HOT: Watches that tell you when you're ovulating, that tell you if your kid had run across the street, that protect you from gamma rays, that monitor your blood pressure, that tell you when to wake up on the proper cycle, et cetera, et cetera.

DATED (?): Watches that only tell you the time.

Watch Reports has chimed in on the current trend for watches to move into territory, that for now, cell phones and ipods have not treaded upon: health/safety/general life support. And while personal upkeep may very well be an area that the wristwatch will have a leg up, I don't know if this niche will be its savior. I see the trend as part of a bigger trend which includes:

1/ the personal upkeep watch

It's a trend, but will it last? I think only in a very limited capacity.

2/ the watch as accessory item

One direction in which the watch will persist is not so much as a timepiece but as a fashion accessory item. Whether the second hand ticks is irrelevant, what is relevant is whether it's a Patek Phillipe, Fossil, or some funky creation from Tokyoflash. The wristwatch, and this will be especially true for men (as they, in general, don't have the option of wearing bracelets or other types of adornments), will become a beacon of one's personality -- perhaps even moreso than articles of clothing. A man wearing a bright blue scarf, for example, could be a student, a banker, an artist -- there would be no way to pigeonhole -- however if he were bearing a Rolex it would immediately convey a sense of social status/personality.

3/ other technology merging toward the watch

Looking forward even a few more years, what will save the wristwatch is not the watch, but the wrist. It so happens that the wrist is one of the most convenient places on the body to carry an item which needs to be accessed frequently. As future models of cell phone are developed, using flexible OLED technology for example, we may see them commonly worn as we see wristwatches today. This undoubtedly will not be lost on designers, who may in turn begin drawing them up as such. So, in a round-a-bout way, the force leading the wristwatch toward 'obsolescence' may also be its saving grace.

Concept only: yet nevertheless by its looks, present kink will only transform into future kink. A Belarussian designer envisions the watch working through a processor, which would relay the time information by positively charging the furs making them stand into the shape of the appropriate numbers.

Though by its looks this seems destined to be sold in pairs, with an attaching strap -- lock optional, natch.

// via Watch Reports.net

As the late American football playing/evangalist, Reggie White, so (in)famously said: "When you look at the Asians, the Asian is very gifted in creation, creativity and inventions. If you go to Japan or any Asian country, they can turn a television into a watch. They're very creative." Reggie, we hear ya, which is why Timepiecer brings you our weekly spotlight on that very creative nation and their watches, in a section called TWIT: This Week In Tokyo.

Ah, yes, the Japanese. Lovely country. Tokyo metro system is one of the world's most punctual. They have platform guards to shove you in the cars during peak hours just so the metro will shove off in time. And yet, for the life of me, I am in constant amazement how any of this punctuality occurs, considering the fact that you need a PhD to read their wristwatches. Or, in this case, an ability to translate the graphic equalizer reading on your Winamp into a number that will let you get to work on time.

Then again, perhaps it's just their little conspiracy to keep the gaidjin down -- only done with the export models. You know, ship them out these cool yet bafflingly obtuse creations, then watch with restrained pleasure at them while they visit, missing appointment after appointment.

// Audiocubes via Wrist Style

Living in Budapest, I thought it wise to check out what lost little chronological treasures could be found while digging through piles of crap in the local flea markets. So this will be part one in a mini-series of me doing just that.

I struck out on a rainy Sunday to probably the biggest of the markets, Ecseri, to see what funkiness I could find from both sides of the Iron Curtain from days of yore. I wasn't disappointed. Without a doubt my favorite of the day was this old school Swiss Hanowa (pictured), from what appears to be the 1960s but I very much could be mistaken. If anyone can offer some insight on that please write me. And I love very much how it calls itself 'digital.'

Armani joins the "Red" campaign of products generating sales to give to AIDS relief efforts in Africa. These are great in terms of raising awareness, but I'd rather not think of the executive mindset when they considering launching these, because I fear it leans more to "creating buzz for our products in general," rather than, "really making a difference for those unfortunate ones." Apparently 50% of profit gets donated, but doesn't that seem a bit cheeky? Why not 100%? Well, anyhow, it's red, it's simple, it's digital.

// Armani

Watchisimo lays down a monster awesome chronological summary of the 007 series. The old school Rolex Submariner bedded Connery droves of ladies and the Omega Seamaster undoubtedly will for Craig. (Eva Green=drool)

So long as Bond is rockin' the wrist bling I think any siren calls about the demise of the wristwatch are woefully premature. I mean, really, could you see him checking the time on a Blackberry? I thought not.

// Watchisimo

This Glashütte is one of those fairly popular 'moon phase' watches, and you can particularly tell in this case because the second hand has a moon on it (clever). Though, I've always wondered: why moon phase? I mean, for that you can just look up. How about keeping track of some other phases that could be a little more difficult to ascertain.

For instance:
-stock market fluctuations
-the "male period"
-the denial phase
-the phases of human existence
-when i should clean out my refrigerator

// via Dreamwatches

As the late American football playing/evangalist, Reggie White, so (in)famously said: "When you look at the Asians, the Asian is very gifted in creation, creativity and inventions. If you go to Japan or any Asian country, they can turn a television into a watch. They're very creative." Reggie, we hear ya, which is why Timepiecer brings you our weekly spotlight on that very creative nation and their watches, in a section called TWIT: This Week In Tokyo.

Connect to your computer, your CD player, your MP3 player, your car radio, your other watch, your girlfriend, and no tell what else with this week's TWIT special: FMP3 watch. And just for fun wear it with all 8 cords attached for that octopus effect!

// Raremonoshop via Wrist Dreams

The TV wristwatch offers you this sublime possibility: waking up on a Saturday morning, noticing the unseasonal warm weather outside, deciding to take advantage by packing a lunch and a bottle of white wine, heading out to your local park, slipping your shoes and socks off, laying down on a blanket, greeting your friends, and, well, watching an hour of TV. (the battery life is one hour)

// via Firebox

Tissot's early 1970s plastic design, which failed but turned out to be the pre-cursor of Swatch: however, it wasn't for lack of inspiration on this forward-thinking and valiant, if doomed effort. I mean, who could've predicted if they swapped out 'plastic' for 'jelly' and downsized it so a dainty teenage girls wrist could handle 3 or 4 at a time, they would've had a hit straight away? Just imagine, the mid-1980s could've suddenly jumpstarted during the early 1970s! ...

On second thought, maybe it's for the best that they kinda bombed it.

// via Watchisimo