Affordable Men’s Automatic Watches by ORIENT Japan

History: The Travel Watch

Believe it or not there was a time not too long ago when a wristwatch was not a popular accessory. Back in the 1920’s and 30’s a popular timepiece was the travel watch, a precursor to the wristwatch. Travel watches are pocket-sized clocks that are usually encased in steel, gold or silver with two dials. Travel watches are carried, not worn and to read the watch you had to flip open or unclip the case to view the dial. They are also referred to as “purse watches,” due to their small portable size. In the roaring 20’s and 30’s the travel watch was a trendy alternative to the pocket watch.

Watchmakers such as Audemars Piguet, Cartier, Zenith, Girard-Perregaux, and Rolex were all making travel watches during this time. Many models were designed more as art pieces than timepieces, boasting ornate and elaborate enamel cases. Despite its unique style the travel watch market was relatively small even in its heyday. The fleeting popularity of the travel watch was eventually superseded by the success of the wristwatch. Understanding the evolution of the wristwatch can teach us a lot about contemporary style and design, and the travel watch is no exception. To learn more about travel watches check out this informational  website or read about the largest collection of travel watches here.

Funky Watch Alert

What does the watch of the future look like? If we had to guess we’d say it’s the Kisai Optical Illusion LCD watch from TokyoFlash Japan. TokyoFlash watches go way beyond just telling time – they design watches for the 22^nd century. Their watches push the limit of contemporary design creating unique pieces of art.

The Kisai Optical Illusion is a touch screen watch that displays the time digitally through high-resolution diagonal lines. To read the time you must train your eyes to recognize the LCD pattern. TokyoFlash elevates the act of keeping time and creates truly remarkable timepieces. The Kisai watch, priced at $199, is just the newest design from a long line of innovative watches from TokyoFlash.

The Price That’s Right

A wristwatch grows with you – in age, style, and season as a timepiece and a statement accessory. If it’s style your interested in you don’t have to spend a bundle to get the look you want. J. Crew, Fossil, and Kenneth Cole New York are just a few quality brands that have stylish watches priced around $100. A hefty price tag doesn’t always guarantee sartorial satisfaction but for a watch that will last a lifetime the investment is worth it. No matter what amount you are willing to spend never settle when it comes to quality. Here are a few quality signs to look out for when purchasing a watch:

• Weight – The components that make up a watch should give it a substantial heft. If it feels cheap it probably is.
• Fakes – Unfortunately counterfeiters can be found in every industry. Imitation may be the best kind of compliment but it’s also illegal. Watch out for inconsistent labeling or a deal that’s too good to be true (because it probably is).
• Movement – the hands of a watch shouldn’t make an audible tick-tock sound. If you can hear your watch it’s definitely not a good sign.