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.

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).

Boy London B337 LCD Watch

I've blogged a lot of watches by Boy London so far, but this is something completely different.

The Boy London name has been around since the 70s, and many watches have been made under their name. The history of the watches is a bit of a mystery, and my feeling so far is that the name has been bought/used by another company (possibly Korean) since the 90s. More information can be found about the brand in my many other Boy London blog posts (see the tags on the right side of the web page).

This particular model is the B337, and is unusual in being one of only a small number of LCD watches I've seen from Boy London. It has a large black plastic case with the display split into 3 sections. The top covers day and date, the right circle has segments which jump around with the seconds, and the main bottom section is for the time. In the text on the face it describes itself as a chronograph, and therefore has a stopwatch function, and it also has alarm and dual time modes.

The front of the watch only has the Boy London name in plain text (which is not common), and the name United Kingdom is also printed above the display. The back has the more usual Boy London name and totem style Eagle logo as well as the model number. The back also has the text "BoyLondon original timepiece. Created by United Kingdom. Water resistant 50m". As it says "created by" not "created in" it suggests the company making it was called United Kingdom, or it is just bad English!

As for date, I think this is newer than the other Boy London designs, so I'd guess that it is from sometime in the 2000s.

Q&Q Alarm Chronograph Ana-Digi Watch

Today's watch is another by one of the more elusive brands, who are quite well known, but their links to the larger watch manufacturer are relatively hidden.

The watch is by Q&Q (or QandQ as I've had to write it in the tags as the & symbol isn't allowed), who are a budget but quality brand started in 1976. The name stands for Quality & Quantity, and the links I've found suggest they were part of the Japan CBM Corporation, which seems to mean Citizen Business Machines - so the watches may be Citizen watches after all.

This model is one of the 80s watch staples - the Ana-Digi, with a main 3 hand dial analogue display and a small 6 digit LCD display at the bottom. The analogue display is operated by a crown, while the 3 buttons operate the LCD. All of the different modes are displayed on the LCD, with the watch having date, dual time, alarm, and stopwatch as options.

The back has the Q&Q logo, and states this has a Japanese movement, but assembled in Korea (and that it has the usual stainless steel back and base metal bezel), with a case that is 30m water resistant.

I don't know exactly when this model is from, but the style was very popular in the 80s, so I'll guess that it is from that era.

DJ Honda DJ009

There are a lot of watches out there which are parts of special collections made by/for celebrities. Out of those I have come across, the watches from the DJ Honda fashion collection are the most interesting and varied set that I've seen.

This watch is the DJ009 (or DJ 009) and is an LCD model. It has a sideways inverse LCD, with the display being viewed best from along your arm. The case is plastic with a shiny silver surround to the LCD being screwed onto the front. The strap is rubbery, and is in one piece, going across the front of the face, and fastening with a buckle at the back. The LCD is a 2 line design, with the top line normally showing day and date, with the 6 digits for the time below. There is a standard collection of modes in the watch - stopwatch, timer, alarm, and dual time, and there is also an el-backlight (which beeps when you press, so it's not good for quiet night use).

The back has the DJ Honda 'h' logo in the centre, along with the usual statements (water resistant, stainless steel back, Base metal bezel) and the model number. Based on the designs in the collection, I think that they were produced in collaboration with Seiko (or Alba) as a couple of models are almost the same as late 90s Seiko AKA designs.

Nixon - The Fidelity

I took a risk when buying today's watch. I got it second hand and it wasn't working, and the seller said it had been through the washing machine with their clothes, so doubted that it was fixable. A new battery later (a not so common CR1632) and the watch is fine, which is more surprising as I've been researching the watch, and there are quite a few reviews complaining that it isn't as waterproof as the manual states (100m)!

The Nixon Fidelity is an LCD watch, which is a smaller version of the Nixon Block watch. It has a square plastic case with edges which slope away from the glass. The inverse LCD has 3 lines, with the middle line for the time taking up half of the height of the display. The top line covers day and date, and is designed to show letters, and also displays the name of the mode when you are changing modes, while the bottom line just covers the seconds. The mode options (selected by the bottom left button) are chronograph, timer, and alarm, and there is a dual time option displayed using a different button (top right - press to display, and hold to switch). There is also an el-backlight which is shown with the top left button, and this is also the button to hold to enter time setting mode.

The watch comes with a wide fabric strap which is not too long, so beware if you have thick wrists. The back of the watch has the Nixon name/logo, the model name, and the Nixon theme of having a phrase as well, this time saying "Tried and true".

The model number for the watch seem to be A565 and I've seen a web review from 2009, so I'd guess this is around when it was released.

Zippo XPC 07

Today's watch is the 3rd watch on my blog by a company known mainly for its lighters.

