The company applied its materials know-how to making tiny circuit boards for early digital watches.

FORBES: It's all in the packaging

It goes without saying that not all digital watches are particularly attractive, or interesting.

FORBES: The Coolest Digital Watch Around?

Phosphor Reveal marks the world's first mechanical digital watches utilizing its proprietary Micro-Magnetic Mechanical DigitalTM (M3D) technology.

ENGADGET: Phosphor's Reveal wristwatch uses Swarovski crystals to tell time, bedazzle you

These types of devices can be initiated using simple electronic components including, but not limited to, digital watches, garage door openers, cellphones or pagers.

WSJ: Video Shows Suspect in Boston Marathon Blasts

In Germany where 10% of the population watches digital terrestrial TV, less than 10 cases of interference have been reported.

BBC: Man watching TV

Swatch also sees great potential for watches as contactless digital wallets.

ECONOMIST: MONITOR

The top-performing online product categories were digital content and subscriptions, event tickets, jewelry and watches, consumer electronics (excl. computer peripherals) and computer software.

FORBES: Retail e-Commerce Spending Up 13%

Instead, Mr. Samuelson mostly watches high-definition movies and shows that his digital video recorder snags from his cable service.

WSJ: Blu-ray or HD DVD: Which Side Are You On?

My silent digital monologue lead me to wonder what had happened to thermometers filled with shiny but toxic Mercury, watches (with or without hands), cameras with 8mm film, and television sets with vacuum tubes and knobs labeled horizontal hold.

FORBES: Gen Y And The Cursive Code