Adult LEGO watch review
Posted by Huw,
Last year, ClicTime, global licensee for LEGO watches and clocks, brought out a new range of watches for adults, as you may recall reading about when we posted about them in October.
A few weeks ago Abbie from ClicTime contacted me to say that they were about to produce a new collection, would I like to review one of the existing range and could I help solicit feedback about them which could be used to influence the new range.
The timepiece arrived just before I went away and the first thing that struck me was the quality of the packaging. It's probably not up to Rolex standards but it's pretty impressive and attractive.
Inside everything's neatly packaged and laid out. The watch I've been sent is called LEGO Fan Club which retails at £99 in the UK.
As you'd expect for something brandishing the LEGO name, it can be taken apart and customised. Aside from the obvious need to remove links to get it to fit, you can replace black links with the coloured ones supplied and also swap the bezel and strap. This diagram shows how it all fits together.
The watch itself is made of a high quality shiny plastic. Unlike the previous adult LEGO watches sold last decade, it is fitted with a stainless steel clasp of the type usually found on this sort of strap, and the watch itself has a stainless steel back and control knob (which probably has a proper name).
The movement is Japanese and the watch is water resistant to 100m.
It's a big, chunky timepiece as you can see when it's on my wrist (yes, it was fun trying to take a photo of it one-handed... )
It's great being able to customise it, but as you can see it's a bit garish with the blue strap and orange bezel, for example...
I would have preferred parts in colours that were a bit more complementary. You can see what each watch in the range comes with on the website, so if it bothers you, make sure the the one you choose comes with more appropriate coloured accessories before buying.
To be honest, I don't think I'd ever use the flexible plastic strap, they tend to get a bit sweaty, don't they.
It is a very high quality timepiece and if big, chunky plastic watches are your thing, you'll love it. Personally I prefer thin and light (my current watch is this Swatch Skin), ones that don't snag on your sleeves, but I know they are popular, Baby G is all the rage, right? The price seems to be in the right ballpark, too.
After years of not being able to buy a decent adult LEGO watch, it's great that such a great quality and varied range is available once again.
So to complete the second part of my brief, take a look at the full range, let us know in the comments what you like and dislike about them, and what you'd like to see in future collections.
Before you get stressed about me getting freebies, the watch is on loan for review and will be returned shortly...
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24 comments on this article
They look nice, but I haven't worn a watch in over a decade.
I have no problem with you getting freebies. I would prefer it. Wear the watch for a month and then report back. Thanks for the review!
I just bought that same watch for myself as an early birthday gift. I absolutely love it but must agree that the blue and orange look awful. The yellow is ugly also but at least it matches the minifigure heads. I would love if the company would sell individual links in colors like grey, silver, gold, brown, tan... what I like to call grownup colors. I have a few of the kids minifigure link watches and I like them since they are cheap and give you a way bigger variety of link colors. Right now mine has batman and wildstyle links.
Not for me as I haven't worn a watch on over 20 years. I also prefered a metal band over plastic.
I just spent some time browsing their site and what I found was actually quite intriguing. As has been stated before, some of their color combinations are a bit questionable for adults but as long as you are in the right mindset I think they work! Their website actually states in one of the watch descriptions: "It has a purpose, to make you smile and be happy"! Unfortunately they don't ship to Canada (quel surprise) so I'll have to have a US friend pick one up for me, but other than that I'm sold.
Good review. I haven't worn a watch in a decade as well.
Personally, with the time and effort you put into this wonderful website, I have no problem with, and actually like it if, you get some good fringe benefits. The work you do for the Lego itself, and the community as a whole, more than justify it.
Unless you skewed your review in return for freebies, I don't think anyone would have a problem with it. I admit you caught my eye with this review, and the watch can be made to look pretty nice - but excepting the clasp, if those "links" are all plastic, that just wouldn't do.
What is the point of doing reviews and providing a service to all of us if you cannot keep a few freebies?
Yep, they're not 'adult' watches, they look to me like kids' watches made a bit bigger and sold at four or five times the price.