This watch is by Zippo, or more correctly made for Zippo as part of their watch line. The real manufacturer of the watch isn't shown, but the back states that the watch (or just brand name) is licensed by Zippo Manufacturing Co. Zippo still sell watches, and the line is described as "Updated, contemporary watches designed with simple, yet innovative features, geared for performance, elegance, and sportsmanship."

This model is called the XPC 07 (based on the numbers on the back) and is an LCD design. The watch has a round display with 3 lines of information covering (top to bottom) day/date, time (4 digits), and seconds. The display is set in a chunky round case with external screws (making it look a little more square shaped) which is 10 atm water resistant. The watch has multiple modes which are alarm, dual time, timer, and stopwatch.

For the previous Zippo watches I've blogged, I'd thought they were late 80s or early 90s, but the date setting in the module for this model doesn't start until 91, so this should be a 90s model.

Free Way DN97 Watch

The other day I mentioned that Casio had made so many unusual and unknown watch ranges over the years, but the same is true for the other major manufacturers too. Sometimes, like today's watch, it goes even further to be hidden with no mention of the brands name anywhere.

This watch is marketed under a brand called Free Way (or sometimes Freeway). As I was trying to research it (which is difficult as the phrase Free Way occurs a lot online), I found some Japanese sales sites were referring to CBM Free Way. The CBM name refers to a company called Japan CBM Corporation which is actually a corporate division of Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd (owners of Citizen Watch Co., Ltd). So this means that the Free Way brand is a "secret" or "lighthouse" brand from Citizen (the same as Q&Q who are also under Japan CBM Corporation).

The Citizen link also fits with the design, as the display design is very like 1481010 D295 models.

This watch uses a DN97 module and is a two line LCD design, with the lines split by a plastic part behind the glass. The top line covers time (6 digits) while the bottom is for the date and day (along with indicator marks for am/pm and chronograph). The modes are changed with the top left button and are two alarms, stopwatch, timer, and dual time, with a small indicator mark above the display divide pointing to the text of which mode is active. There is also an el-backlight activated with the bottom left button.

The watch is very lightweight, due to it being made from Titanium, and has a matching Titanium strap, with the watch being 10atm water resistant.

The full model number is DN97-K293, and it was made in 1998 or 2008. As the design is similar to the 1481010 which is from the late 90s, I guess that the 98 date is more likely.

BMW Williams F1 Watch

Today's watch is another of my many watches which commemorates an event, and this one is associated with Formula 1 Motor Racing.

This watch was made for BMW (with a copyright to BMW AG), and commemorates the start of their partnership with the Williams F1 team in 2000. BMW had been major players up to the 1980s, but pulled out in 1989 at the end of the turbocharger era. In 2000, they came back to partner the Williams team who are probably most known for their Williams Renault era in the early 90s when they won the World Championship. The partnership were on the podium in their first race, but the partnership wasn't as successful as hoped and finished in 2005.

The watch is an LCD model with a red display which is slightly angled (up to the right). The LCD is a two line design which normally shows day and date at the top and the time (in 6 digits) below. It is a typical sports watch in terms of modes, with the watch having chronograph, timer, alarm, and dual time options. When the modes are changed, the top line shows text describing the mode before the mode itself is shown.

The case on the watch is an unusual design, but I can't decide whether it is meant to look like a helmet or the nose of an F1 car (or a combination of the two). The strap is thick and rubbery with a wavy pattern along the front. There is the usual information on the back, showing it is all stainless steel, and has a 5 atm water resistance (suggesting it is a European model). There is also an F1 logo and the name BMW.WilliamsF1 Team (with that spacing), along with the phrase "it's a fast world".

United Colors of Benetton Dual Dial Watch

I've been travelling today so I decided to wear a watch which can handle multiple time zones.

This watch is by United Colors of Benetton, and also has a link to a watch I've blogged before. In November last year, I blogged a wide strap watch with a replaceable head (rather than strap), and this model is another of those. The watch has a wide rectangular head, but this time with two separate 3 hand dials, each with their own quartz movement. As with the other model, this watch has the crown unusually at the 12 o'clock positions. The back of this watch also has a registered design number, and this watch is 7451111055 (which starts with the same 7451).

The original sale price for this model was €99, but I'm not sure when it was released.

Android USA Flip Lid Dual Dial

It's a quick post for me today.

The watch I've chosen is by a brand I've blogged a few times called Android USA. The brand was started in 1991, and from the range of watches I've come across, they have made all manner of different styles of watches.

This watch is not so easy to use one handed, as the time is basically hidden behind a metal plate. Below the plate is a little switch which when pulled down allows the lid to flip open. Behind the lid, there are actually two analogue dials. These are both 3 hand dial designs, and have separate quartz movements and a crown on each side of the metal case.

The back of the watch has the Android USA logo, and a statement that it is Android design, and "Property of OKO" but I don't know why.

