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Kisai's Rorschach watch is a test in telling time
"So it's extremely difficult to read the time, but how do you feel about that?" That's the question Kisai is posing with its new Rorschach watch, which puts one of the company's trademark inscrutable watchfaces into the shape of the famous psychiatrist's inkblots. You can choose between three levels from "readable but still not easily" to "please just tell me what the hell time it is!" (Actually, once you get the hang of it, the hours are read at the top right, and the minutes from the bottom left.) The watch uses an e-paper display, giving it high contrast and a battery life of 2-3 years while letting you switch between black on white or vice-versa. You can grab one in white, brown or black with a leather strap, or black and silver with a metal bracelet at $179 for the next two days -- though you may have to line up behind Watchmen fans.
Tokyoflash Kisai Console gets a wooden makeover, retains futuristic watchface (video)
Somebody at Tokyoflash HQ probably decided that 2013 is the year for wooden redesigns of its old tricky timepieces. A more natural version of its 2011 Kisai Console watch is the latest in a string of makeovers, which includes the Rogue SR2, Stencil, Zone and Maru. Like the re-releases before it, the new Kisai Console retains the original device's watchface that looks like the interface of a sci-fi-esque computer or control panel. The only difference is that its steel case and strap have been replaced by a handcrafted sandalwood bracelet in either red (with green LEDs) or very dark brown (with green or blue watchfaces). Those inclined to wear one of the migraine-inducing watches -- the video after the break sheds light on how it works, though -- can get one now from Tokyoflash for a launch price of $109 until November 14th.
Latest Tokyoflash watch makes telling time 'cryptic' for $170
It wouldn't be a limited edition Tokyoflash watch if it weren't hard to read, right? The company's latest timepiece, the Kisai Xtal, follows that time-honored (get it?) tradition with a design that goes heavy on the styling -- it's described as being "crystalline shaped" -- and an interface that's made to be intentionally confusing to the uninitiated. Don't worry though, that "cryptic time" mode's merely an alternate display option on the stainless steel watch, which comes in either gold or black, and can easily be set to standard time. The Xtal's also USB-rechargeable and rated for up to two months on a single charge, so you won't have to use the included screw driver to pry out its tiny cell anytime soon. Like most Tokyoflash watch debuts, it's set to launch at a discounted price, making it $140 for a 48-hour period. Miss that initial window and you'll have to shell out $170 for the privilege of not being able to tell time at a glance.
Tokyoflash turns hexagonal fan concept watch into $109 reality (video)
Remember that time you submitted a script to Babylon 5 and it was accepted for a show? Yeah, didn't happen to us either, but apparently Tokyoflash has a much more open mind with its fans. It just launched the Kisai Quasar, a hexagonal-themed watch that was originally submitted by Tokyoflash buff László Scheffer. The geometry is echoed in the watch face to create yet another signature Kisai design with a nerd-only time display. Thankfully there's also a simplified mode that shows, well, numbers. You can grab it in silver or black (with a blue, red, green or mirrored display) for the next two days at $109, after which it'll run $149 -- just watch where you point the thing.
This week's Tokyoflash watch comes in maple and sandalwood (video)
Tokyoflash's busy horologists know no bounds when it comes to designing watches. The company's latest timepiece is an update to last year's bee-friendly Kisai Zone that sports wooden cases and straps. Each of the three available woods is married to its own LCD color for the screen -- dark sandalwood's is black, red sandalwood goes purple and maple snags a blue readout. Speaking of which, it doesn't look like anything has changed compared to the first Zone's watch face. It still features a standard battery that lasts "at least a year," a funky hexagonal display (hours on top, minutes in the middle and seconds on the bottom) and an Indiglo-like backlight. If you fancy wearing part of a giving tree on your wrist, you can snag one of these for $99 if you act within the next two days.
Tokyoflash's Kisai Blade looks to the air for inspiration, tells time with tube LEDs (video)
TokyoFlash's watches aren't known for their subtlety, but, despite taking cues from the aviation world, its latest design looks a bit more grounded than previous offerings. The Kisai Blade sports a custom-made turbine-style lens, and uses tube LEDs that rotate, like an airplane propeller, to tell time. The LEDs operate in three different modes, "Turning" uses a constant cycle to light up hours and minutes, while "Animation" turns your wrist into a rave with a constantly spinning diodes. In case you're wondering how it displays the finer minutes, "Flashing" mode slowly flashes the minute hand at the standard five minute intervals, and four dots indicate minutes one through four. The timepiece uses a USB-rechargeable battery that can go a month between charges and is available with red, blue and green LEDs, and gold, silver and black bands; there's a leather band option, too. If the Blade strikes your fancy, you have the next 48 hours to snatch one up for the launch price of $139, or if you miss the sale window, $159.
