Tag Archives: timepiece

The RGB Tube Clock Brings Nixie Nostalgia to a New Generation – Without the Fragility

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Here’s a clock that does more than keep time; the RGB Tube Clock merges vintage nostalgia with cutting-edge tech in a piece that’s part décor, part high-precision gadget. Inspired by the look of classic Nixie tubes, it mimics that retro display style but swaps out the fragile gas-filled tubes for a modern RGB spectrum. It’s a nod to mid-century tech with a fresh, colorful twist, offering the vibe of a Nixie clock without the maintenance.

The way the RGB Tube Clock works is by relying on the edge-lighting property of clear plastics like acrylic. The numbers are etched onto acrylic sheet, and as soon as a light is shone through the edge, the number glows brightly, almost as if it were illuminated. The clock has 6 channels, two for hours, minutes, and seconds, and each channel has 10 acrylic sheets stacked one behind another – one sheet for each number. The clock works by controlling which LEDs shine on which sheet, illuminating that individual number in a highly controlled fashion.

Designer: Breza

Click Here to Buy Now: $71.99 $89.99 (20% off, use coupon code “Yanko” at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Nixie tubes worked in a similar way, heating up wires that were shaped in individual numbers. However, while nixie tubes went out of fashion around the fall of the Soviet Union, they slowly became more of a historical relic (and an expensive one at that). This acrylic workaround feels like a hat-tip to that retro display technology, without any of the high power consumption, fragility, or expense. For those nostalgic for old-school Nixie aesthetics or new to the allure, the RGB Tube Clock brings an accessible version with plenty of flair.

If you’re wondering why a 24-hour clock has 10 acrylic sheets in its first channel (since it only goes up till 2), it’s because the RGB Tube Clock doubles as a stopwatch and timer too. If a timer is too tedious for you, the regular clock has an alarm function built-in, allowing you to place the RGB Tube Clock at your bedside and use it as both an alarm clock as well as an ambient night lamp. Thanks to the DS3231 clock chip—a high-precision piece of tech—it’s also reliably accurate, ensuring you stay on schedule down to the second. The clear interface means even these extra features are easy to navigate, whether you’re timing a workout or setting a reminder.

And here’s a fun touch: the clock includes a music spectrum display, so you can watch the lights dance along to your favorite tunes. It’s one of those features you didn’t know you needed until you see it in action, making it as much an interactive décor piece as a timekeeper. Plugging in with a simple USB DC 5V connection, setup is hassle-free—just plug, play, and let it enhance your space.

The clock comes with a fairly minimalist design, thanks to those transparent acrylic sheets that take away from the clock’s visual density. The entire gizmo measures just 10” x 1.8” x 2.75” making it small enough to sit on any tabletop surface. The clock weighs a little over a pound, runs off a USB cord, and can be configured using buttons on the side.

Whether you’re a retro-tech enthusiast or simply appreciate unique, stylish pieces, the RGB Tube Clock stands out. It combines the charm of Nixie tube nostalgia with all the convenience of modern RGB tech, reimagining what a clock can be in a way that’s visually stunning, interactive, and wonderfully functional.

Click Here to Buy Now: $71.99 $89.99 (20% off, use coupon code “Yanko” at checkout). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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Why the Leonardo 1519 Watch Runs Backwards: A Col&MacArthur Tribute to da Vinci

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Inspired by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci, who could draw/write with both hands and also write in reverse, the folks at Col&MacArthur designed the Leonardo 1519 – a watch that, just like da Vinci’s writing, runs in reverse. An incredibly intriguing watch that pays tribute to the greatest genius of the Rennaissance, the Leonardo 1519 quite literally runs anti-clockwise, with the hands running ‘backward’ and the numbers on the watch oriented in reverse. The watch sports a few other key details that celebrate the Italian artist and creator’s life, from his artworks like the Vitruvian Man and the Battle of Anghiari, as well as concepts like the Fibonacci sequence, which da Vinci’s believed to have used heavily in his art and architecture.

