Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Omega Olympic Edition 2008 Watch


In the spirit of the Olympics, i’ve decided to review Omega’s Timeless Olympic Watch Edition, after all, Omega is the Official Time Keeper of the Beijing Olympics.

This is a very nice and sleek watch. I really like the detail of the Olympics Logo at the end of the seconds hand & the red OMEGA logo.

Some basic features include a stainless steal case, sapphire anti reflective crystal, black with red logo dial, black rubber strap with a push button safety release clasp with an automatic coaxial movement and an Omega 3313 Engine.

Some basic functions include:

Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Chronograph & Date

Model Number: 222.32.46.50.01.001 or 22232465001001

I want one!

TokyoFlash Galaxy Watch


TokyoFlash keeps me busy staying on top of their latest models. They just came out with a watch with a very different way to tell time., it’s design looks out of this world. Although it seems cryptic, its fairly easy to tell time on this new TokyoFlash Galaxy Watch.

Tag Heuer’s New Cross Promotional Video

It’s to no ones surprise that I am big fan of Tag Heuer’s Cross Promotional Videos to sell there very cool watches. Here is a new one using tennis super star Maria Sharapova. I totally dig the music.

Urwerk 103 Watch


The Urwerk 103 is a very modern and stylish looking watch. It comes in several styles. Below I’m showcasing the black & brown leather versions that come in white gold and in a limited platinum edition.

The time is shown by the orbiting hour satellites as they pass through the minutes. As each titanium satellite gets near the crown of the watch, the cross rotates so that it’s showing the correct time. As with all Urwerk, the 103 Series has a very precise synchronicity.

This is definitely a sweet looking watch and its design & technology should be recognized…

Review of the Casio G-Shock AWG101-1V


One of the good things about a G-Shock fan is that there are so darn many models out there. And they're updated frequently, so if you don't see what you want, it'll be there sooner than you think. We've reviewed quite a few G-Shocks, and think that they represent excellent value and function. Today's review is of the AWG101-1V, an analog-digital watch very similar to the GW-1310. Compared to the 1310, this one uses a red hour hand and reverse LCD displays (black on white) but is otherwise of similar style. As with all G-Shocks, you get a tremendous amount of functionality:

Tough solar, shock resistant with a 7 month power reserve.
Waterproof to 200m (660ft)
Mineral crystal, well-protected by the bezel and protecting plastic bits.
Analog hour and minute hand, seconds are on the 3 o'clock LCD display
Stopwatch, 1/100th second resolution, up to 1 hour.
6-minute countdown timer.
Automatic backlight that illuminates on wrist twist in the dark. Illumination is a yellow LED at 6 o'clock, so the LED displays are not readable.
Single simple alarm, optional hourly chime
Metal case, resin band.
5-band 'atomic' timekeeping, meaning that it receives radio signals up to six times per day to set the time. This one works with both Japanese stations, WWVB in the US, Mainflingen in Germany and Rugby in England. There are newer G-Shocks that also receive in China, but 5-band is pretty normal. The display at 6 o'clock shows which signal was last received.
If there's no radio reception, it's accurate within 15 seconds per month.

Street price is about $120USD, in line with the majority of G-Shocks, representing an excellent value for a nearly indestructible watch. I had previously owned a GW-1310, and this is a nice improvement in small ways: The hour hand makes the time more readable at a glance, and the bronze bezel is understated and attractive. The watch is quite subdued as G-Shocks go, with the reverse LCD displays giving a nice touch of the unusual.

The AWG101-1V also has some other improvements that I greatly appreciate. For one, you can see in this picture that the band has notches on the inside. You don't notice them while wearing it, but the strap keeper is held in place by them, and thus the end of the strap doesn't work loose while you're active. A nice touch, that.


Casio also added luminescent material to the face of the watch on the hands and indices, which unfortunately fades quite quickly. I hope they decide to add Superluminova or Lumibrite, as that'd greatly add to the visibility of the watch at night.

As you'd expect with a G-Shock, the watch is comfortable to wear and legendarily durable. This one bears no marks from several sessions with my toddler, who inflicts a lot of damage.

As you can see from the wrist shots, it's reasonably low-profile at 46mm by 14mm. The curved strap hugs the wrist nicely, and the buckle is similarly slim and comfortable.


I may just be getting on, but I found the LCDs a bit difficult to read from normal viewing distances. They digits are quite small, although crisp and clear, and the even smaller mode indicators such as 'alarm on' are only a few millimeters across. Not a watch for the aged, at least if you need the digital portions - the analog hands are of course very legible at a glance. On a similar note, I hope that they add backlighting to the LCDs, as the current system isn't usable at night.

