An Alternative to Rolex?

Tokyoflash have a bit of a reputation for producing ‘geeky’ watches. Fun to wear, their bright LED designs often have unusual and interesting mechanisms for telling the time. There is a new collection of watches available now however from Tokyoflash that have moved away from this previous design, towards a more functional and stylish look. The Independent Series as it is known include a selection of designs that offer a look that is not totally dissimilar to a Rolex.

A Rolex is a coveted watch - the style and expense makes the watch not only attractive to look at, but an effective symbol of wealth and success. Alas, not everyone can afford a Rolex, so why not instead look for a cheaper alternative? A cool design, elegant look and extremely high fashion trend can be found not just with a Rolex, but also amongst the Tokyoflash Independent collection of 2009. If you are looking for a sophisticated, attractive watch that makes a statement, and yet can’t afford a Rolex then one from the Tokyoflash Independent collection could be just the ticket.

Here at ZG Watches we have a whole supply of Tokyoflash watches available. As purely an online operator, we have no overheads that a traditional shop has which allows us to pass our savings on to our customers. If there is a particular design of watch you want but cannot see on our site, don’t hesitate to get in touch so we can source it for you, of course passing along our excellent savings.

Have any of you got a watch from the Tokyoflash collection? Do you find it makes a statement in a similar way to that of a Rolex, or do you think there are no similarities at all between the two brands? As always, send in your comments below.

WITness wrist watch

Another very funky wrist watch has recently been released to the market. Designed by Hay Heun, this watch takes its inspiration from a time gone by, when sun dials were the time pieces of the moment. This watch is called the WITness watch and although given a modern twist, is very reminiscent of a sun dial. It does not however actually need the sun to offer the time and instead works using radial bars.

The watch consists of 2 dials, an outer dial and an inner dial. The outer dial represents the minute hand, and the inner dial represents the hour hand. The dials both consist of radial bars, and when one bar is absent, the correct hour or minute is represented. So all the wearer has to do is look at the face and see where the break in the radial bars of both the outer and inner dials are to get the time. It may sound a little complicated, but it isn’t really!

If sun dial inspired watches are not for you however, you should have a look at our selection at ZG Watches. We have all the classic makes and models from Seiko to Casio to other designer brands. We offer some of the best rates found anywhere on the web, as we work hard to keep our overheads down so we can pass on the savings to our customers. If there is a particular watch you cannot find on our site, like for example the WITness watch (!) then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, as we may be able to source it for you.

Would any of you be interested in the new Hay Heun sun dial watch? Do you like wacky wrist watches or are you more traditional? Send in your comments below.

The Watches of James Bond

The world always awaits with baited breath to see what classic watch our favourite secret agent is going to be wearing on his wrist during the latest film. Over the years, Bond has worn Omega wristwatches, Rolexes and even Seiko’s amongst the impressive collection. Here is a closer look at the watches from the movies...

The very first bond film, Dr No, filmed in 1962 sees Bond wearing a Rolex Submariner. Rolexes continued to be a presence throughout the films and different models are worn by Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and George Lazenby.

Omega watches were introduced by Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye who wears a Seamaster 2541.80. Quantum of Solace, a much more recent film sees Daniel Craig sporting the Omega Planet Ocean 2201.50, so it looks like the Omega is here to stay for a while.

The 1973 film ‘Live and Let Die’ saw a collection of up to the minute and inventive watches appear alongside the new Bond at this time, Roger Moore. The Hamilton Pulsar 'P2 2900' LED digital watch is just one of the up to the minute technological watches shown in the film.

Seiko is another favourite brand of watch for 007. Both analogue and liquid crystal diode displays have been worn over the years, and one from this range was even adapted by Q to be fitted with a television monitor!

There are too many watches to mention all of them, so this is just a sample of the types of watches worn over the years by our favourite agent. The watch in a Bond movie is often altered to include a host of other functions that only a secret agent (or a dastardly villain) could need. Some favourite features include the retractable piano wire, the ticker tape messages and the spinning dial turning it into a saw!

What are your favourite James Bond watch moments? Send in your comments below.

Totally unique clocks and watches

You really think you’ve seen it all, but then a new watch or clock design will come out which will be so unlike anything you’ve seen before. Then you really think you’ve seen it all but it happens again!