Have you ever thought of why clocks move ‘clockwise’? The reason’s pretty simple if you work backward to the ancestor of the modern clock – the sundial. Invented in the northern hemisphere, sundials relied on the shadow of the sun to tell time, and as a result, the sun cast its shadow in a way that caused the dial to move ‘clockwise’. So naturally, when clocks were first engineered, they were made to mimic the movement of the shadow on the sundial. If sundials were first made in the southern hemisphere, clocks would rotate the absolute opposite of how they do today. With the Leonardo 1519, the watchmakers at Col&MacArthur are simply exploring this unique ‘reverse’ timekeeping trend while celebrating the most notable genius of the 15th century.

Designer: Col&MacArthur

Click Here to Buy Now: $325 $540 (40% off). Hurry, 10/15 left!

The name “Leonardo 1519” holds particular significance—it marks the year of da Vinci’s death. In choosing this date, the collection honors not just the man, but his enduring influence on art, science, and innovation. The year 1519 represents a turning point when the world lost a visionary, but his ideas continued to shape generations of thinkers and creators. This watch isn’t just about looking back; it’s about carrying da Vinci’s spirit of discovery into the future, making his genius relevant to today’s world.

At first glance, the reverse movement catches you off guard. It’s a direct nod to da Vinci’s mirror writing, a technique he often used in his notebooks. This unusual feature may seem like a simple design choice, but it transforms the experience of checking the time into a reflection on da Vinci’s constant challenge of conventions. The watch comes with a choice between mechanical and automatic movements – codenamed Codex and Mecanicca. You can get a variant of the watch that tells the time clockwise – just in case you’d like a time-telling tribute to da Vinci that isn’t difficult to read. However, if you want an absolute conversation starter, the Codex Reversed feels like living in the mirror dimension. The Codex Reversed model runs on a quartz Ronda movement that ticks in reverse. Reading the time definitely is a bit of  learning curve, but the watch makes up for it with clear numerals on the dial, and in just a few days it comes naturally to you. Moreover, it’s a perfect visual metaphor for people who believe in doing things differently!

For those who prefer their time to move in a more traditional direction, the Codex Classic offers the same impeccable craftsmanship with a clockwise movement. Both Codex models are encased in stainless steel, topped with sapphire glass, and backed by a two-year warranty. The collection’s flagship model, the Meccanica Classic, elevates the experience with an automatic Japanese Miyota movement, visible through an exhibition case back. Limited to 1,519 pieces, this model commemorates the year of da Vinci’s passing and makes it a rare collector’s item. Its embossed “elevato” dial design, which plays with light and shadow, adds a layer of visual complexity, reminiscent of da Vinci’s own studies on light and form.

Every detail in the Leonardo 1519 collection is steeped in symbolism. The Vitruvian Man, da Vinci’s famous drawing exploring the harmony of human proportions, is intricately etched into the watch’s dial, a reminder of the perfect balance between art and science that da Vinci so masterfully embodied. The dial also has a close-up of the soldier from da Vinci’s sketch of the Battle of Anghiari, along with his self-portrait, all masterfully blended into a collage that celebrates the man. Other features include birds depicted in flight, a tribute to da Vinci’s groundbreaking studies on aerodynamics and his Codex on Flight. The Fibonacci sequence, symbolizing nature’s mathematical harmony, is also subtly embedded, reflecting da Vinci’s fascination with the intersection of mathematics and the natural world. While the Codex models don’t come with an exhibition back, they do have an artistic depiction of the da Vinci sculpture by Marino Marini.

Col&MacArthur’s watches are museums in their own right. Previous timepieces from the brand have featured parts of the Berlin Wall, fragments of Moon dust and Mars dust, and even honored legends like Napoleon and historical events like Dunkirk. The Leonardo 1519 is just the next chapter in this series, celebrating historic times through something as befitting as time itself!

