Magnetic Liquid Design Tells The Time

Design submitted by Karim Zaouai.

I don’t think we have ever seen anything like this before – a very imaginative use of science. Here’s what Karim says about his design:

“The watch runs with ferrofluid, a very sensitive magnetic liquid. The hidden needles reflects the shape of the gears. They are a tribute to mechanical watches. The time, fickle and liquid freezes in space when tilting the wrist thanks to magnetism internal housing.” You can see the design in action here: http://vimeo.com/14089353

Karim Zaouaiさんの作品。

化学を想像的に応用した、かつて見た事のないもの。ここにKarimが自身の作品について語った内容があります。

「この腕時計には、非常に敏感な磁気液体である磁性流体が使用されています。見えない針は歯車の形状によって表示されます。それらは機械式時計へのオマージュです。文字盤の空間に入れられた磁性流体は、時間の変化や、手首を傾けたりすることで、さまざまな表情を見せます。」動作状態をご覧下さい。 http://vimeo.com/14089353

So to explain a little more, The Ferrowatch contains a magnetically sensitive liquid (Ferrofluid) sandwiched beneath the glass face. Using a magnetic charge it attracts the fluid to different positions inside the watch to indicate hours & minutes. The time telling is instantly recognisable of course, but the method used is out of this world. No doubt this watch design poses various technical problems to be overcome, but what an innovative product design!

Here at Tokyoflash we are going crazy over this one, our staff are trying to place pre-orders already – ha ha! Give us your thoughts and comments on this one, would you wear it? Would you buy it? Is it perfect as it is or would you also want some illumination inside?

もう少し詳しくご説明いたします。この腕時計は、文字盤の空間に、磁力に敏感に反応する液体(磁性流体)が入っています。磁気をコントロールすることで、時間や分の位置に液体を引き付けます。時間の読み方は非常にシンプルですが、高度な技術を必要とします。しかしながら、この腕時計を実現するための技術的問題は解決できると確信しています。何という革新的なデザインでしょう！

11 thoughts on “Magnetic Liquid Design Tells The Time”

Karim, I want this thing on my hand ! It is so new and so freaky !

I think it will be diffficult to read it in direct sun. Maybe this liquid metal can be done in a different colour ? Even we repsrect the black colour, maybe a grey colour for indicators ? I saw the video, in is AMAZING. The indicators looks like gear, and it gives a very dinamyc look. The effect is like silent gear.

I REALLY WANT IT !!!!!

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The lights would be a good idea

It looks like a nice design but the face and strap aren’t to fancy so i wouldn’t buy it,but if it were fancier I would get it

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The Mechanical part looks great! Case and strap…na. Can this be made?

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Indeed something totally new to watch design, and therefore an eyecatcher.

How do you red the time? I only see one indicator. Maybe like this: the indicator moves to the 12h position, rests there for a second and the moves to the 30min position and also rests there for a second. That would be… 12:30 🙂

Or you add another indicator, one for the hours, one for the minutes.

However, the contrast is a little low. Reading it in too dark areas isn’t possible. There should be a minimum of convenience in the time reading part – even more because it is such an exciting display of time.

Strap: no leather please for this design. Something black, shiny – just like the liquid!

Case: Well it’s nice in it’s simplicity. So you can concentrate on the time display 😛

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Agree with GabrielBB, this is a fascinating idea and I can see how it would work. Would definitely be interesting to infuse some colors into the fluid to make the display more interesting.

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that is something really cool! perhaps the case could be a bit more attractive and masculine. It s a bit too simple and conceptual for me to wear. Could the case be in metal for example or does it has to be all plastic?

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Gotta have this one, the technology behind it is awesome. The video is freaking me out. I want this so bad.
OK, yes, so I do really want a watch with this technology, it doesnt get any more special – however not wanting to put a downer on it, the actual watch case & strap are a bit boring. This watch design deserves to have a more thought into that part.

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hmmm another challange… but what i think would be perfect is, if the liquid could be touched.
i mean, put it behind some strong fabric, and the liquid really stands out of the watch.
so, i could TOUCH the time…
and,… @Samukun, i really like to read the time in one step… so no wait for some seconds to see the rest…
and yes… that wristband does not fit the watch itself… i would even go for metal here…
but definitly a buy.

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