Watch Review: The Vinyl Record Watch by AndoAndoAndo (A Hi-Fidelity Timepiece For Music Lovers)

At first glance, you might think this is just a miniature replica of a record player that sits on your wrist, and that's really cool in it's own right. But when you take a closer look, you'll see it's also a fully functioning watch. The Vinyl Record Watch by Finnish microbrand AndoAndoAndo is truly one-of-a-kind.

In the watch community, there exists a small, niche group of brands that like to experiment with new designs and styles. These brands love creating quirky and interesting watches that make people say "I've never seen anything like that before!".

AndoAndoAndo is one of those brands. Their newest release, the Vinyl Record Watch, pushes the envelope and takes it to a whole new level.

Creating something this unique is no easy feat. Everything about this watch, from the hands to the dial, and even the case, were made specifically for this model. Prototypes, countless designs, and hours upon hours of brainstorming led Yu, the owner of AndoAndoAndo, to create something that appeals to both watch lovers and vinyl collectors. Personally, I think he did a fantastic job.

From the moment I first laid eyes on what he created, I knew I needed it in my collection. Once I received the watch and got it on my wrist, a review was imminent. This is a conversation piece, for sure. On with the review:

Inspired By A Legacy:

The Vinyl Record Watch takes inspiration from the iconic Technics SL-1200 turntable. Launched in 1972, the Technics SL-1200 became the first standard turntable for the disco/club scene. To this day, it still remains a popular choice for both audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

The Technics SL-1200 played a large role in the early days of hip-hop as DJs noticed its ability to continually spin records at an even speed even when the DJ moved the record back and forth (a term commonly referred to as "scratching"). Scratching is still used prominently in hip-hop, rap, techno, and even jazz music, and sometimes finds its way into other genres of music, like nu-metal.

Box And Presentation:

The Vinyl Record Watch comes in a thin brown pressed cardboard box. It reminds me of a CD boxset or if a band released a set of 7" records. The front of the box has the name of the company and watch along with the watch's measurements, which is a nice touch. There's a presentation cut-out in the middle of the box, proudly displaying the dial.

If you carefully turn the box over, you will find a QR code that takes you to the AndoAndoAndo website along with more details about the watch including the movement details and a 1-year manufacturing warranty.

Once you lift the top of the box off, you are presented with a handful of AndoAndoAndo stickers in a variety of fonts, a strap, and, of course, the watch nested in the middle of the box. There aren't any instruction manuals, but that is okay. We live in an age of technology where most manuals are found online. I won't knock any points off for that.

Case And Strap: 

The watch case measures 41mm wide by 36mm long. It's 10.2mm thick, a slight bit on the chunky side, but some of that thickness is the lip that features the hour markers for the dial. There are two flat sapphire crystals on this watch: one for the dial and one for the exhibition caseback. Both sapphire crystals are treated with anti-reflective coating.

The watch itself has only 5ATM (50m) of water resistance, but let's be honest; you aren't wearing this diving. The crown isn't of the screw-down variety so I wouldn't even recommend wearing this watch in the shower.

One neat little feature I really like is that the crown looks like a volume knob you'd find on a record player. That's a small detail that many brands probably wouldn't even think of. 

The strap is made of genuine leather and features a signed matte black buckle and the AndoAndoAndo logo on the back of one end. It has quick release springbars, making strap replacements a breeze. The strap is 22mm between lugs and tapers to a comfortable 20mm.

Four Variants To Choose From: 

At the moment, there are three different styles to choose from:

• RBS (Red-Black-Silver) (The one featured in this review)
• BGB (Black-Gold-Black)
• RGB (Red-Black-Gold)
• All-Gold Limited Edition (Limited to 30 pieces)

Movement: 

Housed inside the Vinyl Record Watch sits an ultra-thin 24-jewel Miyota 9039 automatic movement. This movement is quite accurate and will run roughly -20 to +40 seconds a day. It also has a 42-hour power reserve, meaning it'll still be running when you wake up the next day.

AndoAndoAndo could have cheaped out with a quartz movement, but the smooth 28,800 vibration-per-hour frequency (4 times per second) adds realism to the watch, making it look like the record is playing smoothly.

How To Read The Time: 

Telling the time on the Vinyl Record Watch takes a little bit of practice and some getting used to. At first glance you'll have no idea what the time is, likely getting lost in the beautiful design of the watch. It's literally a miniature vinyl record player on your wrist!

Joking aside telling the time is easy once you know where to look. The tonearm represents the minute hand and the top of the 'A' on the record label is the hour marker. The small disc right in the middle of the watch above the label makes a full turn once per minute.

Since the minute hand isn't straight, you have to interpret where it's pointing. You can use the tip of the tonearm (which is painted red) or the corner of the headshell. Regardless of how you read the time, you won't be far off from the actual time (maybe a minute, if that).

Negatives:

Similar to Mispoes! by Mr Jones Watches, which I have also reviewed, this watch isn't meant to be taken too seriously. This is a watch better suited to the wrist of someone browsing a record shop, jamming to their favourite album, or grooving at a concert. 

It shouldn't be used to measure exact times or taken anywhere near bodies of water or other places where it would get jostled and knocked around. You probably shouldn't take it to the moon, if you are planning a trip there.

That being said, there are a couple small issues I have with the watch. They aren't deal breakers by any means, but if you aren't familiar with watches of this style, you may find yourself struggling to keep it sitting comfortably on your wrist.

The lugs are hidden under the watch, which could be uncomfortable for some who likes having curved lugs that hug their wrists. I personally don't find this to be an issue, but someone with smaller wrists may. The watch sits perfectly on the top part of my wrist and doesn't slide around at all.

The height of the watch could be an issue if you like to wear long-sleeved shirts with tighter cuffs. Although the sides are rounded, they could easily get caught or snagged under your cuff. If you plan on wearing this watch with a long-sleeved shirt, opt for wider or French cuffs, or leave the cuffs unbuttoned.

Like I said, these are just small negatives and likely won't affect the vast majority of people who are interested in owning one of these special timepieces. You don't even need to put the watch on a strap. It could be an ornament on your desk, or you could even attach it to a keychain if you want.

Summary

The Vinyl Record Watch by AndoAndoAndo is something truly unique. Never in my years of watch collecting have I seen a watch combine music and time telling in such a harmonious way. I appreciate when a microbrand makes something completely different, rather than creating another Submariner 'homage' like so many others.

AndoAndoAndo is a watch brand that doesn't want to take the same path as other microbrands, instead they dance to their own beat and express themselves freely. They offer a wide array of eye-catching watches, dials, and mod parts all available on their website.

The Vinyl Record Watch by AndoAndoAndo houses a quality movement inside a unique case, and features a detailed dial you won't find anywhere else. Other brands have used vinyl record themed dials before, but none of them have created something that resembles a turntable with details like a tonearm minute hand and a vinyl record dial that actually spins.

If you are interested in purchasing a Vinyl Record Watch for yourself (or for a friend), CLICK HERE and be sure to use discount code REX5 to save 5% off anything and everything on the AndoAndoAndo website.

NOTE: These watches are selling out quickly. Don't wait too long. Get yours now!

*Disclaimer: The link above is an affiliate link. If you purchase an AndoAndoAndo watch using the link, we make a small commission. It helps us continue to create articles and keep the website running.

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