Click Here to Buy Now: $325 $540 (40% off). Hurry, 10/15 left!

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Blind Watch makes life easier for visually impaired, can be used as a hand clock

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Life for the visually impaired is not easy as they have to struggle even to get done most of the simplest tasks. Thankfully inclusively designed daily gadgets and devices make their life much easier. Keeping track of time is one of the needs that blind people have to depend on others if they haven’t got the hang of talking watches like the VOICE GRUS, or find them impractical in noisier environments.

A braille watch is the next best option as we saw with the Ehsaas concept watch designed by Nikhil Kapoor. Now, yet another concept envisions the future of timepieces crafted for the visually disabled so that they can lead a normal life.

Designer: Jinkyo Han

It’s about feeling the time tick on your hand as the braille system denoted by the marking on the watch gives the blind idea of the hour and minute of the day exactly. The square-shaped dial of the watch has two overlapping knobs represented by the hours and minutes hands with precise markings to differentiate the two. The inner gear mechanism actuates the movement of these big dials to define the exact time of the day which is important for anyone with visual disability.

While the Blind Watch can be worn on the hand as a wristwatch by securing straps to the metal body, the designer proposes the use of a single strap for it to be used as a hand clock. This makes it easy for the person to carry it in the pocket or secure it around the neck to prevent it from getting misplaced. The watch is a tad bigger for the wrist and will only fit well for people with bigger hands.

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Postmodern Cone Watch puts architecture on the wrist to elevate you into lifetime of distinction

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Whether you like the POP watch, made in collaboration with a 6-year-old and his painting skills, the Donut Watch that puts Apple logo mimicking donut on the dial, the infographic face watch, or for that matter, the all-new Postmodern Cone Watch (in picture above); there is one thing in common, all of these are the brainchild of the same person.

Created by Paul Kweton of Studio PAULBAUT, these watches, especially the cone watch, are peculiar. They of course attract with their distinctiveness, but you have to agree that these challenge the traditional idea of watchmaking with their playful reinterpretation of the timepiece as we know it.

Designer: Studio PAULBAUT

Postmodern Cone Watch, as the name gives out and the images show, is a cone-shaped watch inspired by the postmodern architecture characterized by curved forms, decorative elements, asymmetry, and vibrant colors. All of which are evident in this playfully attractive yet recognizably functional watch.

Paul Kweton, for this watch, has recreated an iconic postmodern building and shaped it into a watch. The colors and textures are chosen independent of the building’s structure or function, and do not have cohesiveness with functionality, rather depict the artistic freedom, prevalent in each of Paul’s previous works. The watch features a 3D-printed dial in a light blue hue that contrasts with the miniature conical building-shaped watch case featuring a nice blend of blue and yellow.

The Postmodern Cone Watch is paired with a white rubber strap and has an oversized cylindrical crown to add whimsy to it. The dial features black hour and minute hands, but the entire package sitting on the wrist is more than a watch, it is a timeless architecture on the wrist. We don’t have a word on the price or possible availability of the watch at the time of writing, but bold use of color and structure is sure to give you a lifetime of distinction, at least every time you wear it!

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Bell & Ross BR-03 Horizon pushes aviation-inspired horology to the next level

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Bell & Ross in its DNA is about aviation horology, fusing functionality with aesthetics. Their aviation instrument-inspired watches have had many takers, especially the BR-03 series debuted in 2005. Now the collection is getting another intriguing timepiece to the flight instrument series.

The BR-03 Horizon brings a new way of reading time with the aircraft navigation instrument look and feel that watch lovers will want to add to their collection. Limited to just 999 pieces, the watch pays homage to the vital instruments that keep pilots and the aircraft safe in uncharted territory. Those four screws on the dial stamp the signature brand identity for an impressive aesthetic.

