Maru – The Fifth Pocket Watch Design

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Design submitted by Sam from Germany.

Sam says: “I saw a documentary on TV about the “fifth pocket” on a a pair of jeans. They interviewed people on the streets and asked, “What is this little pocket for?” The most people said, it is for coins, chewing gum packages or condoms. Some people knew it was originally made to carry a pocket watch. After seeing this, I wanted to revive the initial usage of the fifth pocket also known as watch pocket.

The pocket watch is attached to the jeans by a chain, just like in the good old times. When you pull the watch out and hold it in your hand, the chain hanging down, you can read the watch like an analog watch. There are two rings which frame the time display. The hour hand is connected to the inner one, the minute hand is connected to the outer one. To give the display a futuristic look, I also connected the watch hands with a circle segment. There are hour/5minutes indicators embedded in the watch glass. The display could be done in LED or in LCD with backlight (and a masking layer to hide the LCD gaps). The good thing about LCD is, it can stay always on and the backlight gets switched on if necessary. The light button is on the opposite side of the chain connection (on top, if you hold it right). On the backside of the watch are the time setting button and a cap which covers the USB port for recharging.

I know, some people don’t like to wear wrist watches. They use their mobile phone to tell the time. People who like it more sophisticated but fresh and modern may like this watch design … and also people who like to give their watch pocket a new chance.

Pocket watches are rare, and a futuristic one is quite unusual. The ring shape and the ease in reading are good point too I think.”

maru_the_fifth_pocket_watch_in_handmaru_the_fifth_pocket_watch_timemaru_the_fifth_pocket_watch_explanation

40 thoughts on “Maru – The Fifth Pocket Watch Design”

  4. Hello Sam, this watch I would see it around the neck like a jewel, she is very beautiful.
    Over time, you are becoming stronger, you develop your ideas, it’s really good!

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  7. I think this is what we’ve all been waiting for. Its simple and it looks really good. If you take it out of your pocket, people will probably think: what is this thing? I would buy this and I would definitely sew a fifth pocket to my jeans. I like the elegancy about it. Really, I find it hard to come up with something negative about it. Let’s cross our fingers. 5*

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  8. Sam, I keep my wife away, to much tension because she has no pockets….. it is beauty……5, I vote YES.

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  9. Its not a surprise since I’ve seen the sneak peak, but hell yeah this is a must without question, you know it’s like a hypnosis ring but it is a timekeeper. I fall in love again πŸ˜‰

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  11. I like. I like!

    The pocket watch idea is a nice variation on the San Sen legacy. Perhaps a leather strap with a stainless steel button on it to clip the chain to your belt or belt loop? I think that would be a neat contrast to the techyness of the watch. 5/y!

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  12. Oh god sam! If they make it, it is mine. No matter if they make it in one color, or ten. I agree with patrick who said, this could be worn like a jewel around the neck. And cory had a cool idea with the leather strap. Right now you are on 4.8! The last 4.8 I remember was your ito watch. Enjoy it, as long as it lasts sam. Good luck and 5 stars!

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  13. Wow, excellent.

    I say it again ;). Use a custom made organic LED (OLED) display for that beauty. For a daylight only eInk should work.

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  14. This is simply beautiful. Nice one Sam. An excellent addition to the San Sen series. I’d definitely buy this if it was made in its current form.

    It would have to be quite large to accommodate a battery in the ring though wouldn’t it? It looks quite small in the pic above where the watch is being held in the hand. I guess in a usual watch the battery would be in the centre of the movement which would be where the hole is. Is there a way around this?

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  16. I tried to vote again, but don”t go. And i say +*****+*****+*****+*****. I spit on my face. but even 5 stars.

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  17. I love it but I would hope it to me bade of something quite durable not a watch that you have to be really careful about bumping

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  18. Thank you for designing a pocket watch. This rocks. I think it looks like the wheel of a Tron light cycle. Right on! People need to get back to pocket watches; they have a certain aesthetic that modern wristwatches lack.

