There are plenty of digital watches out there, but every now and then one comes along that manages to take something very familiar and make it feel fresh again. The GHOST from 85 Watches is one of those models.

I actually first came across their profile on Instagram, where I started seeing their watch and became curious about the brand. After a bit of chatting with Leonard, the founder, he very kindly offered to send me one to try. I honestly didn’t expect it, especially as he wasn’t asking for anything in return. I mean he didn’t ask me to review the watch or to post photos of it, just wanted me to be able to try it.

That was such a kind gesture, and I’m genuinely grateful that he decided to send one my way. So, after spending some proper time with the watch, I thought it was only right to share my experience with it.

Just to be clear, this isn’t a paid review. The watch was sent to me as a gift, but as always, what follows is simply my own experience and honest opinion after wearing and using it for a while.

The Story Behind 85 Watches

Based in Singapore, 85 Watches is a spin-off of Make Good Watches, founded by Leonard after years of modifying and experimenting with off-the-shelf digital watches, particularly the ever-popular Casio F-91W. That experience eventually led to a natural next step: instead of modifying someone else’s watch, why not create one of their own?

The goal was to create something versatile enough for everyday life, whether heading to work, going to the gym or travelling, while offering a distinctive look without being overly flashy.

The result is the GHOST, a digital watch that combines a familiar layout with a fully transparent case and strap, dual-time functionality and a clean, understated design.

Designed in Singapore, the watch went through multiple rounds of prototyping and real-world testing before reaching its final form. It represents a natural evolution for the team: taking what they learned from years of modifying existing watches and applying that knowledge to a design of their own.

So, why GHOST?

This might actually be my favourite part of the story.

The name wasn’t planned from the beginning. In fact, Leonard explains that when the project started, they simply knew they wanted a transparent case, an EL backlight and dual-time functionality.

The name came much later, and in a rather unexpected way.

While finalising the watch with the factory, the team was still working on modified F-91Ws for Make Good Watches. Netflix was playing in the background, and they happened to be rewatching an episode of FUBAR starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. It’s a fun show I have to say.

Without getting too far into the rather strange scene that inspired it, one of the characters sings Gordon Lightfoot’s If You Could Read My Mind, including the line:

“As long as I’m a ghost, that you can see.”

That line apparently stuck around for weeks.

And when it came time to name a transparent watch, GHOST suddenly seemed like the obvious choice.

It’s not exactly the kind of naming story you’d expect from a watch brand, but I actually like that about it. There’s no elaborate marketing story behind the name. It came from a random moment during the long and sometimes frustrating process of creating the watch, and somehow it just fit.

Let’s see our Hero

Seeing the GHOST in photos is one thing, but holding it in my hand was a completely different experience. The first thing that struck me was just how good that clear case looks around the digital display. It has a very clean, almost stripped-back feel to it, with no unnecessary branding or text fighting for attention.

What I really enjoy is being able to see the little details that would normally be hidden away. The pushers are visible through the case, as are the clips holding the dial in place, and you can see how all those small elements come together. It gives the watch a bit of character that you don’t really get from looking at it from a distance.

The basic shape is familiar, of course. There is definitely something of that classic digital-watch DNA here, but the clear construction gives it a completely different personality.

The polycarbonate case is matched with a transparent resin strap, and I think keeping the branding to a minimum was absolutely the right call. There is no giant logo or unnecessary writing plastered across the watch. Even the GHOST name stays quietly out of the way.

And that’s what I like about it. There is enough going on with the case itself that it doesn’t need anything else.

It also turns out to be a surprisingly fun watch to photograph. The way the case picks up its surroundings means it can look quite different depending on the background, lighting or even what colour I’m wearing behind it. As someone who enjoys taking way too many photos of watches, I definitely appreciate that.

After spending some time with it, though, I realised the GHOST isn’t just about the looks. There is actually quite a lot packed into this little watch.

More than just a pretty face

The first thing that really caught my attention beside the fun design, from a practical point of view is the dual-time function.

That’s not something you see on every digital watch in this sort of classic profile, and I can actually see myself using it quite often. Whether you’re travelling, dealing with people in another time zone, or simply want to keep an eye on another country’s time, having it right there on the wrist is genuinely useful.

Then you have all the other digital-watch essentials: stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm and hourly chime, alongside the usual time and date display.

Nothing here is particularly complicated, and that’s exactly why I like it. These are the kind of functions you can actually use rather than features added simply to make a specification sheet look impressive.