Designer: Bell & Ross

The 100-meter water-resistant BR-03 Horizon is signified by the distinct blue (representing the sky) and black (representing the earth) color scheme which mimics the horizon dial found on aircrafts. This is complemented by the horizontal orange decal (along the 3 to 9 o-clock line) representing the current orientation in the air, indicated by the pitch (tilt forward and back) and bank (side-to-side tilt). Of course, this is just a representation for visual excitement.

The square-shaped 41mm micro-blasted black ceramic case of the timepiece is highly durable against any elements and also looks striking. To top it off the sapphire crystal maintains clear visibility of the dial in any lighting conditions. Keeping track of time is simple with the black and white-striped hand tracking the seconds and the white hand indicating the minutes. The watch is powered by the updated automatic BR-CAL.327 calibre having a 54-hour power reserve.

BR-03 Horizon’s striking dial is matched with the orange synthetic fabric strap. This has a Velcro closure and a black rubber strap, closed with a matte black PVD micro-blasted finish steel pin buckle to keep things contemporary. The timepiece is priced at £3,999 (approximately $5,250) and will surely be sold out in no time, so you better get one if you love Bell & Ross watches.

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Konstantin Chaykin’s ThinKing is ultra-thin mechanical wristwatch that shatters slimness record by 5mm

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Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC – measuring only 1.7mm thick – was the thinnest watch we’d known. Now, ThinKing has skimmed the stakes further down to 1.65mm, and a new thinnest watch is born. Before you start searching for retail stores, the ThinKing by Independent Russian watchmaker Konstantin Chaykin is only a prototype and is waiting to break the production mold.

Richard Mille, Piaget, Bulgari, have all been in the race to build the thinnest mechanical watch. All these watchmakers, and now Konstantin Chaykin included, are radically reducing the thickness of watches and delivering the thinnest watches, one after the other. Aptly called ThinKing being the latest wonder, which is build after the fascination with the ultra-thin Bagnolet pocket watch.

Designer: Konstantin Chaykin

Taking cues from the old pocket watch and integrating an impressive, contemporary design with modern technology, the ThinKing borrows its aesthetics from Konstantine Chaykin’s signature Wristmons mechanical wristwatch. Currently in pre-production, there isn’t much known about the watch, but from how it appears, in pictures, we will try and decipher the obvious about this stainless steel case watch.

More details about the pricing and availability of this new thinnest watch in the world will be known after its first outing at the ongoing Geneva Watch Days exhibition. Until then from the obvious, the watch has a thickness of only 1.65mm and has a dial reminiscent of the Wristmons collection’s Joker series, where the apparent two eyes (on the top half) display hours and minutes, while the bottom half is occupied by the brand logo, which replaces the joker’s smile in the original Wristmons.

If you thought the dial was intriguing, don’t miss the caseback. The back displays the built-in K.23-0 movement (with 32 hours of power reserve) without letting out too much, while the major part here is opaque and engraved with “Prototype of the world’s thinnest watch by K. Chaykin — 30.08.2024,” which would ideally translate into an exclusivity number when the watch is ready for retail.

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The Valuchi Moonphase Expedition Watch brings back a timeless design in a world saturated with tech

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Think of it as a gorgeous restomod amongst a wave of EVs.

The Valuchi Expedition Watch is an attempt at regaining control of a dialog that has been lost to the tech world. With almost every new company releasing smartwatches (some of them being rather substandard), the watch conversation has skewed away from timeless craftsmanship and timekeeping excellence. With the Expedition Watch, Valuchi brings our attention back to classic watchmaking at its finest. The Valuchi Expedition Watch comes with a gorgeous Tonneau shape, a screw-down case, luminous hands, an accurate moonphase tracker, and a Japanese Miyota movement powering it all. The design balances classy with sporty, thanks to rubber straps and a 5ATM waterproof case design, giving you a watch that’s truly made for every moment.

Designer: Valuchi

Click Here to Buy Now: $189 $289 (35% off). Hurry, only 48/100 left!

