Seiko Watch is the first company to offer a watch that uses electronic paper technology. Save your money; this o­ne costs more than $2,000 USD.

Seiko Watch announced the "Seiko Spectrum" a futuristic style wristwatch that features a large curved display that uses "microcapsule type electronic ink technology," a technology for electronic paper. It will be released o­n January 27, 2006. Worldwide production will be limited to 500 units (200 for Japanese domestic market). The price is 262,500 yen. According to Casio Watch, "it is the first watch in the world to employ microcapsule type electronic ink technology."

This product represents a commercialization of "Microcapsule Type Electrophoretic Display Module," announced and jointly developed between Seiko Epson and Seiko Watch in March of this year. Using "Electronic Ink Microcapsule" technology from E Ink, who was in charge of developing, producing, and turning it into a film, Seiko Epson finalized the commercialization of the product into an actual display module. The watch "has a viewing angle about as wide as print media (~180 degrees)," "has a contrast ratio much more distinct than LCDs," "is not o­nly thin (half the thickness of LCDs) and light, but can be freely bent," and "has such low power consumption that even if the power is turned off, it will still display."

The watch takes an original "bangle" shape, which not o­nly allows for a unique, curved display of the time, but places emphasis o­n the fact that the design was o­nly possible using electronic paper (E Ink) technology. The design of the display was done in a collaboration with Mr. Tota Hasegawa, a graphic designer. Seiko Watch: "What this watch aims for is not simply being a 'tool to know the time,' but a 'wrist item for enjoying time,' like being able to feel the excitement by placing it o­n your wrist."

Inspired by:
http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/lifestyle/articles/0511/30/news038.html

Press Release:
http://www.seiko-watch.co.jp/press/contents.asp?id=74AFC5E2-2241-402B-96FA-202E42DA2E50