing, with mode switching screens, select cycling through what to set, and advance changing the numbers. There is also a light button to the right of the LCD display.

The watch has the Super Lovers name across the 2 halves of the strap, and the date 1996 and the Super Lovers logo at the top of the face. I think that the 1996 date fits with when I would expect the watch to be from, but it could be a newer design made to be retro. Inside, the module has a start date of 1984 in the date setting mode, so I have a suspicion that the module that have used is at leased based on the original 80s calculator watches.

Super Lovers Donut

This is the thing I like about Super Lovers watches - this is another from my collection, and yet another completely different design.
The Super Lovers brand are from the Harajuku district of Tokyo, and are one of the popular brands for clothes with a club and punk feel. This is the 18th I've blogged, and there is a lot more brand information spread through the other posts - I'll probably collate that into a brand summary page before too long, so watch this space...

I've nicknamed this watch the 'donut' due to its design. The face is a small white circle with a black Super Lovers logo in the centre. This is home to the hands, with the watch being a 3 hand dial design. The nickname comes from the bezel which is a very large black ring around the face. The whole watch is 4.5cm across, with a 2 cm wide face and so the ring is 1.25 cm thick making it dominate the look of the watch. On the bezel is the Super Lovers name in large white letters. The strap is a white rubbery design, and fits in the black and white theme.

The Super Lovers watches have been around for a while (since 1988), but never come with any indication of date. From the state of the watch, I'd guess it was a newer model, but it might just have been kept well.

Super Lovers Domed Helmet Watch

As today is Valentine's Day, there was only one choice of brand for today's watch - Super Lovers.

This is another of my Super Lovers watch collection and is an analogue model. The Super Lovers brand is a Japanese fashion brand based in the Harajuku district of Tokyo. They have heavy influences from the club scene and their designs are extremely popular in Japan. The watches have been made over the years and have a variety of makes of quartz module and case makers, so seem to be commissioned pieces.

This model is a 3 hand dial with an unusual shaped case. The case is domed and reminds me of an astronaut helmet. The face is under domed glass and angled towards the bottom so you don't have to turn your wrist so much to see it fully. The face shows the usual Super Lovers logo (a heart in a superman style diamond shape)  in red and silver. The Super Lovers name is imprinted into case above the face. Inside this one is a Miyota (Citizen) quartz movement, and there is a sticker on the back saying this is made in China. I don't know when this model is from, but it feels a little more modern, so I'll guess it's a 2000s model.

Super Lovers - Lovers House Daisies

It amazes me how many different designs of watch have been made for the Harajuku Super Lovers brand, and today is another.

The Super Lovers brand started in 1988 and has inspirations ranging from punk to the London club scene. The watches are grouped into a few different lines, and this one is part of the Lovers House line which tend to be the cuter looking watches.

The watch is a standard shaped 3 hand dial design watch with a plastic case. The face of the watch features the brand's mascots Ken and Merry, the male and female Pandas, sitting meditating in a field of white flowers (like daisies). The strap is also in pink with rows of daisies interspersed with pictures of Ken and Merry.

There is no other information on the watch, with the back being blank. There is no date on the watch either so I'd have to guess this is a 90s design (as the strap has some signs that the strap is beginning to get brittle).

Super Lovers - From Tokyo With Love long strap watch

I'm blogging another from my Super Lovers watch collection.

The Super Lovers watches are a range of different watches released by the Japanese Super Lovers fashion brand. The brand started in 1988 and has fashion inspired by the London club scene, with a hint of punk. Their watches have been produced over the years in many different styles and using different manufacturers parts, so they may have been custom ordered, and you don't see many of each style.

This model is a punk/rock style watch with a long studded strap. The strap is so long it wraps several times around your wrist (but it won't wrap as well if your wrist is larger than mine). The watch part is a thin rectangular case with a 3 hand dial. The face has the Super Lovers logo (a heart in a Superman shape) and the text "From Tokyo With Love" and "Super Lovers since 1988". Inside, the watch has a Miyota quartz module, and this is using an AG4 battery for power.

I don't know when this model is from, but it may well be from the 2000s.

Super Lovers New Wave clock

It's weekend again, and I've chosen to blog a clock again...

This clock fits into one of my sub-collections though as it is from Super Lovers.

Super Lovers is a brand from based in the fashion hub which is the Harajuku district of Tokyo. They were established in 1988 by Yasuhara Tanaka and many of the characters used in the designs are designed by his brother, illustrator Hideyuki Tanaka. The brand was inspired by the London club scene of the 80s and became popular worldwide in the rave scene and 90s techno.

I've blogged quite a few Super Lovers watches so far (with many more to come), but today is the first Super Lovers clock. The clock is a round design with the numbers printed around the bezel in a 'runny paint' style of font. The clock face is in a black and white checked with the words New Wave across the top, the Super Lovers name and logo at the bottom, and two identical scribble style pandas in the middle (which I guess are one of the mascots Ken or Merry, or maybe both).

It is a 3 hand dial design with a quartz clock movement of the number RD6833D, and is powered by a AA battery.

As most of the watches have a 90s dare, I'd guess this is of the same era.