And personally, as an actual engineer, I've no time for a watch that can't get the date right from one month to the next. These aren't for AFOLs. How about a tidy and practical combination watch with the hour/minute hands and a digital date/stopwatch etc? They tend to have awesome battery lives as they only tick the hands every 20 seconds.
I agree with rprebel. It might be as good of a quality plastic as LEGO can make with their building blocks, but it is still a plastic watch. And with some of the issues I've had from LEGO bricks cracking, I wonder if the same could be applied here.
I am a watch collector, so this doesn't bother me, but it isn't my cup of tea. I prefer leather straps and a classier looking watch for work.
And I agree, as long as the reviews aren't skewed to get something for free, then it probably isn't a huge deal to get something for free. Getting a watch for free, vs getting an awesome set isn't that big of a deal. I become envious of the sets some people get for free to review. A person in my LUG gets free books/sets all the time to review. Must be nice.
For what it's worth I was give the black 2x2 watch as I gift and I've found it to be comfortable ,light and good quality .
Also as an actual gas engineer , I don't wear it for work .
As far as price goes , I agree they are an expensive Lego accessory but my wife spent far less on the watch than I've spent on CMFs and hard to find polys so you could say its subjective .Thanks for your review Huw .
I like the idea that these Lego watches exist, but like many above, I haven't worn a watch in years - every since my last watch's battery died 10 years ago, I've simply used my cell phone for the time. So, I'll pass.
As a side note, I've never heard of that Baby G brand here in the States, but again, I haven't been in the market for a new watch in ages. After looking at the link you posted, Huw, I have to admit that I'm surprised that there's a market for watches in the demographic they're aiming for. I thought teens were even more averse to wearing watches than people like me in their 30's!
Interesting comments... I guess old timers like me that had to wear watches when we were lads still wear them but many of you, the smartphone generation, don't see the need for them.
It has a high quality finish and is well made, so I think 'very high quality timepiece' is appropriate and I would say the same for my Swatch. But of course neither are a Tag or Cartier...
I haven't worn a wrist watch for about 25 years. Instead I have a pocket watch (Mondaine, the Swiss railway watch). So until they add a pocket watch to their range I won't buy one.
Their current range to me doesn't look like a Lego watch. There could just as easily have been a picture of Mickey Mouse on the face.
How about a Technic styled watch, with links that look like Technic threads and a knob that looks like the old half-bush with teeth?
At those prices they would have to be solid silver or gold plated to interest me, at all.
Plastic watches should cost between £5 and £15.
I think the correct term is watch stem for the adjustment knob. But, if a LEGO kid's watch is about $20, why can't this one be anywhere from $25 to $30. '
I normally wear an Armitron Sport digital watch. It only cost $20. $100 is ridiculous.
If the bottom was metal, like my other watches, I'd buy it. But, Lego's isn't. It also needs a quartz movement.
Mmm, given all the interesting design history behind Lego you probably could make some quite cool watches. To me though, these are about as stylish as a pair of novelty Lego socks!
As a comparison to the kids watches this is a much higher quality. The plastic is way different and feels sturdier. It looks way better in person. I wear the adult watch when I'm in a grownup kind of mood and the kids minifigure link ones when I'm just out having fun. I've been complemented on both. They are very "geek-chic" imo
At one-hundred dollars, I think I'll pass.
High quality ? I should hope so at the gigantic price for a larger version of a kids toy.
sorry to say that plastic straps are no use to me as I end up with a rash and can only wear steel straps .. Nice looking but for a plastic watch far too expensive
I just ordered the blue/yellow version of this watch from the website thanks to this review! Thanks for pointing me in their direction, Huw. It should be here sometime next week. I'm 25 and have been wearing a watch on my right arm (even though I'm right handed) consistently for about a decade. It is the type of accessory that will never go out of style. Some of my favorite watches have been knock-off Rolex's that my dad would buy for me in south west Asia while he was stationed out of the country.
The packaging looks totally like the Microsoft logo, it even has the same colors in the same arrangement. :P This is a very nice watch, though I'm already set as far as watches are concerned.
Love the box!
I'd like to see more digital ones being added to the collection though!