ThinkGeekSteampunk-Styled Tesla Analog Watch Weathered-Brass Look on Metal Findings Plus Leather Strap

The watch was awesome but if you have a big wrist it won't fit

I haven't truly used it yet, but it works. I write this now, because I am so impressed by the total package. It comes in a lovely Tesla Tin. The tubes light up in a delightful display. It appears to be a quality product that is well worth the $100. If anything changes my mind on that, I'll comment later.. If this review is not updated in a short time, my assessment stands.

I'll be honest, I like ThinkGeek but sometimes they are hit or miss. I have some of their products that are absolutely amazing and others that are kind of subpar, this is one of those truly beautiful and amazing pieces that I am so happy I purchased. The Tesla Watch is an absolutely beautiful creation based around steampunk and it comes in a really nice and collectible tin. The watch comes all ready to go with batteries installed just set the time to get the motor running. To set the time the watch comes with a little key that you slide into the side of the watch, pull slightly, and turn to set the time. Let me say I was absolutely blown away at how great this watch is at keeping time, I compared it to my most accurate clock and it actually kept time better than that clock!!!!! The watch also comes with two vacuum tubes at the top that do light up with little golden orange LEDs. The lights do not stay on all the time and actually have a 7 second shut off so they won't burn through the battery (though to be honest if you were going to keep them on 24/7 you kind of deserve to have your battery drained). The band is also full leather so it will last a good long while. Now with all the good this watch has it does have some small minor annoyances, thankfully it's nothing that causes a star deduction but they are enough to be mentioned. The first annoyance is the key to set the watch, the key is so tiny and is stored inside the watch band itself (there is a little tiny knotch in the watch band that holds the key) that there is a risk of losing the watch. Now the people at ThinkGeek have taken this into account so there is a spare key inside the box just in case you lose the one on the watch. The second gripe is that this watch is NOT water resistant so I wouldn't wear this thing everywhere you go. I would also even be careful washing your hands although i'm pretty sure you'll be fine just so long as you don't submerge the thing. The last thing isn't so much a gripe as it is just a personal preference thing, the watch isn't for everyone and what I mean by that is that the watch is big, it's gaudy, and it's heavy. It is definitely an eye catcher and while I just got the watch a couple hours ago I have already gotten a ton of questions on it. The watch is like I said heavy as well and you know it's on your wrist, I wouldn't really wear this as an everyday watch if you are the type of person who doesn't want an eye catcher on your wrist. Other than that I 100% recommend getting this watch if you are into steampunk or if you just want a cool and accurate timepiece to wear.

A wonderful idea, great for any steampunk cosplayer. A working watch, decorated with two "vacuum tubes" that "work" (what they do is up to the wearer).Avowedly a novelty item, it cannot by any stretch of the imagination be thought to be water-resistant. Do not even think of getting this wet would be my advice. The inexpensive movement will also not likely be atomic-clock accurate. You get what you pay for.The watch has two dials, the larger central one tells hour and minutes and the smaller counts off seconds. The winder is set into the case so adjusting the time requires the key. You get two keys, one held in the strap and one spare for the inevitable time the strap lets go of the key when you aren't looking. I would advise leaving the key at home after the watch is set.To adjust the time you insert the key and twist it to engage the bar in the winder in the latch built into the end of the key. Pull the winder out and use the key to adjust the time as you would use the winder on any other analog watch. Push the winder in to lock it all up again. Getting the key engaged can be fiddly so look at the winder and look at the key end and understand what's going on before you start. The key will also try and disengage as you go back and forth with the time adjustment so patience is called for. A tighter fit between key and socket would have perhaps worked better here, but that would have required precision machining of the case and the cost would have soared beyond the "novelty item" market's pocket-depth.To make the vacuum tubes light up you slide the switch on the case to the "on" position, which will turn on the LEDs inside the tubes for a few seconds. In a low-light situation the effect it startling and totally convincing. I've seen and worked with vacuum tubes and they look like real ones to me. The only down side is that the switch is a bit .. wonky and naff. I realize we are in the world of "props" here but this is the key selling point of the whole thing and the switch lets it down, just a bit. My advice would be to be gentle with it. Should the switch break, the watch will lose a good deal of its appeal.The strap is an asymmetric design, with the "bottom" end looking like a conventional strap secured (probably) by a telescopic bar into the case. The other end of the strap is thinner, intended to be run through a small metal loop in the top of the case, then doubled back and buckled to the "fat" part of the strap.This is another place where stars fall off. Threading the strap through that ring is very fiddly as the ring is hinged and fights the whole operation by folding down when you need it to stay angled up. The strap itself is too short. I am a man in my sixties and I have many wrists. This watch strap is designed to display properly on the wrist of a woman of small stature. I can buckle it, but it buckles on the last possible hole. To fit me properly the strap needs an adjuster to be added, something that buckles to that small loop, is about an inch and a half long and has another small loop at the end. This I shall make but I shall take off stars for the need to do so.The changing of the battery will involve the need to remove the case backing, requiring the use of miniature screwdrivers. I will be doing my own. Only you can tell if you will need to farm out that duty (and pay for the work).The watch comes packed in a themed tin box, strapped to a foam rubber insert and covered with a vacu-formed plate that contains the spare key. What instructions there are consist of a small white glossy paper booklet you will find in the bottom of the tin after you take out the rubber insert.Five stars for the design. Three for the strap and switch stupids. Average out to four stars.I've only owned the watch for a few days. Should it fail prematurely, I'll come back and say so in this review.Right now I'm loving it, with the stated reservations.[EDIT 4/16/18] Two things: First the time the "vacuum tubes" stay on is exactly five seconds as timed with the watch's own second hand. Second, I forgot to mention that each of the watch "crystals" is plastic and protected by one of those transparent "coloforms"-like vinyl(?) decals. The watch looks *much* better once you've *carefully* peeled them off. Remember, plastic scratches quite easily. This watch is awesome.[/EDIT][EDIT 7/2/18] Had a friend from Australia drop by and ask to visit Wardenclyffe (about 20 minutes frantic drive from my house). I grabbed a bunch of steampunky costume accessories as appropriate for making Daguerreotypes of the site of Tesla's Long Island workshop that would convey the correct ambiance and, of course, this little beauty was first on the list. I shall wear it when my wife and I visit for a tour of the place in a couple of weeks. [/EDIT][EDIT 9/10/18] Ha! Wore it to Tesla's Birthday gathering at Wardenclyffe! 10,000 points for style! [/EDIT]

The looks are appealing in that the Steampunk watch harkens back to an Era when people were more civil to each other. When men and women dressed up to go to the movies to see Fred Astir and Ginger Rodgers dance. Aside from the aesthetics, the watch is well-made and works flawlessly. I've had it running alongside a 17-jewel Seiko Premier for the last 10 hours and it hasn't skipped a beat. Not one second.A good Japanese-made watch motor is on the same grade level as a Rolex. Not many know that.The steampunk motor may not be a jeweled motor but it's probably the best motor you could put in a $100 dollar watch. The second hand has its own motor, and it was running when I opened the box. To start the main hour and minute motor you have to push in on the " key " about 1/64 th of an inch after you set the time. Just pay attention to the instruction manual.Amazon sells all 3 of the type of batteries in the watch and even the watch motor can be replaced by a competent watch repairman. The red LEDs in the vacuum tubes always bring a smile to my face.Nice timepiece - Jim

Works

It looks cool but it can not keep the time right. It runs late. Returned and ordered a new one.I'll revise my review once I received a good one.Update: I have received my second order. It seems this one works well without runing fast or slow, but I'll update my final review next week.