Take Thorunn Arnadottir’s bead clock for example. This extraordinary time piece resembles a string of beads. It sits over a wheel which turns slowly. Each bead represents 5 minutes, and as the wheel turns, a bead will fall down the sting and thus present the time. To make things a little easier and to save counting all the beads, there is a gold bead for midday and a silver bead for midnight. So to tell the time you simply count from the gold and silver bead. This ingenious design can be worn as a very nice ad stylish necklace too! The Icelandic designer designed this clock to create a more “emotional” perception of time. Removing the beads from the wheel can express freedom and wearing it around your neck symbolizes control over your minutes.

Or how about Matthias Lange who has developed a alarm clock designed to be bashed. It is only in the prototype stages at the moment, but the design has appropriately been called “Smash.” To stop it ringing you have to give this egg like clock a good bash. The reason for this? Lange wanted to design something that displayed its daily usage through visual deformation - in today’s world, things either break or are replaced before genuine wear and tear shows through.

No doubt there will be a host of other extraordinary designs for clocks, alarms and watches in the months and years to come. It is interesting to wonder what they might come up with next! Meanwhile you can find a whole host of watch designs and makes on our website www.zgwatches.co.uk. If there is one you particularly want but cannot find (bead clock anyone?) then you can let us know and we will source it for you, passing along our excellent discounts of course.

If anyone has come across any other unusual watch or clock designs, send in your comments below.

How to keep track of your offspring

We’ve mentioned GPS watches before her at ZG as we just love their clever design and superb and novel functionality, but it now seems that it is not just us who are enamoured with this type of watch. Parents are really enjoying GPS watches, a particular brand in general (more to follow) as it allows them to keep track of their children!

I had assumed it would be drivers and outdoor sports fanatics that would be the main takers of GPS watches, I hadn’t considered the tracking possibilities and what the implications would be. A new watch designed specifically for this purpose has recently been launched by Lok8u in Las Vegas called the Num8 watch. Parents can strap one on the wrist of their child and know precisely where they are at all times.

The watch is around £150 and works by sending a signal of the child’s precise location via satellite to the Num8’s website for parents to monitor. If the watch is forcibly removed (it is locked on) then an alarm is tripped on the website and an email alert sent to the parent.

This extraordinary design is not only unique but also cleverly constructed and is completely accurate - to within 3 meters. Furthermore, parents can even receive a text message direct from the watch itself providing its exact current location. When the watch is taken inside, mobile phone triangulation is used to provide an accurate indication of location as a satellite signal is likely to grow weak. They really have thought of everything.

The makers of this watch are not intending it to be used as a restrictive method, completely the opposite in fact. Their intention is for anxious parents who worry about the safety of their children to be able to relax a bit more and provide them with a little more freedom.

Contact us here at ZG watches if you would like to know more about GPS watches. Do you think this type of watch is a good idea, or do you think it will inevitably used by parents as a way to control their children? Would it give you peace of mind if your child was sporting one of these watches? Send in your comments below.

Kahuna Watches

A Kahuna watch is the ultimate extreme sports watch. It has a huge following amongst the BMX riders, surfers and of course skate boarders out there. The watches themselves have been designed specifically for riders and extreme sports fanatics and the brand Kahuna are major sponsors of some of the biggest and most popular events that take place across the world and sponsors of the best talent out there competing.

One of the great things about these watches is that they are excellent value. With prices ranging from as low as £25 up to no more than around £45, you are receiving a great watch at an amazing price. The quality can in no way be called anything other than extremely high too - these watches are incredibly well made and very sturdy. No matter how many skate boarding accidents or BMX disasters are thrown at these watches, they will continue just ticking away!

We have a good collection of these watches at ZG. If there is a particular model however that you can’t find within our range then please let us know as will likely be able to source it for you, all at our excellent prices of course.

Is there anyone out there who wears a Kahuna watch? Please write in with your experiences of these watches. Does it hold up to the mighty force of a massive wave or continue running after a wipe out on a BMX? We are interested to hear what you think of the Kahuna watch so send in your comments below.

Retro Watches

Retro style will always be considered pretty cool, and there is no exception when it comes to watches. There are a few different makers of retro watches, but a particularly funky brand is the Lambretta range. Yes, that’s the scooter company Lambretta! They have a very large selection of retro style watches in their range, and what’s more, you can see the scooter theme embedded throughout the selection. Each watch has been designed in a way that retains the feel of the very famous and popular scooters that the Lambretta name has come to symbolize.

We love them so much here at ZG that we supply pretty much every single one in their range. Possibly having the largest collection of this particular make found anywhere on the web - there’s 45 of them on our site! There are some with the Union Jack displayed on the face, others that are more plain. Some have metal straps although the majority have leather ones.