The watch sports a barrel-shaped Tonneau case, deviating from the square and circle cases seen on every single tech watch today. The case comes with a screw-down bezel made from premium 316 stainless steel, forming a boundary around the watch’s radial-brushed face. The face also features an accurate 30-day moonphase tracker at the 6 o’clock position, accurately displaying the 4 phases of the moon: new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter. Luminous markings on the dial as well as the hour and minute hand allow you to see the time in the dark, and a gorgeous lightning-shaped seconds hand glimmers in daylight, adding dynamism to your timekeeping.

On the inside, the Valuchi Expedition Watch draws power from a Japanese Miyota 6P24 movement that accurately displays the time while also tracking the moon’s phases with immaculate precision. A 3-year battery keeps the watch running comfortably, encased within a water-resistant case that protects the watch when submerged up to 50 meters or 5 ATM. Meanwhile, a hardened mineral crystal on top guards the watch from accidental scratches or bumps (as does the broad 316 stainless steel bezel).

The Valuchi Expedition Watch was designed for a certain mindset – that of someone who wants a watch as versatile and accepting of life’s twists and turns as they are. The watch sports 5 gorgeous color variants, ranging from vibrant to classic, with rubber straps to match. Perfect for wearing to work, black-tie events, the golf course, the tarmac, or even on the beach, the Valuchi Expedition Watch’s everyday, every time appeal makes it your loyal wrist-borne companion. The watch ships globally, packaged inside a gorgeous green box with embossed gold lettering. Along with your watch, the box also includes the watch’s papers and a certificate of authenticity, affirming the quality of your timepiece.

Click Here to Buy Now: $189 $289 (35% off). Hurry, only 48/100 left!

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Limited Edition Urwerk EMC SR-71 watch has parts of the legendary Blackbird spy aircraft

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Urwerk is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EMC series this year with the release of 10 limited edition pieces that are made out of fuselage pieces of the Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” aircraft. Hence, the naming convention “EMC SR-71” which pays homage to the mechanical precision of the famous timepiece that allows the wearer to adjust the mechanical precision offset by the small environment irregularities over time.

The exclusive masterpiece is made in collaboration with aerospace and lifestyle brand Dreamland. This timepiece has been on the idea sheet for as long as four years – back when watch designer Jason Sarkoyan and aeronautical engineer Dr. Roman Sperl inaugurated the Dreamland brand.

Designer: Urwerk and Dreamland

The idea of the Urwerk EMC SR-71 materialized when Dreamland got hold of the SR-71 fuselage’s titanium alloy parts. For this limited edition run, the composite of aluminum, vanadium, silicon, iron, and molybdenum metals is melted to create the folding crank handle of the built-in generator of the watch. The timepiece embraces the angular style of EMC watches to replicate the look of reconnaissance aircraft cockpit instrument panels. Urwerk uses the trusted in-house Caliber UR-EMC manual-wind movement (at 28,800vph frequency) that is a traditional Swiss lever escapement combined with an integrated timing machine. Thus, the watch has a power reserve of 80 hours before needing another cranking. The raw feel of the SR-71 is apparent from the four screws securing the case back.

The matte finish SR-71 has a dial measuring 47.55mm wide by 17.58mm thick, with a profile of 49.57mm in the lug-to-lug direction. The dials indicate the hours, minutes and seconds counter in the bottom right corner. The top left corner dial shows the amount of deviation in movement that can be actuated over a period of time. The power reserve of the watch is indicated by a small arc-shaped register on the left-hand side. Adjacent is a larger arc showing the δ performance indicator.

Olive green Velcro-style straps of the timepiece are mounted to the articulated lugs, unlike other conventional watches. The upper frame and the directional arrow for the generator crank are finished in bright yellow to go with the instrument panel theme. Since the 30-meter water-resistant Urwerk EMC SR-71 entangles Blackbird’s eventful history and carries actual parts from the spy aircraft, the $175,000 price makes complete sense!