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  21. Oh wow people, are you serious!? πŸ˜‰ When I saw the 4.9 some days ago, I almost fainted! I’m so glad this watch is accepted that good so far. Thank you all for the support and your messages! I appreciate your nice and lovely comments as well as your technical notes.

    I don’t know the shape of the usb recharchebale batteries, but I think those can be made fitting. Maybe two smaller ones? I see, the hole in the middle could be a hurdle. The ring display is also tricky, maybe.

    I’m not sure if the case has to be extra durable… I think you’d rather hit a wall with your wrist than with your hips. But all the in-and-out requires some durability. I personally like it when watches look used though.

    The similarity to a Tron light cycle is concidence this time, hehehe.

    The button doesn’t have to be black plastic. Stainless steel is cool. I just thought like this “black button controls the black display” – visual reference. A steel button would make this watch look more solid. Which is nice nice.

    About the size. The fifth pocket isn’t that big. And I think there is not a rule anymore how big they have to be. It has about the size of the ring you can form with your forefinger and the thumb – a bit bigger than an average wrist watch case.

    When I designed the watch, I thought about an alternative wearing option. Some of you already mentioned something like that, so I thought it is a good time to make those images.

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  25. Oh god. I’m speechless (that’s rare). Ehm, affection? Love? What can I say? I would buy it at day one! This watch deserves this top rating!

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  26. Ohhh also here a sudden downrating occured (4.8 to 4.6 in 18 hours). I told you this would happen. That guy thinks, nobody realizes it. I can see if that rating developes over some time, but not within hours. I told you before, to get such a result in a friendly environment (the comments proove it), someone has to vote 1* several times. That is just mean. And I accuse it, until this rating system got fixed. This watch needs to be made, period!

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    • Someone is rating you down samu. I saw the san sen and duality watches loosing one star within one hour suddenly. And I see now, Maru lost another star and is close to 4.4. Whoever does this, I will report you to Tokyoflash. You are a bad person. The least thing I will do is, to make them change the voting system. Although the rating is not the most important thing, that person shows you the middle finger with his action. Sorry again for spreading unhappy words. Maybe I am to concerned about this blog, call me a geek πŸ˜‰

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      • Ironically, I might know that person. This man try to act god. I’d better act innocently and rate you guys 5* whenever I get the chance, but it’s hard to maintain mine too. I remember when the last comment and the rating on my watch design but this looser continuously hit the 1* without daring to comment or further comment. It happens to “most” of the designs, especially ones that have the potential. If the person read this, my advice is, see a doctor or psychology. If you have religion, read your religious book and act religiously, if you don’t, at least teach yourself moral. I don’t want this guy destroy the enjoyment of this blog. BTW Good job Aphosno, I know you are concern about this rating system. I also sneaked your online activity, you can help Sam by hitting this page 5* whenever you get the chance. — Firdaus of the Hunter Org.

        well, call me geek πŸ˜‰

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  27. This is a watch I would be happy to buy and even happier to carry in my 5th pocket. Definate yes with 5 stars. Now… I am impatient. :-p

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  29. @ Acan: Nice nice, thanks!
    @ Christopher: I’d be happy to have it too πŸ˜‰ Thanks for your comment!
    @ MisterD: Sounds realistic, but a little hope inside couldn’t harm.

    At all supportes, thanks so much for your comments. You are encouraging. Feels nice to know my work is liked by the most. Doesn’t feel that good if Aphosno is right and someone has a quest to rate watches down. That must be a poor person if that makes him happy πŸ˜‰

    Anyway, everybody sees, the watch is good (without flattering myself of course) and nothing can change it.

    εƒ•γ―γŒγ‚“γ°γ„γΎγ™γ€
    Sam

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  31. Great design for a pocket watch Samukan πŸ™‚ Nice easy to read display on such a small watch really helps it IMO. Hope it get’s made, I’d buy it πŸ˜€

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  33. Hey samu, your duality watch sank from 3.5 to 3.3 the last two days. And this maru from 4.3 to 4.0 now. I’ll burn this information into this blog so people can see what haters can do. You don’t deserve this.

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