What makes this even more interesting is that the module inside the GHOST was developed specifically for this watch. It’s a custom-made module designed around the features 85 Watches wanted to offer, rather than simply taking an existing off-the-shelf digital one and building a case around it. I think that’s a pretty cool detail, especially considering how familiar the overall shape of the watch might look at first glance.

The EL Brite backlight is another nice touch. It gives the display that classic digital-watch glow in the dark and makes the GHOST just as easy to use at night as it is during the day. It really lights up the night.

And that’s really where I think this model starts to make sense to me. It might look like a simple little transparent digital watch, but quite a bit of thought has gone into what is happening underneath that clear case.

It looks like a fun, slightly quirky transparent digital watch, but underneath that is a genuinely useful little everyday watch. You can wear it casually, take it travelling, use the timer when you’re cooking or the stopwatch when you’re doing something else, and have a second time zone available when you need it.

It’s still a simple watch, of course. And I think that’s part of its charm.

85 Watches hasn’t tried to turn the GHOST into something it isn’t. They’ve taken a familiar digital-watch formula, added a few genuinely useful features, and wrapped the whole thing in a design that makes you want to pick it up and wear it.

On the wrist

The 35mm case wears exactly as you’d expect from the dimensions: small, light and very comfortable.

At 35mm, the GHOST is definitely on the smaller end of the watches I usually wear. So if you’re used to having a big chunk of metal from a dive watch sitting on your wrist, or you’re more familiar with some of the larger G-Shocks, this is going to feel tiny by comparison. And that’s worth keeping in mind before buying one.

For me, though, that’s actually part of the appeal. And apparently, it has another advantage I didn’t think about: it fits my wife’s wrist too. So technically, we now have a watch we can both wear. I guess I better keep an eye on where I leave it.

The 18mm strap is made from allergen-free resin and has a total length of around 23.5cm, so it should work well for most wrist sizes. Worth mentioning if your wrist around 20cm or above, though, you might find the strap short.

Once you put it on, the whole watch feels incredibly light and unobtrusive. It doesn’t have the weight or presence of a traditional mechanical watch, and for the GHOST, I think that’s exactly what works.

There is something quite refreshing about wearing a watch that almost disappears on your hand.

It’s kind of a model you can just wear without thinking too much. Perfect grab and go model.

Going for a walk? GHOST.

Heading to the gym? GHOST.

Travelling? Even better.

And because the case and strap are transparent, it has a little more personality than a basic black digital watch while still being remarkably easy to wear. Of course, I know some of us might be less enthusiastic about seeing our hairy arms underneath a completely transparent strap, but honestly, that doesn’t bother me. I think it’s just part of the fun of the design.

Ultimately, the GHOST isn’t trying to give you that big, substantial feeling you get from a diver or a chunky G-Shock. It’s almost the opposite. It’s light, simple and easy to forget you’re even wearing, until you catch that transparent case in the light and remember just how cool the little thing looks.

A note from my wife

My wife’s reaction to the GHOST made me laugh. I was quite excited to show her my latest watch, but she took one look at it and said, “That’s so small! It looks like a toy for kids.” The transparent case and strap probably didn’t help, either. While I was busy admiring the design, she clearly saw something you’d buy for a child. I tried to explain why I liked it, but I don’t think I managed to change her mind. Oh well, you can’t win them all!

Final thoughts

What I like most about the 85 Watches GHOST is that it feels like the product of people who actually enjoy messing around with watches.

You can see the influence of all those years spent modifying F-91Ws, but the GHOST isn’t simply another variation of an existing watch. 85 Watches has taken that experience and used it to create something of its own.

The transparent case gives it the obvious visual hook, while the dual-time function and useful digital features give it enough substance beyond the looks.

And then there is the story behind it.

A watch born from years of modifying digital watches, countless prototypes, factory frustrations and, ultimately, a completely random line from a Netflix show about singing while trying to pee in a sewer.

Honestly, I’ve heard worse origin stories.

The GHOST is simple, fun and genuinely different, while still keeping the practicality that made those classic digital watches so popular in the first place.

Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the watch.

You just need to look at a familiar idea from a slightly different angle.

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Specifications:

• Case: Polycarbonate resin
• Size: 35mm diameter with 9mm thickness
• Light: EL Brite backlight
• Water resistance: 30m(3atm)
• Battery: 1 × CR2016
• Functions: Time with 12/24-hour format, Date, Dual time zone, Alarm, Stop watch, Countdown timer, Hourly chime
• Price: 39.90 USD

Link to the watch:

GHOST