An unusual watch is a wristwatch that keeps ordinary time behind an extraordinary face: two rows of LEDs that show the hours and minutes in binary, a single hand that sweeps once a day, a dial where every hour is a maths equation, a skeleton that shows the movement working. Quartz or automatic movements, 36 to 44 mm cases, and a small puzzle every time you check the time.
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A binary watch, a single hand, an equation dial: for people who enjoy a small puzzle on the wrist.
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A watch is the classic gift; an unusual one is the classic gift with a story.
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Dials that show the time in binary, in equations or in one continuous sweep. Conversation starters at every meeting.
Decide how much puzzle you want on the wrist: an equation dial reads at a glance once learnt, a binary watch takes a day to read fluently, a single hand watch changes how you think about time.
| Type | Best for | Movement | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equation and maths dials | Teachers, students, engineers | Quartz | £24 to £45 |
| Binary and LED watches | Coders, gadget lovers | Digital | £30 to £60 |
| Single hand and minimalist watches | Design lovers, slower days | Quartz | £40 to £90 |
| Skeleton and mechanical watches | Watch enthusiasts, collectors | Automatic | £90 to £702 |
Case size, strap material and water resistance are listed on every product page. Most are splash resistant; none are dive watches.
A quartz watch counts the 32,768 vibrations per second of a tiny crystal; an automatic watch stores the energy of your wrist in a spring and releases it through an escapement that ticks several times a second. The binary watch simply shows the same minutes as powers of two, which is how every computer counts.
Free UK delivery over £45 and 30 days to return it. For time on the wall rather than the wrist, our unusual wall clocks and Nixie clocks.
