From the Japan Design team Mile Projects comes this simple concept clock with rays of light for hands. The beams shine from thin holes in the inner bezel and appear to light the negative space dial (whatever the ring is hanging from).
"Jap Clockspring Car Runs 40 mi a Winding
THE Japanese have never gained any notable degree of fame for their mechanical capabilities, but undoubtedly their reputations along this line will get vigorous boost by their invention of an automobile that runs by clockwork.
Very little mechanical data is available on the construction of the new car, but it is said to have British car dealers doing business in Japan somewhat worried. This would indicate that the machine is more than just a freak that originated in the mind of a visionary inventor.
Reports state that the car will run 40 miles at one winding. Further developments may see the invention of an eight-day machine. A Modern Mechanix and Inventions artist has caricatured the contraption above."
If you're asking yourself, what was that cool-ass watch Lieutenant Ripley wore in the 1986 movie Aliens, I have the answer for you. It was a Giugiaro designed Seiko Speedmaster Chronograph. Entirely unique by its vertical stopwatch pushers placed inside the asymmetrical case extension. Many of Giugiaro's other designs for Seiko between 1983-86 had asymmetric qualities and are shown below.
And for those of you who don't know Giorgio Giugiaro, he was one of the most important car designers of the 20th century. Credited with the "folded paper" car designs of the 1970s and 80s, he was responsible for such classics as the Lotus Esprit, De Lorean DMC 12, Maserati Merak, Bora, Quattroporte, BMW M1, and most interesting to learn, my first car, the Volkswagen Scirocco. See the rest of his resume here-->Link
An appropriate future-from-the-eighties choice by James Cameron
It took me a while to dig these up!
Proof!
What bothers me the most is that I had one of these chronos and sold it prior to learning of its claim to fame.
Another fantastic Seiko Speedmaster design by Giugiaro.
I must find one!
Check out those four quadrant crown/pushers
Another from the Speedmaster series
An asymmetric Giugiaro Speedmaster Diver
An interesting digital design
And speaking of Alien, the designer H.R. Giger had his part in a watch design for Swatch in the early nineties, see a sketch of his Crosswatch above. Watch blogger Ariel Adams of Ablogtoread details more from the 1993 exhibition here-->Link
More seventies inspired mechanical digital watches keep rotating into modern designs including this "Discus" - from the Seiko Moving Design Collection. Featuring a jumping hour display of spinning discs through a porthole viewer and all under a smoky transparent crystal. Powered by a mechanical automatic movement (Automatic 6R15B 23 Jewels with 6 beats per hour (21,600vph). Selling close to $900 outside the US.
Japanese design company Vinta has created a wooden table clock that measures the time by rotating on its perfectly round bottom, tilting to one of two models that rotate once every hour or every minute.
1. Synchronar - Conceived in the early sixties and first produced in 1968, the first Solar watch ever was invented by the reclusive inventor Roger Riehl. Solar panels on the top with a sideview LED display. Heavily debated within a microcosm of vintage watch collectors as the first digital watch ever. That distinction is commonly given to the 1970's Pulsar LED. 
2. Nepro - 1975 LED with raised display and backside solar panels. 
Sicura Ad
7. Citizen Crystron - 1976 "This was the first solar-powered analog wristwatch. It conformed to the conventional design of most analog watches except for the four square gray panels that take up most of the face. This watch began Citizen’s long-term commitment to solar powered watches, which has culminated in the very successful Eco-Drive line of watches." by Soluhr
9. Cristalonic 'Solar Quartz' by GmbH - 1980's LCD with an asymmetric black plastic case.
Cristalonic Advertisements
'Dish' Rotating Parabolic Antenna Watch
'Crownless-Rimless' Watch
'Origami' Watch
'Ivory' (Digital watch in bracelet, Watch case appears solid)
'Drop' Water Droplet Clock
'Reflection Board' Reflector Watch
'Polygon' Radio Wave Receptor Watch
'Mt Otakadoya' Radio Antenna Watch
'Flex' Electronic Base Sheet Watch
'Airplane Window' Watch
'Transparent' Watch
'Shadow' Watch
'Obtuse Angle' Watch
'Extrusion' Watch
'Bottle' Watch
'Lens' Watch
'Heavy Beauty' Watch
'3D Cloth' Watch
Water 'Ripples' Watch
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