Tokyoflash releases Kisai Neutron, makes Cylons proud (video)
Like most tech-savvy humans, we're big fans of Tokyoflash watches here at Engadget -- after all, what's not to like about eccentric design and blinkenlights? Now Cylons everywhere can proudly get in on the fun thanks to the company's latest timepiece, the Kisai Neutron. This futuristic-looking LED watch is available for $139 during the next 48 hours and features an integrated motion sensor. It can be set to display the time (or date) by pulsing in and out or waving up and down. The light show is activated by flicking your wrist or pressing a button -- there's even a bonus "always on" mode. Color options include black, gold and gunmetal for the stainless steel and plastic case, plus red, white and blue for the LEDs. A USB-rechargeable battery completes the package. Enjoy the gallery below, then hit the break for a video of the new timepiece in action. %Gallery-194949%
Tokyoflash intros Kisai Intoxicated watch with a built-in breathalyzer (video)
Many partygoers want to keep their alcohol in check, but we don't know many who want to lug around a dedicated breathalyzer, no matter how small it may be. Tokyoflash may have found a happy medium for those drinkers by tucking a breathalyzer into its new Kisai Intoxicated watch. Blow into a sensor and the LCD will change to a color reflecting the alcohol intake: green is sober, yellow is buzzed and red is well over the line. There's also a mini-game to test reflexes in those less-than-certain moments. Buyers seeking some temperance in their lives will want to act quickly, however -- Tokyoflash will only sell the Kisai Intoxicated at a discounted $99 price during its first 48 hours on sale.
Tokyoflash Kisai OTO watch reacts to sound, combines time read-out with graphic equalizer (video)
Working with a concept sent in from a German fan, Tokyoflash's latest watch design bakes in a sound sensor which reacts to ambient noise through an on-wrist graphic equalizer. Naturally, the Kisai OTO also a packs time read-out, splitting hours, minutes and seconds (read vertically) across two lines. Above and below that, you'll find the flickering equalizer, although anyone that finds it a little too distracting during the day can switch them off. You can even go completely the other way and nix the watch display for party hours. There's still the requisite alarm and date settings and you can pick from blue, green red or amber light-up displays. All color options are all paired with a black anodized aluminum strap, while the watch can be charged through USB. It's available to order now, with an introductory two-day sale price of $99 -- and in case you were wondering, OTO means sound in Japanese. Which makes sense.
Tokyoflash Kisai Adjust watch tells time with triangles, trippy colors (video)
It almost goes without saying Tokyoflash watches aren't always very scrutable. The company's newly launched Kisai Adjust, however, is thankfully one of the more legible examples -- as the name suggests, it even goes out of its way to accommodate the wearer. The fan-designed timepiece uses LED-lit triangles to offer the time and date in any one of six colors, including a slightly mesmerizing "candy," with the option to display digits horizontally in those moments it's not on a wrist. It's USB-rechargeable, too, for those averse to wall outlets; expect about a month of dazzling (or confusing) friends between battery top-ups. Tokyoflash is selling the Kisai Adjust today, although you'll want to buy the watch within the first 48 hours to pay $149 instead of the regular $179. Head past the break for a video that helps explain the Adjust's changeable ways.
Tokyoflash Kisai Spider watch goes from concept to wrist-flaunting product (video)
Tokyoflash threw a transparent LED timepiece with a web-like display against the proverbial concept wall earlier this year, and danged if the Kisai Spider didn't stick. The new watch lets you inspect your wrist while attempting to decipher the time or date, which are read from the outside-in through a highly geometrical display of digits -- the above image showing 09:58, for instance. You'll be able to score the dapper device in black and silver brushed stainless steel with a black, blue, green or red display for $159 until this Friday, after which time it'll run an extra twenty bills. For the oh-so-vital instructions on how to to read it, along with ordering info, check the source or video after the break.
Tokyoflash goes all '80s with its Space Digits watch (video)
Here's a timepiece that was acceptable in the '80s. This week, Tokyoflash is channeling Elite, Tron and Tempest to create the Kisai Space Digits. Like its difficult-to-read brethren, it's available in steel, gold or black and comes with a date, alarm, EL backlight and, most essentially, a "warp speed" animation. As usual, if you order before December 6th, it'll set you back $99 (€77, £61), but if you can't scrape together the cash in time, then you can pick 'em up afterwards for $129 (€100, £80). Fancy watching a tutorial on how to read the thing? Video's after the break, space cadets. %Gallery-172507%
Tokyoflash mixes time and geometry to make its Kisai Polygon watch (video)
This week's Tokyoflash watch will certainly tickle the fancy of those who sleep with a set square beneath their pillow. The Kisai Polygon has a ring of triangles representing the hours and the nearest 10 minutes, with the individual minute being shown as a single digit through the middle. If you'd like to indulge in some retail therapy, you can take advantage of the company's pre-sale. Available in black, mirror, blue or pink, it'll set you back $99 (€77, £61) until Thursday, after which it'll cost $129 (€100, £80). Fancy learning how to read it from the team to built it? Head down past the break for the video tutorial. %Gallery-171832%
Tokyoflash launches the Kisai Maru watch, lets you live out your Tony Stark fantasies (video)
It's that time of the week when Tokyoflash launches another one of its charming, barely-decipherable timepieces. Except, this time out, the face is eminently readable -- with the only baffling addition a ring that joins the minute and hour hands. While it's available in black and silver, the sienna variant with its reddish-brown casing go hand-in-hand with the bracelet's chunky stylings to make it eerily reminiscent of Tony Stark's superhero outfit. If you'd to indulge your own arc reactor-infused fantasies, the company is selling the timepiece for $109 (€85, £68) until 2:00 AM ET Saturday, after which it'll set you back $149 (€116, £93). If you want to take a moment to see it in action before you order a cheeseburger and declare yourself Iron Man, head on past the break.
