Despite the maker describing it as a “Horological Machine” and the thing looking like a miniature airplane that the dog got at, the MB&F HM4 Thunderbird is for telling the time with. It is a watch.

The left cylinder tells you how much power remains in its kinetic charger, while the right one tells you the time—in a surprisingly readable format, unlike some other high-concept nonsense we could mention.

Here’s the full press release. It’s a work of art in itself, and any press release that uses the word “transcendental ” deserves the honor of being reproduced in full.

We’ve seen high-concept watches  that are interesting, but the inevitable realization dawns that it takes ten minutes and vector calculus just to figure out what time it is. Mutewatch is different, its touch-based design actually makes it more…useful.

Gone are the days of trying to remember which buttons to press; the Mutewatch uses a simple swipe interface to activate the screen and toggle through alarm, timer, and clock functions. The alarm vibrates rather than creating a loud ruckus and is deactivated by pinching the watch. Pre-orders are available now in white, gray or red color options for €19 (~$25), which will be deducted from the full €199 (~$260) price when it ships

There are just 26 days left for people to vote on whether the Night Vision  concept watch should be put into production. I vote YES, if only because it’s their easiest-reading yet. Don’t believe me? Check it out:

Admittedly, at first I thought the 12 bars around the perimeter disappeared, depending on the hour. So, if it was 4 o’clock, only four bars would be visible. But then, I looked closer—and saw that actually, each bar around the edge corresponds to the location on an ordinary analogue clock. So, in this case, it’s 3 o’clock—and the minutes are spelled out in the middle, in digital form.

So far, it has a rating of 4.3 out of 5, so there’s a very good chance Tokyo Flash will create it. Still—best to cast your vote to help it along, anyway

With an face that seems ripped right out of Star Trek’s LCARS, you’d think the Gridlock is yet another Tokyoflash watch that’s nigh-impossible to read, but you’d be wrong. It’s actually quite simple once you figure out the hook.

The face is divided into two sections: the circle-like part and the box-filled matrix. The circle is the hour, and is displayed just like an analog watch. The matrix is split vertically, with the two halves showing minutes. See? Simple:

A former concept watch called the Vulcania has become flesh and bone. Designed by Fabrice Gonet for the three year old brand HD3 Complication. A trio-collective started by Jorg Hysek where he, Gonet and Valerie Ursenbacher design watches from their wildest imaginations.

The Vulcania name derives from the Jules Verne Steampunk hero, Captain Nemo and the island which was his home port. Like many of his contemporaries, Gonet has deconstructed the watch with its functions in a deeply set three-dimensional display, separating each gauge as a tribute to vintage naval technology both fictional (Nautilus) and fact (Turn-of-the-century mechanical submarines).

The hours are determined from the rotating wheel cylinders on the left, the minutes on a disc like a ship’s Chadburn Telegraph, a sextant style power reserve indicator, porthole loupe date window, and highlighted by the tilted bi-axial tourbillon. All the watch functions can be seen through its front and rear sapphire glass panels, side-viewing porthole, and the back plate has an etched map with its coordinates engraved on it. The case is titanium and platinum.

When you’ve got a watch on your wrist, you’re constantly saying something about yourself. That’s changed since the beginning of watches. When wrist watches were first invented, you definitely said something about your identity when you wore one. Then there was a long period when everyone had one – it was standard to have one. Now, in this age of pocket-sitting clocks on mobile phones, again the age of wrist clock fashion is born. Curve ID knows this.

What Curve ID presents here is two different wrist watches, both of them for the NIKE corporation. You’ll see the lighter-gray watch that goes by then name Triax Mia, very sassy, then there’s the Vapor 300 which boasts the market’s largest curved LED screen. How about that?

The Mechanized Digital Watch features a digital font but manipulates it to function as a “mechanized” number because the elements of each digit physically move to create numbers. Every digit is composed of 7 panels and to create a number, panels on the watch face recess revealing contrasting sidewalls. Thus creating the outline of a digit and a whole lot of fun!

Sputnik on Yanko Design has a deeper meaning than just the space satellite. Hit the “Sputnik” button and you’ll find two lamps and a projector already featured here. This time around our quest for the name takes us to the doors of Kibardindesign Studio, who have designed the namesake watch. Giving a new look to the classic digital watch, this funky version allows you to accessorize in a myriad of hues. Fancy one of these? You’re in luck coz they are open for pre-orders!

Size: 40 x 40 x 10mm/Band Width: 30mm
Color: Black, White, Silver and 16 bright colors
Water Resistance: 3ATM
Functions: Alarm, Chronograph, Date, Time
Battery: CR2016 Battery (3.0VDC Operating Voltage)
Module: 32,768Hertz Quartz Crystal Oscillation Frequency
Display: TDF LCD Display
Electroluminescent(EL): Backlight (with Auto – EL option)
Case Material: ABS plastic
Case Back: ABS plastic /Screw In
Wristband: Silicone and ABS plastic buckle

The Zipper Bracelet Watch is just that, of course there is no watch face; otherwise why would it be here on YD! This concept is a wide leather bracelet where the zips actually display the current time when you hit the central buttons on the wrist. Each zip displays a digit, which you are supposed to combine together to read the time. Sounds confusing right now, but hit the jump to see what I mean. Definitely easier than a Tokyo Flash!