Kamon Watch Design Inspired By Japanese Emblems

Design submitted by Laszlo from Hungary.

This watch design has an always on touchscreen LCD display and features time and date, plus alarm mode. The time is indicated by three column (hours, minutes and seconds). Easy to read, just count the sticks!

The idea for this design came from Mon (紋?), also monshō (紋章?), mondokoro (紋所?), and kamon (家紋?), which are Japanese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual or family. While mon is an encompassing term that may refer to any such device, kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to emblems used to identify a family.
The devices are similar to the badges and coats of arms in European heraldic tradition, which likewise are used to identify individuals and families. Mon are often referred to as crests in Western literature; another European heraldic device similar to the mon in function.

Like European heraldry, mon were initially held only by aristocratic families, and were gradually adapted by commoners. On the battlefield, mon served as army standards, even though this usage was not universal and uniquely designed army standards were just as common as mon-based standards. (cf. sashimono, uma-jirushi) Mon were also adapted by various organizations, such as merchant and artisan guilds, temples and shrines, theater troupes and even criminal gangs. In an illiterate society, they served as useful symbols for recognition.



Occasionally, patron clans granted the use of their mon to their retainers as a reward. Similar to the granting of the patron’s surnames, this was considered a very high honor. Alternatively, the patron clan may have added elements of its mon to that of its retainer, or choose a completely different mon for them.


19 thoughts on “Kamon Watch Design Inspired By Japanese Emblems

  1. The time telling method takes a little getting used to, remembering which group of lines/block tells what incrument, the seconds being the most obvious. Maybe these could be marked somehow to save you having to think about it. All that aside its a great looking design which is totally makeable. 5/Y Best of luck! :D


  2. Very interesting, that these symbols have an own iconographic power (they look partially like numbers, partially like kanji) , but are “just” countable segments. So the display looks more complicated than it is and so very appealing to me! I also like the hexagonal display and the basic gemoetry, reduced to the necessary. The geometry does not provide distractring details so the numbers are the protagonists. 5*/YES give me :D


  3. Tim says:
    Very interesting. Reminds me of Predator a lot. -> AGREE


    Fresh concept, not just unique font, they are not obvious numbers! I like version with inverted colors. The display is very cryptic indeed. This is the watch for someone who wana be total predator die hard fans! Prepare to memorize the symbols!


  4. .:love the patterns, a little difficult but that’s what will make it fun. Yes, given colour option, I’d buy it, & yes, reminds me of Preditor too:.


  5. Very interesting display, first I think it’s difficult to read, but not. Easy to read, nice display. 5 starts.


  6. The hexagonal display is nice. The position of the sticks would sometime make the minute look odd. ( like the 2 on the 7:29:36 picture ) As of the symbol meaning, it would be fast to learn, without having to count the sticks each time.

    I have 1 question : what are the 4 symbols on the case ? ( at the 3, 6, 9 & 12 position )


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