There isn't much info about this model, so I don't know when it's from. It looks like it would fit with the style of metal watches that came out in the 90s.

Everlast ED501 LCD watch

Today's watch is by a sports brand that I've not featured here before, but one which I remember seeing a lot when I was younger.

The brand is Everlast, who I remember due to their connection to Boxing. They are an American brand who are known for their sportswear, mainly in boxing, martial arts, and fitness. The company is based in Manhattan, and their products are sold worldwide. It was founded in 1910 making swimsuits which were designed to last longer than the product on the market at that time, and so called Everlast. They made their first boxing equipment in 1917, and has since become one of the most well known boxing gear brands in the world.

This watch is an LCD watch by Everlast and appears to be part of a line called Everlast Timing. Based on the Amazon listing, it appears to be called the ED501, but only has the number 49-0032 on the watch (and 49-0032-501 on the price label). It was originally sold for ¥5,250 (incl tax), but is not available anymore. For this model, there aren't many references of which aren't from the far east, so I think this may have been only released in that area.

The watch itself is an LCD with a dot matrix style display. As the main display only shows numbers, I think it is just that the digits are made of LCD pixels, but that it isn't a true dot matrix array. The display has 3 lines of information, with the top showing day and date, the middle showing time, and the bottom showing seconds. The watch has dual time display, as well as alarm, stopwatch, and timer modes, and there is an el-backlight. The back of the watch has the Everlast logo as well as the usual info (316L Stainless steel bezel and back, 5 atm water resistant).

As the watch seems quite new, but isn't sold anymore, I'm assuming it is from the 2000s, or maybe the early 10s.

Casio W-220 Alarm Chronograph

Today's watch is another of the many designs of Casio LCD watch.

This model is the W-220, and is the 3rd of the Casio W series that I've blogged. It is an LCD model housed in a rounded resin case with the shape and design being continued into the resin strap.

The LCD has two lines of digits covering the day and date along the top and time (6 digits) below. Above the time, in the top left corner, is a round LCD window with 10 segments that fill and empty with the seconds. To the right of that are 3 indicator mark for the alarm, chime, and split function on the stopwatch. Apart from the stopwatch, this watch also has alarm and dual time modes, all powered by the Casio 2963 module.

From what I've seen, it appears that this design (or similar) has been around for a while, and is still shown on the Casio website (with a full model number of W-210-1BEVS).

Nike WR0105 Imara Keeva watch

I'm wearing a sporty model today with a watch from Nike (which technically is a ladies watch).

The watch is the WR0105 and appears to be called the Imara Keeva. I've tried to find the name Imara Keeva to see if it means anything, but I only found references to the watch in my search. The Nike watches seem to have started in the late 90s and are now discontinued.

This model keeps with the Nike tradition of a large and easy to read LCD display. It is an inverse style LCD with two lines of numbers. The time (4 digits) takes up about 2/3 of the display, with the day and date as the default display below. When changing mode, the watch shows the name of the mode in the bottom line before that mode starts. The modes covered by the watch are alarm, dual time and chronograph. The design in unusual with a small rounded rectangular face, but in a quite deep case. It has a very narrow rubbery strap which mounts into the back of the case.

There is also a lot of information about the watch on the back. It is copyright to Nike USA, and covered by US patents D528439 and D528441. The watch is made in China from a mixture of stainless steel and performance polymers, and is 5atm water resistant.

For the date, the main hint I'm working from is the start date for the watch module. This begins at 2005, and as the Nike watches haven't been active for a while, I'd assume this was first released in the late 2000s.

Adidas ADH4003 Alarm Chronograph

I decided that for today's watch I'd wear one of the models from one of the big sports brands - Adidas (a German brand which is the second largest sportswear brand in the world).

This model is one of their LCD watches with a retro style. Based on the style and the use of the shuttlecock/trefoil logo on the face, I assume it is part of the Adidas Originals line which began in 2008 and covers products with a retro 70s/80s feel.

The watch is the ADH4003 and is a relatively large resin cased watch with an inverse LCD display. The LCD has 3 lines of information, and the digits are made up of square and rectangular blocks. The top line is the smallest, covering the day and date, with the mid sized seconds display at the bottom, and the time in  largest digits in the middle. Pressing the mode button cycles through the modes, showing a text description on the top line, followed by that mode if you stop pressing. The modes included are dual time, chronograph, timer, and alarm.

The back reveals that the watch wasn't made by Adidas themselves, but that it was 'Made under  license from adidas AG'. The logo, brand name, and model number are also on the back, as well as informing that the back is stainless steel, and the watch has 5 atm water resistance.

It is still possible to buy this model online, so it is pretty new. It does appear to be a popular watch though, as I've seen a sales site where it was scoring 4.7/5 in the customer reviews.