There can be no denying the traditional scooter theme however that is present in the designs. Are there any Lambretta lovers out there? If so, why not display your fondness for the brand by wearing one of their watches? Prices range from around £40 up to £150 so every budget is catered for. For those considering buying a new watch, a Lambretta is certainly unique and stands out. Am I right in thinking that a Lambretta watch is eye-catching - if anyone has one we’d love to hear what peoples’ reaction are to it. Can they see the scooter inspiration behind the design?

Luminox Watches

These are seriously cool watches. They are completely solid so no amount of bashing them is likely to cause them any harm or damage and they use an incredible system of illumination that allows you to tell the time in the pitch black without even needing to push a button. This illumination system works by using micro gas lights that glow continuously in the dark. It is a system developed by the world leader in the luminous compound industry so you know it is not going to let you down. They don’t need an external light source to charge unlike traditional luminous watches so they are perfect if you are out at night and they glow 100 times brighter than the traditional variety too.

In fact so effective and tough are these particular watches that they are the preferred choice of US Navy Seals, S.W.A.T, Canadian Special Forces, Secret Service, US Air Force, FBI, L.A.P.D and N.Y.P.D! That is quite a list!

They have a very good but tough looking design - you get the impression you could run a tank over these and then simply put it back on your wrist! This coupled with the fact the illumination system will continue working for 25 years means this watch has some serious staying power.

We supply a whole range of Luminox watches at ZG and would be happy to offer further information about them if you require. The price of these watches vary from £100 to £500 depending on the model you would like. Please feel free to contact our staff for more information and advice. Have any of you got a Luminox watch? Has the tough design stood the test of time with you? Send in your comments below.

Kenneth Cole Watches

Kenneth Cole made his name selling shoes over 20 years ago and has since then become a dominant player in the world of fashion across the entire world.

Wanting to showcase his line of shoes at Market Week in New York back in the 80’s when he was just starting out, he did not have the money for a hotel room or showroom to display his items. Not one for quitting he looked to hiring a trailer and parking it close by to the action. Unfortunately for Cole however, permits for a trailer were only granted to production companies. Still determined to press on, Cole simply renamed his company “Kenneth Cole Productions” and got a license to film the production “The Birth of a Shoe Company.” As the subsequent film can testify to, his shoes proved a massive hit with thousands flying off the shelves literally overnight.

It comes of very little surprise that the innovative and entrepreneurial businessman has since branched into watches and now has a range of designs that are both sleek and elegant alongside the rest of his fashion wear.

The watches, much like his shoes, have been an instant hit and it is easy to see why. The simple clean lines and elegant faces define his range of timepieces, all of which we stock at ZG and are proud to do so. Unlike many other ranges of designer watches, the Kenneth Cole designs we have start at around £80. If you are looking for a snappy watch that will not break the bank, a Kenneth Cole is definitely a viable way to go. The range has both metal and leather strapped watches as well as digital and analogue designs. Contact us here at ZG watches if you would like to know more about Kenneth Cole watches.

EX Watches

EX watches are considered by many to be the ultimate watch for extreme sport junkies. They are branded as the watch for those with a thirst for adventure and life, the accompanying hard core attitude to match but who are also fairly fashion conscious. We supply a number of EX watches that are all very sexy to look at, but extremely tough and durable. You really could put these watches through their paces and they would come up trumps each time.

There are some EX watches that even come with an attached carabiner that can be clipped on to anything, so if you find yourself half up a rock face or some other extreme situation, you can clip your watch to anything available. Pretty cool?

If you are one of these people who love adventure and action but want a snappy watch that won’t look out of place when worn to work or out to a restaurant, then an EX watch may be suitable for you. They are very funky looking and we just love them here at ZG. Rock climbers, kite surfers, snowboarders....whatever sports you are into, if you want a durable watch that doubles as a good looking fashion accessory give an EX watch a try.

There are a range of styles available and prices range from £50 to £100. There are both digital and analogue watches within the collection. If you have one of these watches, send in your comments below. Do you find them to stand up against extreme conditions or have you had other watches that have been better for this. We would as always love to hear your comments.

LED Watches

There was a trend away from the LED watch for many years, however with some new offerings from various watchmakers, they are beginning to make a comeback all across Britain.

