Using the principle of clockwork used in the creation of many automatic watches, create a fashion accessory that shows intricate movement of gears for decorative purpose only. E.g. a top button with actively moving gears. Or a cuff link with a rotating disk displaying words of wisdom.

To power the movement each item has a weight that wind up a tiny mainspring, like the more expensive and functional automatic watches.

However as these do not need to run 24 hours a day, the main spring can be smaller/cheaper (1hour storage).

As actual watches with complicated gears can cost as low as $50... a active but simple mechanical decorative accessory would cost around $20 each.

This is clearly affordable for the masses, especially considering that a well designed version would be highly eye catching.

In fact it can become a symbol of status if well designed, and marketed by celebrities. This would encourage the emergence of designer mechanical fashions accessory.(thus encouraging the pushing of both engineering and artistic aspect of clockwork designing. This may even provide a pathway/gateway for aspiring clockmaker to advance themselves to design actual mechanical clocks.)

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While some of you would suggest using battery instead... i would not recommend it, as it would lose its artistic engineering value. This product would sell not only by the eye catching movement, but the curiosity of its owner imagining what could have been in the past.

In addition electrical item is unfriendly for the environment, compared to a fully mechanical design. Since a mechanical watch can be simply melted down for reuse. Also it cannot recharge itself via the movement of its user(without expensive mini generator), thus requiring constant replacing of its battery.

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IF YOU LIKE THIS IDEA AND USE IT FOR YOUR PROJECT, PLEASE AT LEAST CREDIT ME FOR THE IDEA. (especially clockmaker such as Seiko, who i can see already have the facility to cheaply mass produce a simpler product than their automatic watches)
-- mofosyne, Aug 16 2008

Clockwork heart pin http://www.eco-artw...kwork-heart-pin.php
[mylodon, Aug 16 2008]

Steampunk Clockwork Cufflinks http://www.etsy.com...listing_id=10874645
Not self-winding, it's non-functional while strikingly unfashionable. [Amos Kito, Aug 16 2008]

(??) Will you dare? http://www.akihabar...ll+you+dare%3F.html
A Gallery Of Retro-Futuristic Watches. Tell the time while cutting off the circulation. [Amos Kito, Aug 16 2008]

The $300,000 Watch that Doesn't Tell Time http://blogs.wsj.co...t-doesnt-tell-time/
Remember this story? [jutta, Aug 16 2008]

This is good, although it would be simpler and lighter with battery power. It should perform at least some trivial function such as moon phase. And I'd prefer it to be more like a handsome gem than a Japanese cartoon.
-- Amos Kito, Aug 16 2008


Amos Kito, Aug 16 2008

I don't believe that it would be simpler to use electricity to power this device. This is since you will have to replace the battery quite often. (after all this is not a clock that ticks every second)(And its annoying)

Also for this to sell, it needs to maintain it all mechanical function. (Its a marketing point)
-- mofosyne, Aug 17 2008


'Horatio! Look me in the eyes when I talk to you!'

'But Edna, the Schäfflerstanz! They are so exquisite!'
-- mylodon, Aug 17 2008


:3

Well that really does bring another application for this idea... as a brooch.
-- mofosyne, Aug 19 2008


An orrery, maybe realised as a set of armiliary spheres on a pendant, would be good.
-- nineteenthly, Aug 20 2008


Wow... that's not quite a bad idea, though it would have to be a large piece to be eye catching.(or it would just be hidden by all the mass of hair.)
-- mofosyne, Apr 25 2009


This is an exquisite idea.
-- methinksnot, Dec 23 2010


I'm not sure a top button would get enough movement to self-wind. But I love this idea. Perhaps the mechanism could move a set of slotted discs so the button appears to gradually change colour.
-- pocmloc, Dec 23 2010



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