Overall, a solid G-Shock, solid as a rock and excellent value for your money.

The New Sinn 657


We've become big Sinn fans here at WatchReport, and today I learned of a new model, the 657. Available in black chromed steel (shown) or stainless, this update to the 657 adds some features of interest:

Updated bezel design, more durable and more readable markers
Size increased to a more modern 40mm by 12mm
Added a black chapter ring around the dial for readability.
Those are just the new features! In addition, it's a bulletproof watch for extreme environments:

Anti-magnetic to 80,000 A/m, which works out to about 1000 Gauss, or 0.1T, the same as the Rolex Milgauss. As with the Milgauss, Sinn used an iron dial and soft iron movement casing inside the watch to achieve this.
Double-sided anti-reflective-coated sapphire crystal, very scratch resistant.
Waterproof to 200m (660ft), which is exceptional for a pilot's watch.
Very unusually, it's rated for low pressures too, again for pilots in unpressurized cockpits.
Stainless steel case, about 77g without the bracelet or band.
The movement is based on the tractor ETA 2824-2, a well-known and reliable Swiss automatic. The product page, auto-translated from German, is here via Google, and the original is here at sinn.de.

Street price for the stainless version is about 1600USD, I would expect that the black chrome version would be a few hundred dollars more. I really like this one, and after Christian's review of the 856C I'm dying to see one of these in person.

Oris Atelier Worldtimer


There are certain high-end Swiss watches that I've always admired for their style and function, among them is the Ulysse Nardin GMT ± Perpetual. It's a travel watch in the tradition of the Rolex GMT Master, but with a neat twist: It has two buttons that increment or decrement the local time. When you travel, simply press the buttons as required to jump to your destination time zone! Simple to use, hard to make and very functional. However, being a Swiss chronometer of in-house design, the Ulysse Nardin is out of my price range. Imagine my surprise and delight, then, at discovering that well-regarded Swiss brand Oris now has a similar watch, the Oris Atelier Worldtimer.

There are two versions, with and without bracelet. The picture shows the version I prefer, on an leather strap. Features of the watch include

Sapphire crystals front and back, with interior anti-glare coating and doming on the front for easier visibility.
Movement based on the ETA 2836, a well-known movement with good serviceability and excellent reputation. Oris modified the 2836 to add the plus/minus buttons, and added a second timezone display at 3 o'clock on the dial.
Automatic movement, 38 hour power reserve.
The dial is silver and grey, decorated with guilloche or machine turning.
Date display at 6 o'clock
Perfectly sized at 42.5mm
The hands and indices are lumed with Superliminova, so it should be readable at night as well.
Water resistant to 30m or 98ft, but I'd be hesitant to get a watch like this damp. This is not a sport watch!
MSRP of the Worldtimer is $2525, or $2625 on the bracelet, which is downright cheap for what it is. I hope to get one of these for review very soon.

Review of the Casio Pathfinder PAW1500T-7V


The face of a watch, like a person, often tells you quite a bit about what they are. Sometimes they're subtle and restrained, and sometimes their place in the world is writ large for all to see. The Casio Pathfinder, model number PAW1500T-7V is one of those "this is who I am, got a problem with that?" sorts of watches. After wearing it for a few weeks, I think of it as the go-to watch for the outdoors, especially if things are going to be tough: river rafting, long hiking trips, extreme sports and the like. It's probably the most capable and versatile watch I've yet seen. About the only thing it doesn't have is GPS:

Features of the Casio Pathfinder PAW1500T-7V include:

Tough Solar power (shock-resistant), 5 month power reserve.
Radio set, five bands: Japan (1 & 2), US, UK and Germany, tries up to six times per day.
200M (660ft) water resistant.
Low-temperature resistant, down to -10C / 14F.
Digital flux gate compass with bearing memory for navigation.
Altimeter/barometer with up to 20 points in memory and trend graphs.
Thermometer.
Automatic electroluminescent backlight.
World time, with 29 timezones and 33 cities around the globe.
Five daily alarms.
60-minute countdown timer.
Stopwatch, up to 24 hours.
Graph of tide and trend, based on location and user-entered correction.
Moon graph, northern or southern view.
Rated to within 20 seconds per month accuracy if no radio signal is received.
L/M/H battery charge indicator.
Display flag on main screen if it received a radio sync in the last 24 hours.
Titanium case and band, with safety lock and pushbutton release.
Mineral glass crystal.
Compass bezel for a quick bearing.
Adjust and light buttons at 6 o'clock for fast access.
Shrouded buttons that are crosshatched and oversized for use with gloves.
51mm wide, 14mm thick and 113g on the bracelet.
Casio calls this 'The ultimate Pathfinder' and I'm inclined to agree; it does it all. Despite that, the use of titanium makes it very comfortable to wear, even on very hot days. I wore it in 90F heat it was just fine to wear and use.