01 The One watches are extremely nice too look at and have a very funky and futuristic look to them. We are very big fans at ZG watches and in fact stock so many that we are within reach of becoming the company with the largest selection online in the whole of the UK.

LED watches aren’t really a new concept and they have in fact been around for a while, however, being accompanied by large price tags meant that they were not generally a viable option for that many people. This has all changed however as you can now buy an LED watch similar to one from the 01 The One range for under £100.

We particularly like the brand new Ibiza Ride LED watch that has a unique system for telling the time - you look for the numbers that are lit up on the display! This is quite a large watch which may or may not be an advantage. It all depends on whether you want your watch to stand out in a crowd; The Ibiza Ride will certainly do that.

Part of the same range, there are quite a few binary watches. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to use this method for telling time, they all come with instructions so it won’t take long to pick it up. The very futuristic styles of all the LED watches make them really stand out. We think they are super funky, but others think that they are a bit bulky and too non-traditional.

Who thinks that futuristic LED watches are an exciting twist on a classic time piece, or who thinks they are just clunky and a step too far? Send in your thoughts and comments below.

GPS Wrist Watches?

2009 seems to be signaling the arrival of a wrist watch with a built in GPS. A wrist watch with GPS is an excellent idea for hikers, climbers and sailors as it is lightweight and very portable. But this new invention is just a start for future watches.

Watch manufacturers have traditionally had no difficulty selling their models and brands of traditional watches, however with the advent of iPods, laptops, mobile phones and every other piece of gadgetry that is on the market, the wrist watch is finding itself surplus to requirement - why buy a watch to tell the time when you could buy a PDA that does that and allows you surf the web?

Being aware of this, watch makers are looking for new ways to entice consumers to purchase wrist watches, and one way of doing so is to combine state of the art technology with the time pieces. At first, watches were given the additions of thermometers, barometers, stop watches and timers, but now they are moving into a more ‘high-tech’ arena. Global positioning satellites within watches are one move that producers are taking, but there is no reason to think it will stop there. How about watches that you can play music through, or even watch videos? I doubt it will be long before these are common place and available to buy at reasonable prices.

With consumer buying behaviour changing, watch makers are having to change alongside them or risk diminishing sales and loss of profits. If anyone has any good ideas as to what elements should be combined with watches, post your suggestions here.

Danish Design Watches

Danish Design Watches are not seen that often in shops in the UK. This is surprising as they are well made, affordable and extremely stylish. They are very popular in Europe however and it probably won’t take long before the UK starts catching up.

They are all well designed and have a clean and elegant look to them. I am a particular fan of the selection of diving watches amongst the collection which I find to be just as a diving watch should be- chunky, masculine and impressive. With a price tag of between £85 and £130, they are reasonably priced and will last for a long time. I would definitely recommend these diving watches if you are looking for an impressive and classic design.

For those not looking for a sports watch, there are a variety of other watches amongst the collection. They cover the spectrum of designs with not only classic looking, elegant timepieces, but also several designs with a more edgy and minimalist feel, even perhaps with a slightly futuristic feel to them. The Danish Design Leather Strap Watch is a very nice watch that has that minimalist feel to it.

ZG Watches is an authorised dealer of this delightful brand of Danish Design Watches. Visit our collection to see if there is something there that catches your eye. You will receive the watch in its original presentation case along with an instruction booklet and warranty.

Do any of you have Danish Design watches. What do you like about them, or dislike about them? Leave all your comments below.

Solar Powered Watches

Casio amongst other watch makers have got a range of eco-friendly watches. Powered by converting light (both natural from the sun and even artificial from light bulbs) into energy, these Casio watches never need a battery to work and hence are better and safer for the environment.

Each watch has a small solar panel contained within it that is very effective and will keep your watch running for a long time. When fully charged, a solar powered watch could last for up to 5 months without ever seeing the light of day again. They run very efficiently and if their energy does start to fade there is a mechanism that provides a warning. Rather than simply losing time, the watches will shut off various functions if running low on energy and will just turn off altogether if completely out.

Even the Casio G Shock range work using this form of solar technology. With all the additional functions a G Shock watch has such as thermometers, barometers and stop watches to name but a few, the solar panel would have to work effectively to keep it going. You can therefore be reassured that it is a safe and effective method.

Whilst of course a solar powered watch won’t exactly stop the melting of the polar ice caps in their tracks, particularly when you think of the energy used in order to make the watch in the first place, it must be said that having a watch that doesn’t require a battery or winding is a benefit and a real time and hassle saver!