Lovers House - Merry's Arms

I'm wearing another of the fun watches from the Super Lovers range, and this one has the style of some early Disney watches.

The watch is part of a range called Lovers House which is quoted as being distributed by Super Lovers. The Super Lovers this refers to is the Harajuku Super Lovers clothing brand from Tokyo.

For the Lovers House watches, there are two panda mascots (Ken and Merry) which often appear in the design. Today's watch features only Merry in the centre of the dial with the numbers around the dial in red circles. The hours and minutes hands fit in the design and are Merry's arms which rotate. She is also wearing white gloves like Mickey Mouse does in the old mechanical Disney watches. There is also a red seconds hand making this a 3 hand dial design. There are no other makers marks on the watch, but inside is a Miyota movement (which is one of a range of different manufacturers that the Super Lovers watches have used). The watches started in the 90s, but I don't know when this particular model was out.

Super Lovers Red and Yellow Rotating Dot watch

Today is my 12th Super Lovers watch, but unfortunately I can't wear this due to the state of the strap (which is beginning to crumble).

The Super Lovers range is an interesting one due to the sheer number of different designs, which seem to have been custom made for the brand by a number of different makers. The Super Lovers watches are from the Japanese Harajuku Super Lovers company which started in 1988.

This model looks like a 2 hand dial, but there is a slightly hidden seconds display of a dot which rotates around the edge. The seconds dot is hidden behind a painted ring on the glass with the Super Lovers name printed on it. The centre of the face has the Super Lovers logo of a heart in a diamond symbol. The strap on this model is also a Super Lovers one with the name printed on each half.

Inside, the module doesn't have any maker name, but has a model number of 21694h. The module is also unusually large and fills the entire case (rather than the small lozenge shape of the standard quartz modules). I don't know when this is from, but I think it is a 90s model.

Super Lovers All Stars - Spinning Rainbow watch

It's the Eurovision Song Contest final tonight, so I've chosen a watch to match - something big, colourful, strange, loud, and a little over the top.

The watch I chose is by the Japanese design brand Super Lovers. The Super Lovers watches are released for the Harajuku Super Lovers company, and the more I find, the more mysterious it gets.

This model caught my eye because of the mad design. The face has stripes of colour through the glass so it looks colourful from above, but the stripes also block the view if you look from the side. The entire case rotates as well, so you have to make sure it is the right way up before reading it. This is all then mounted on a wide red leather strap.

The watch is a 3 hand dial design, and the face features the Super Lovers Superman heart logo, with the words All Star around the edge (along with a few stars).

Inside is a module (0120?) by Morioka Tokei Inc, which I think is owned by Seiko. On the inside of the back case is the number 2001 which I think is the date, and a surprise. It seems that the case was made by ZZYZX, who have featured on my blog in 2012 for their 2001 range of musical instruments watches. They are a brand name under the ownership of Hong Kong based Hind International Investments Ltd. This is the only Super Lovers watch (so far) to have this reference, so it seems to fit with my theory about Super Lovers commissioning watches from different places (with different case makers and different companies modules).

Lovers House Panda Angel by Super Lovers

I find the watches by Super Lovers quite interesting. They seem to have made so many different watches over they years in all manner of designs, and you don't often see more than one of each type. They also have different modules from many different manufacturers, suggesting that they are not a collaboration line, but may be custom ordered.

This model is from the Lovers House range that was distributed by Super Lovers. The Lovers House watches tend to be the cuter models and feature the Panda mascots Ken and Merry. This watch also features a Panda, but in the guise of an angel surrounded by small yellow birds. Next to the picture is a signature with the name Molly, who i assume is the artist who did the sketch (but it could be the name of the Panda). Around the glass there is also text with the Lovers House name repeated, and the red leather strap has LH and Lovers House moulded into it.

The watch part is a standard 3 hand dial, but the case is quite thick. This is because of the extra feature revealed by the fake crown behind the real one. When this is pulled out, the front opens to reveal a mirror. On the mirror is has the text 'Lovers House. Distribute (sic) by Super Lovers'. On this model, there are no makers mark, and I haven't checked who made the module.

Super Lovers - Lovers Rock Skull & Crossbones

I'm using another of my Super Lovers collection again today.

The Super Lovers range are from the clothing brand Harajuku Super Lovers, which was started in Tokyo in 1988. The brand is known worldwide for it's cutting edge designs and is heavily inspired by the London punk and rock scene.

This watch is from their Lovers Rock line of watches which tend to be more rock and metal inspired than the Super Lovers or Lovers House lines.

This model is a leather cuff watch in an orange leather, and has metal studs along the band. The strap also has a fabric patch which has a flame pattern which says 'Lovers Rock Equipment Since 1988'. The cuff is fastened by two sets of two press studs so the level of adjustment is quite limited.

The watch part is a 3 hand dial design in a square case. The face has a skull & crossbones (with the text Lovers Rock) on the left half, and a large LR symbol on the right side. Around the face is a metal frame with text on the bottom which reads 'Super Lovers, London Tokyo since 1988'.

Inside is a Seiko Epson Y121 (or more correctly a Y121E) module, which means that over the years they have used Seiko, Miyota (Citizen), and Time Module Inc modules (so far... and I've got more still to blog).