Tokyoflash hides the time inside the Kisai Maze watch for you to find (video)
Want a watch that prevents passers-by from checking the time on your dime? Buy a Tokyoflash. The company's latest timepiece is the Kisai Maze, which hides the info in the negative space of a maze that's only readable with some practice. Available in stainless steel or IP Black, there's an EL backlight to let you annoy the elderly at night and you can watch it being demonstrated after the break. If you snap one up in the next 48 hours, it'll cost $99 (€77, £61), but hurry, because after Thursday morning the price leaps to $139 (€108, £86) -- so now's the time to learn how to be ruthlessly punctual.
Tokyoflash Kisai Zone watch tells time in hexagons
Tokyoflash omits function-based bells and whistles on its timepieces in favor of style, and if none of its previous designs have left you smitten, maybe the Kisai Zone will. The hook on this particular model is its hexagonal number display, which is surprisingly easy to read, given some of the company's other offerings. The stainless steel strap and body comes in silver and black, with blue, green, purple or black options for the always-on LCD face completing the custom look. The watch is available now for a two-day introductory price of $99, which then jumps to $139. If your bare wrist is in need of further persuasion, then check out the video walkthrough below.%Gallery-164179%
Tokyoflash Japan unveils the Kisai Online, tells the time in vertical lines
The latest fan-submitted timepiece from Tokyoflash bundles together 10 distinct lines to tell the time. The Kisai Online's built-in accelerometer means as you rotate the watch to view, an otherwise cryptic mess of lines transforms into something (a little) more readable. Toting the watchmaker's typical always-on display, the watch can be picked up in a choice of black and silver-finish stainless steel bodies, alongside three LCD colors; natural, blue and red. The limited edition design is available direct from the source link below -- but be ready to part with $170 for the privilege.
Kisai Stencil LCD watch keeps it vague, outlines the time (video)
The Kisai Stencil is the latest fan-submitted design to make it through to Tokyo Flash's online shelves. It brandishes the same always-on LCD display of its stablemates, with the time displayed through a combination of lines and dots, with the digits taking up the full width of the watch's display. The Stencil arrives in five different display colors, alongside both white or black leather strap options and arrives on Tokyo Flash's trademark early-bird discount; buy in the first 48 hours and you'll net a $40 discount, dropping the price down to $99. Obtuse timepiece fans can take a closer look in a video right after the break.
Tokyoflash Kisai Optical Illusion watch is more than meets the eye, smells like teen spirit
Back in the mid-90s, Magic Eye had a brief reign as the monger of stereogram cool -- you know, those hidden 3D images you could only see with crossed vision. While the flames of that mini-craze mercifully died out, it appears some diehard, grunge-era revivalist over at Tokyoflash is prepping a wrist piece comeback for the low-tech made notorious by Mallrats. Reincarnated as the Kisai Optical Illusion, this concept-to-design LCD watch incorporates high-resolution diagonal lines on its touch screen display that reveal the time to trained eyes. But if your peepers are out of practice, don't worry, there's also a handy shortcut button that ought to clarify things a bit. As with all of the outfit's pretty, but pointless chronological kit, this particular limited edition model will retail for $179 as part of a special two-day sale, after which it'll jump to $199. Like what you can't see? Then bust out the flannel, lace up those Docs and prepare your plastic for processing when this digital ticker hits virtual shelves.
Kisai Rogue Touch Pocket Watch from Tokyoflash keeps things dapper, semi-hard to decipher (video)
Yeah, we're well aware that our fascination with unique and multi-hued timepieces may be more of an obsession. Well, you can add another to the list with the Kisai Rogue Touch Pocket Watch from Tokyoflash. Enclosed by a stainless steel case with brushed edges, the $149 timekeeper makes use of a LCD display with LED backlights in your choice of four color options. The watch's face is protected by a spring-hinged cover and crystal lens. You'll notice a similar dial design to that of the Rogue Touch of the wrist wrapping variety, as this watch also sports four hot-zones for switching between modes. Capable of displaying two time zones, along with date and an alarm, the pocket watch uses an animation to monitor the hours instead of those clunky mechanized arms. If you're wanting a closer look hit the gallery below, and to see the timepiece in action, peep the video just past the break. %Gallery-141301%
