A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed the minimalist designer watch ZIIIRO Celeste ZIIIRO Celeste Watch Review and Giveaway I'm not much of a watch person. Between 1995 and 2012, I've only owned two watches, and both of them were relatively nondescript, plain and unattractive. Read More and I absolutely fell in love with its geeky, quirky take on time. Today, I’ll be looking at something similar from the renowned geeky watchmaker, Toykoflash — the Kisai Online LCD watch, a $169 watch with an emphasis on design.
Does this futuristic watch deserve a spot in your watch box? Does it look as good in person as it does online? Is the design practical and suitable for everyday use? If you’re aching to find out if you should spend $169 on this watch, find out in the details in my review. Plus, we’re also giving this Tokyoflash Kisai Online LCD watch away!
While the ZIIIRO Celeste ZIIIRO Celeste Watch Review and Giveaway I'm not much of a watch person. Between 1995 and 2012, I've only owned two watches, and both of them were relatively nondescript, plain and unattractive. Read More came packaged in a stylish circular box, this Tokyoflash Kisai Online LCD watch was shipped in a plain carton box. So, in terms of packaging, it was a total let down, hence the lack of unboxing photos here. No matter, since all we’re interested in is what the box contains so I’ll look past the unattractive packaging and go straight to the watch.
If you’re a seasoned online shopper, the fact that some products are made to look better online and in photos, from capturing them at the right angles and image editing, probably isn’t much of a surprise to you. Unfortunately, the Tokyoflash Kisai Online LCD watch was poorly (falsely?) represented online. In person, it was pretty much a disappointment.
What you can’t see from the product images on Toykoflash’s website is that the watch is really quite thick. And it wasn’t until I put it on that I realised just how heavy the 160g watch is. In my mind, I was expecting a watch with finesse and a futuristic, elegant design. Instead, in all honesty, I received a product which pretty much looks like a counterfeit watch you might find in an Asian night market.
This Toykoflash Kisai Online LCD watch features a black or silver stainless steel case with an adjustable bracelet strap. Each design is sold in one of 3 LCD colour options: natural, blue and red. The case is also made of stainless steel, with what I’m assuming is a plastic face cover, and measures 33mm x 51mm x 14.4mm — that’s right folks, the watch is over 1cm thick. The steel used to construct the watch doesn’t exude a quality finish either. In fact, I’m sad to say that it sounds and feels rather plasticky, hollow and cheap. Due to the largeness of the case and the relative skinniness of its strap, I found the watch to be quite top-heavy and not at all comfortable to wear.
What initially attracted me to this watch was the LCD display and its vertical line design. On paper, the cool cryptic pattern has the potential to turn something as boring as telling time, into an interesting, head-turning event that people will enjoy talking about. In reality, I’m afraid that it doesn’t even come close.
The red on black colour scheme not only makes the lines and “digits” difficult to discern, it can sometimes be impossible to read in certain conditions. Even though the LCD is constantly on, there isn’t enough contrast between the lines and the background, so they blend into each other — another aspect of the watch which was falsely represented by their manipulated product images. In low-light conditions, this turns into a nightmare. The fitted electroluminescent light source isn’t even close to bright enough. So don’t bother looking at this watch if you expect to read the time at night.
One of the main selling points of this watch is a cryptic mode, which adds even more lines to its already complicated design. This is achieved using an accelerometer — swing the watch towards you to reveal the time, swing it away from you to enable the cryptic mode. In the image below, I have the watch upside-down and as you can see, when the watch is in cryptic mode, it’s impossible to tell the time. Fantastic.
Along with the current time, the Tokyoflash Kisai Online LCD watch also has a date indicator and an alarm, which beeps like a cheap watch and is dreadfully impossible to set. So my advice to you is: never use it.
Should you buy the Tokyoflash Kisai Online LCD watch?
As I mentioned in the beginning of this review, Tokyoflash is a respected geeky watch maker. Several of their designs have made it to well-respected designer blogs. So, as a consumer who paid $169 for the Kisai Online LCD watch, I expected more. I would have preferred the LCD to be easier to read. The case could have been slimmer. The stainless steel finish could have been better. The EL light could have been brighter. The entire watch could have been lighter.
Overall, its shortcomings prevented me from utilising the watch to its fullest potential.
Manipulated product images on Tokyoflash’s website made the watch look better than it actually is.
Gizmos and gadgets always get my attention.
Ugh I hate when watch dimensions aren't what they seem- I always end up looking like I have baby bird wrists
there's no point of making watches like these
who wins this funky geeky watchie?
I want one. I'm a geek. :D
Excellent review and thank you for the giveaway. Good luck to everyone!
