Nearly everyone wears one around their wrist, a watch. Some only wear it as a fashion accessory but the purpose of a watch is to tell the time. But what if you are blind or visually impaired? A regular watch does not provide you with the ability to tell the time.
Nowadays, we can tell the time by simply asking: “Siri, what time is it?” But what if you don’t have your phone with you? Or if there is a lot of noise around you? We have made a list of watches specially made for people with sight loss.
First off, we will explain how these watches work. There are multiple options when searching for a great watch for people who are blind or have a visual impairment.
How Watches for the Visually Impaired Work?
Before diving into our top picks, let’s explore how these specialized watches cater to the needs of the visually impaired:
Talking watches
Talking watches represent a marvel of modern technology, designed to make life easier for everyone, particularly for those with visual impairments. As straightforward as it sounds, a talking watch audibly informs you of the current time, date, day, and year at the press of a button.
This innovative feature ensures that users can stay informed of the time without needing to glance at their watch. Available in a variety of options, these watches come with either a male or female voice, while some models offer both, allowing users to choose based on their personal preference.
The versatility and user-friendly nature of talking watches make them a valuable accessory for people from all walks of life. Whether for convenience, accessibility, or simply a preference for auditory information, talking watches provide an elegant solution to timekeeping.
Braille watches
Braille watches offer a tactile solution for timekeeping, catering specifically to the needs of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. These innovative devices are designed in two distinct forms, mirroring the traditional watch market with options for both analogue and digital formats.
With an analogue Braille watch, users can feel the positions of the hands through protective glass that opens, allowing them to discern the time by touch. It can also be flipped open. In this way the wearer can tell the time by touching the dots used to represent the different times on a watch.
The digital versions, on the other hand, use raised dots to represent the time in Braille, enabling a user to read the time directly with their fingertips.
This variety ensures that users can select a watch that best fits their lifestyle and personal preference, making timekeeping both accessible and convenient. By bridging the gap in accessibility, Braille watches empower users to independently stay informed of the time, fostering greater autonomy and confidence.
Detailed Reviews of Top Watches for the Visually Impaired
1. Eone
Eone is an innovative brand that has the mission to create fashionable products accessible for everyone. They created the Bradley timepiece. Named after former naval officer Bradley Snyder, who lost his sight completely after serving in Afghanistan. He didn’t let his disability stop him. He competed in the Paralympics and won multiple gold and silver medals, earning him a world record.
Even though we just explained the two different options. The Bradley timepiece is neither of those. You tell the time by touch. The watch uses raised hour markers: a triangle for twelve, long bars for three, six and nine and shorter bars for the other numbers. Then there are two magnetic balls that rotate.
One spins around on the watch in the middle, this one is used for the minutes. The other ball rotates around the edge of the watch; this is for the hours. This created an easy way to tell the time with your fingers, even without the use of braille.
The watch comes in all kinds of variations. You can choose between a black, grey or rose gold, gold or cobalt face with different material straps such as mesh, canvas and leather. The watches start at $285. For more information, you can go directly to their website: https://www.eone-time.com
2. Time Optics
With quite the range of quality talking watches, Time Optics is another brand that makes technology inclusive to all. They create watches for all ages, from children to elderly.
They offer watches in all different styles: from metal to leather and from silver to gold. Time Optics also has ‘time teaching watches’. These help children with their skill to tell the time, they come in colourful designs with removable straps that you can purchase separately. 
Their watches use the Unique Custom Tooled Talking IC Watch Chip. This voice chip, created by Time Optics, is the first talking watch to feature the option for both a male or female voice and the alarm feature. The watch will provide you with the time, day, month, date, year and the alarm feature that can be turned on or off.
Their watches for children cost $55 whereas the watches for adults start at $55 and range to $65.
3. Amazon Talking Watches for the blind
This is not a specific watch we are highlighting, but this is a perfect place to find an affordable watch that fits you. In the last few years on Amazon, there has been a huge increase in the availability of talking watches.
With prices ranging from $20 to $100 dollars, there is a good chance that one of these watches fits you perfectly. We highly recommend that you check the reviews when it comes to these watches, as they provide valuable information.
There are over 100 available watches, and this might well be the best place to search for the one you need.
4. Citizen Watch
Citizen is a company that makes watches for everyone. As part of that mission they developed watches for people who are blind by making them tactile. They still also work with visual aspects but are available for those who are blind as well.
- Style Meets Practicality: Beyond its practical features, the watch is styled to suit any occasion, gender, or outfit, thanks to its sleek design, casual font, and matte finishes that minimize fingerprints. This discreet yet stylish approach ensures the watch doesn't stand out for the wrong reasons, aligning with the feedback from the blind and visually impaired community for a watch that can also be enjoyed as a fashion piece.
- Durability and Comfort: Understanding the importance of longevity and comfort, CITIZEN rigorously tested the watch's durability, particularly focusing on the glass cover's resilience to frequent opening and closing. The adjustable band and buckle placement guarantee a snug fit, ensuring the watch remains securely on the wrist.
The watches are now available for around $140 via the retailers from Citizen. We recommend you reach out to them directly for availability on https://www.citizenwatch-global.com/touchtimewatch/index.html
5. Dot Watch
In 2016, a company named Dot released the first ever braille smartwatch named the Dot Watch. A great innovation to people that suffer from sight loss. The watch can be worn if you already know braille, but also if you would like to learn. Dot offers a learning program that is a simple but entertaining way to get started.
The face of the watch has 24 shifting dots that are powered by magnets and electrical signals. The device is linked to a smartphone through Bluetooth in order to showcase the time but also receive text and app notifications.
What is extra special about the Dot Watch, it also displays logos from applications on your phone. This way you know when you have received a notification from a certain app.
The smartwatch comes with a white face and silver metal band. The costs of the watch ranges from $299 to $333, depending on the size and your location. You can find more information on their website: https://buy.dotincorp.com/
A New Era of Inclusivity in Timekeeping
In conclusion, the evolution of watches for the visually impaired showcases remarkable strides in accessibility, marrying functionality with style. From tactile feedback in the Bradley timepiece and audible cues in Time Optics watches, to the innovative Dot Watch that integrates Braille with smart technology, these devices offer independence and inclusivity.
They demonstrate technology's role in empowering individuals with visual impairments, making timekeeping both practical and fashionable. For more insights into how technology aids in navigating the challenges of blindness, explore our series on blindness and technology.
Discover how these advancements are creating a more accessible world. Click here to continue your journey with us.