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Laurent Ferrier x Hervé Di Rosa limited-edition Classic Micro-Rotor watch flaunts 12-armed character on the dial

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Swiss horologer, Laurent Ferrier, is known for making watches that are timeless yet modern in all accounts. Their ultimate amalgamation of form, function, and aesthetics put LF watches ahead of the curve, and its new design, a revival of a flagship piece with touch of playfulness and art, is a fine embodiment.

To celebrate the longevity of the flagship Classic Micro-Rotor, the watchmaker has collaborated with French artist Hervé Di Rosa and arrived at this recovered timepiece that reflects the timeless elegance and minimalism of Laurent Ferrier and the creativity and imaginative artistry of Di Rosa. The five-piece limited edition watch is a testament to the fine collaboration and exchange of expertise between the watchmaker and the artist.

Designer: Laurent Ferrier

Hervé Di Rosa is a renowned name in the French and International art scene. Best known for being the pioneer of the Figuration Libre art movement in the 1980s, the 64-year-old artist unveiled “Hervé Di Rosa – The Worlds-Passer,” a retrospective exhibition in Paris at the Centre Pompidou, which celebrates his life’s work. In celebration of this occasion, the globetrotting artist has given a new artistic makeover to the Classic Micro-Rotor.

The watch keeps the curves of the Classic case, which is inspired by the pocket watches of the 19th century. The round stainless steel case measures 40mm and features a strikingly different dial comprising a 12-armed character named “Ah! Ah! Ah!” It is a design adapted from one of Di Rosa’s vibrant and chaotic paintings from 1984 called the Dirosapocalypse.

The dial of the Classic Micro-Rotor is completely hand-engraved and it’s made from 18-carat white gold. The artistic dial is topped with the iconic white gold assegai-shaped hands that blend with the base, yet stand out in their appearance. The watch case, on the side, has a ball-shaped winding crown, while the sapphire glass case back leaves you admiring the movement. The in-house FBN 229.01 automatic winding calibre has a 72 hours power reserve. The limited edition Classic Micro-Rotor Di Rosa is 30-meter water resistant, and priced at 80,000 CHF (roughly $90,000).

 

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Navigator Analog Watch reflects its allegiance to USS Armstrong starship from the word go

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Certain watchmakers shoulder the responsibility of pushing the defined boundaries with exceptional haute horlogerie. This is not only toiling with complexity; it is reinventing the wheel with craftsmanship and material usage that catapults the timepiece into ultimate rarity where it stands alone to be admired from afar. Its exclusivity substantiates it will forever be away from our reach yet the lure keeps us connected to the unique character.

Based on the idea of reconsidering the mold and reinventing the retro-futuristic allure; a designer envisioned one such analog timepiece – for the Yanko Design x Titan Design Competition – that reflects its allegiance to the USS Armstrong (NCC-317856) starship from the word go.

Designer: Santosh Palaniappan

The competition challenged aspiring designers to reimagine select everyday products – an analog wristwatch, a women’s handbag, a piece of wearable jewelry, and eyewear – with a unique twist. The idea had to fulfill the underlying theme of Retrofuturism, so it resonated with nostalgia yet had its feet in the future.

By swaying into sci-fi territories and then stitching it in time for a wearable, Santosh has for us the Navigator Analog Watch, which he believes is a “humble tribute to his beloved franchise, Star Trek.” From what’s apparent, the watch has a timeless aesthetic – created from a deep admiration for the saucers of the starships – which finds synergy with Star Trek’s optimistic portrayal of humanity’s progression and neatly blends science-fiction with reality.

From how it is designed, though; its interface is ready for global exploration with a red compass needle occupying the dial adorned with subtle geometric motifs. The Navigator Analog Watch innards are neatly streamlined within its disc body which is precision crafted from a single piece of aluminum. The watch case clips magnetically onto a specially designed rubber strap with thematic metal stars using the magnetic crown present underneath the watch. What do you feel about it?

The post Navigator Analog Watch reflects its allegiance to USS Armstrong starship from the word go first appeared on Yanko Design.