Crunch Gear has a good interview up with the creator of this wonderful watch, Haruo Suekichi:

Your watches have an antique, yet very futuristic form and design. Where do they come from? What inspires you? - When I make watches, it doesn’t usually start with design but with “fun”: fun gimmicks, fun looking, unique way of wearing them. They need to be fun, because they are more gadgets than watches to me. So the inspiration comes from everything that I find fun or interesting. My latest watch is based on my latest experience of watching the birth of cicada nymphs.

Read the full interview with Haruo Suekichi over at Crunch Gear.