Cool watch. After I got my smart phone I never needed one anymore but that thing looks pretty slick.
ill have this one Mr Chung!
looks pretty awesome....i want this.
nice watch
it is tough to find Giveaway code from Goofle+ page
Actually it's not. Just open our Google+ page [no longer available], scroll down to load a sufficient number of posts, then search for the keyword 'Giveaway' and find the code and link to the Giveaway you would like to participate in.
This Giveaway was announced twice on Google+, but only the first announcement contained the code. Apologies for that!
I love it!
I love guizmo-watches! Too bad there is not one single of these fabulous watch brands making them in woman-size. :(
I don't really like the looks of this one, but I joined because in case I win, I'll give it to my younger geeky brother as a present. He's birthday is on Jan. 25! =)
Let me have this. Hehehe
this watch seems to be very amazing and geeky!!
I hope to be one of the winner....
Thanks for the review. I am always looking at great geeky stuff, but I don't want CRAP. Hopefully Kisai Online will read what everyone has posted and improve the watch.
Looks like a throwback to the early LED watches, but I bet it would be fun messing about with it.
Watch looks like cool piece of jewelry. Don't know how you tell time with it.
Nice Giveaway which if I win I will give to grand son because I am too old to pretend I am a young geek. Thank you
can't seem to be able to enter the KISAI giveaway..what's up with that?
its a nice birthday presence...
U guys are great
U guys are great.
Thanks...Awesome giveaway!!!
Cool
Super Kooky Geeky
Thanks for the giveaway!!!
Looks like a cool watch. Good luck everyone!!
Very cool just what I needed!!! Nice Giveaway!!
No one else will be able to read your watch so once you master it that'll be cool.
Well got the Make Use Of review of the ZIIIRO Celeste and give away and did not want to take the chance of winning one so I bought one from Watchismo, the experience was very good, the deliver of the watch was very good, the Watch is fantastic.....love it big time. So thanks for the Geek Review and your recommendations on the ZIIIRO were bang on! Happy New Year from the Great White North.......
Your review seems spot on. It does look bulky and cumbersome. Could be a fun accessory and conversation piece :)
The reviewer doesn't seem impressed!
Sounds like the winner (?) will at least be the only guy in town with one of these!
Hmmm! Not sure???
Wow! I like this better then the Ziiiro Clelete watch(no offense Ziiiro). I may can't wite to win one, I just may get one for my son as a gift for getting all A's on his report card. :-)
looks exciting
Looks so cool! My husband would be wild about this!
From your review I understand I don't want it, even for free. It's value will be regarded better in someone else' hands...
Geez, you bash the watch design, recommend not to buy it and THEN you want to give it away? No thanks. Heck, why don't you just throw it away? It would probably end up in the trash of the winner anyway.
Honesty is always appreciated, and harsh no just dissapointed as it sounds like you should be, christine
It's really bad to know that your are not offering giveaways to Pakistani internet users. Really bad.
wooohooo!!!!
Love the watch!!! Love make use of as well!!
warch is not geeky but something is better than nothing :) participated.
hmmm i like the design of this watch..
Nice watch :)
Yes please & thanks.
cant seem to get the code off your facebook page i click on Giveaway Codes and its just a blank page please help thanks
looks good!
THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY !....
Wonderful watch!! Thanks for the chance to win!! Rita Spratlen
Interesting, love a new toy.
You are right....If you can read a watch, then its pretty much useless. Disappointing considering Tokyoflash's street cred...it looks more like a street buy.
I don't really like watches but his one it's kinda interesting.
You know, I honestly haven't worn a watch in 15+ years now. Every other device in the world tells the time - TV, phone, energy monitor, even my cooker - I can't help thinking having a device that ONLY tells the time is just so pointless.
Exactly. And if i was going to wear a watch, it'd be a retro steampunk-y thing. Embrace the anachronism!
Right on, Chris !
Have you looked into the Omega Speedmaster? Its probably the only watch you'll find that is really accurate, multi-atmosphere, and multi-function (Tachymetere, stopwatch, AND DATE!) all starting at $3K. But you can get one that's all mechanical and self winding - for like $1500 more.
More like a girlish watch.
By checking images I've found that its displaying everything in format of lines ! Looks good, would like to try it.
Looks like a real cool watch to wear around your wrist :)
Nah, ankle works better.
I don't wear watches but making an exception if i win this.
I would love to win this very nice geeky watch! Thanks make use of and Sir Jackson!
I really really want this *.*
thank you very much and Happy New Year!
its shape is very strange actually i do not like it so much
I would love to have this. Explaining its design would be worth it!
awesome watch
I would rather prefer Kisai ONAIR wrist watch. It has more friendly interface and smart design http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQlT5Qtl8dQ
this watch seems to be very amazing and geeky !!
Thanks for the giveaway
Looks like something that Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory would wear...
Looks real geeky which makes it perfect
looks like a geeky watch
I don't get what the point is to make an unreadable watch
I agree.
a geekly useless gadget! lol