TokyoFlash Kisai RPM Watch Review - A Minimalist LED Watch

Japan is famous for its minimalist approach to style. The Japanese design team TokyoFlash is behind some of the most unique watch designs on the market. They don't look like ordinary watches. The RPM is TokyoFlash's latest watch from their Kisai brand. It exemplifies a mix of futuristic yet simple design that we've come to associate with Japanese designs. The first thing you'll notice about the RPM is that there is no dial. This watch doesn't use numbers or hands. The sleek, metal link watch uses a pattern of abstract blue LEDs to display the time.

It's strange at first, but I found it surprisingly easy to tell time after a couple tries. The display consists of two rings of LEDs surrounding a the plain metal face of the watch. The two rings are divided into twelve sections, just like the numbers on a normal clock dial. The inner ring represents the hours. The outer ring displays the minutes, but in five minute increments. If it's 4:39, then 4 additional little lights will blink at the top of the dial.

I'm a big fan of unique approaches to functional technology. Most people wear a watch, so I appreciate a company taking liberties with an everyday object's design elements.

My biggest complaint about this watch is that you have to push a button, stopwatch style, to display the time. I don't mind that it's cryptically displayed because deciphering the time is just a quick learning curve. Having to push a button to engage the dial completely eliminates the ability to casually check the time at a glance. So if I have my hands full, or am otherwise in the middle of things, I have to stop what I'm doing just to check the time.

RPM has an LED animation feature that you can turn on and off. When on, LED's light up every 15 minutes during between 6pm and midnight. It's a feature I plan on keeping off. I don't need the watch lighting up when I'm working or having a conversation. That would be a distracting antithesis to its minimalist design.

The RPM is not a smart watch. It only has the functionality of a wristwatch and nothing more. It comes with a USB charger for its rechargeable lithium battery, but that is the only aspect of it that syncs with your computer. Also, the battery only has a lifetime of about 300 full charges.

I like the concept of the dial-less watch, and TokyoFlash's entire collection is comprised of similar designs. The RPM would be a nice choice if you are interested in a futuristic bracelet with watch-like features. If you want to tell the time at a glance, you're better off getting something else. At the price, 22,436 JPY ($196 USD at time of publication), you might as well get a more feature packed smartwatch such as Moto 360 at $250.