A One-Eyed Wonder
Everywhere you look, people are reaching for their cell phones to make calls, take pictures, surf the Web or check the time. Sure, a cell phone is a multitasking marvel. But it’s still no substitute for a great wristwatch.
London designer Crispin Jones was inspired by ancient sundials when he created the Cyclops watch. It dispenses with conventional hour, minute and second hands and goes for a looser method of timekeeping. A single marker advances around the dial, and each hour is represented by a different circle. You can gauge the time based on the marker’s relative position. It’s not about telling time down to the exact minute, but about getting a general sense of the time to within a few minutes, Crispin says. The result is a relaxed kind of accuracy that brings a welcome balance to our hectic lives.
The Cyclops from Mr Jones Watches is available in two versions. The original version has a stainless steel case, white face, and stainless steel mesh strap. The special edition is done in black stainless steel. A wristwatch is more than a device that tells time; it expresses the wearer’s style and personality. If you’re up for unconventional timekeeping, you’ll be into Mr Jones Watch.
Crispin
I'm Crispin Jones the designer of the Cyclops watch. When I designed this watch I was trying to create something that dealt with time on a human scale - we don't experience the world in milliseconds, so with Cyclops you can judge the time to within about five minutes (which I reckon is all we really need to get by). Cyclops is designed to offer a calmer way of viewing the time. The design doesn't appeal to everyone, but those who like it, really love it!
I'm happy to answer any questions you might have, also you can help me by telling me what your favourite time of day is and why?
Jules – Grommet Team
6/4/2010 12:19 PMIt is hard to "tell" quality of materials and heft of the watch from a video. It feels substantial, and very precisely crafted, with beautiful finishes.
It also perfectly straddles being suitable for both men and women. Not too small for men. Not too bulky for (most) women. A really girly girl would find it too big, at least if she is more the type to go for extremely delicate, less contemporary jewelry. Of course, as Crispin says in the video, Mr. Jones watches can have more to do with suiting a particular mood--people can mix it up with this watch.
DJP
6/4/2010 12:25 PMAs someone who is very precise about time, I like the more relaxed feel of this watch. I can imagine getting used to this lack of "it's 11:54 AM" precision, and still being on time. If I'm supposed to be on a call at, say, noon and the circle is almost at noon, I'd know, "you've only got a bit of time to get ready for that call." I think that'd do just as well as being told, "It's 11:54 AM." I like this.
Katherine – Grommet Team
6/4/2010 12:34 PMIt wasn't so long ago that everyone had a watch, you'd feel off-balance if you didn't have one strapped to your wrist. I had some fun ones, they were my favorite way to accessorize!
Since we no longer need to rely on watches, when our phones are precisely synched, this watch is a wonderful way to remind us to be a little more relaxed about our time commitments! I love it!
frank c
6/4/2010 12:43 PMbeautiful!
Elaine
9/11/2010 7:34 PMI'm very pleased with the Cyclops, and like the relaxed feel of time throughout the work day. When it first arrived I was starting vacation so I wasn't wearing it much and noticed it wasn't keeping time. When I started back to work and was wearing it for about 10 hours a day it began keeping time beautifully.
Katherine – Grommet Team
9/12/2010 12:54 PM@Elaine - thanks for stopping back. We're glad that it has a relaxed feel through your busy days!
Elaine
12/9/2010 2:18 PM@Katherine - Daily Grommet Community Team: I just wanted to update that I wear the watch to work everyday and many customers have commented on it. They seem to appreciate the design.
Katherine – Grommet Team
12/10/2010 9:59 AM@Elaine: Your customers share your good taste!
Susan
10/29/2010 2:42 PMI really like the looks of the "cyclops", but wanted to know if it is easy to read at night. Can it be seen in the dark?
Katherine – Grommet Team
11/1/2010 8:17 PM@Susan: these watches do not have luminous printing nor any other internal illumination, so they need an external light in order to be viewed in the dark. Great question, thanks for posting!