I've included a comparison shot with a G-shock so that you can judge the size. My wrist is around 7.25" (18.4cm), and I was very comfortable wearing the Pathfinder. Obviously, its an overtly technical and outdoor-style watch, so worrying about whether it fits under the cuff of a dress shirt is kind of pointless!

Christian has covered this model before, so let me add some from my experiences. I really like the combination of solar plus ABC (altimeter/barometer/compass). The ABC features all draw a lot of power, so normally you have to worry about running your battery flat in the middle of nowhere and losing you navigation. Ditto with the backlight, and doubly so for using the compass in the dark. By adding solar power, Casio frees you from worrying about that, even if you're hiking the Appalachian trail, visiting Patagonia or canoeing the Amazon. It's a superb idea, and I think every outdoor watch should have solar power like the Pathfinder.



Similarly, small thoughtful touches abound elsewhere too. Just above the time, you can press 'Adjust' and flip between display of the day or a small graph of the recent barometric pressure - great for hiking, where a drop portends precipitation or a storm. The auto backlight lights up when you turn your wrist in the dark, and since its electroluminescent, the entire dial is evenly lit, letting you see time/compass, etc. I also like that you can configure the main time display to show time, day, date and month all at once.

The dial is initially a bit overwhelming, as there's a lot of information on display. However, it's logically laid out and quite comprehensible after a bit of time with the manual. Around the face of the watch, there's a ring of segments that's used to show seconds in time mode, and as the compass in navigation mode, and also to show pressure trends in barometer mode. Below the time, there's a special graph to show tide and trend (in or out, high/low), icons for 'radio signal received', battery charge, AM/PM, moon phase, and more.

The buttons for altimeter, barometer and compass are on the right side, with plastic shrouds to prevent accidental presses. They're also crosshatched for a sure grip, and a bit oversized for use with gloves - very thoughtful. There's an unshrouded 'Mode' button on the left side as well, and two more below the dial.



The altimeter and barometer are fast and accurate, and display graphs of measurement versus time. This is nice for logging hikes and keeping an eye on the weather. I found it to be quite accurate once set to local barometric pressure. If you're going to use this, I recommend finding the altitude of your house so that you can calibrate before leaving.

The bracelet and clasp of the watch are worth mentioning as well. The clasp is a nice evolution of previous designs, as you can see in the picture the interior pieces are beveled and cut so that the portions pressed against your wrist are rounded and comfortable - bravo! Very nice to wear.

Another new idea is that the buttons are under the fliplock, adding a bit more security against accidentally opening the bracelet. These are small details, but they really add to the comfort and are nice to have.



Overall, I'd like to congratulate Casio: This Pathfinder is obviously evolved from its predecessors, with many improvements small and large. The attention to detail, comfort and utility are remarkable and appreciated, making this the outdoor watch of choice when the going gets rough.

Review of the Sinn 856 UTC


In my tireless search for unique, robust, and beautiful watches, it was inevitable that I would someday be wearing a Sinn. I chose the 856 UTC as my first Sinn because it represents a very nice balance between functionality and design.

Before I get into the specifics of the 856, I want to provide a little background on the Sinn brand. Sinn is a German watch company that has been making mechanical watches since 1961. Sinn is owned by Lothar Schmidt who, in addition to having been with IWC and A. Lange & Söhne in the past, happens to be an engineer. I mention this fact because Schmidt's background in engineering clearly manifests itself in the design of many Sinn watches, including the 856 UTC.

Features of the Sinn 856 UTC include:

ETA 2893-2 mechanical movement.
UTC (GMT) hand which you can use either to see the current 24-hour time, or to monitor a second time zone.
Anti-magnetic shielding. The watch's movement is encased in an iron core which protects it from magnetism.
Anti-humidity system. The 856 has a copper sulphate capsule built into the case at about the 7 o'clock position which absorbs any moisture that may find its way into the watch. Over time, the capsule turns bluish as it absorbs moisture, and should be replaced about every five years (the normal maintenance interval for a mechanical watch).
Tegimented case and bracelet. The 856's case and bracelet have been hardened to about four times the normal hardness of stainless steel. If you're an engineer yourself, that's about 1,200 Vickers. I've worn the 856 several times, and literally there's not a single scratch on it. The case and bracelet are also sand blasted for a dull grayish look that I personally love.
Water resistant to 20 bar (200 meters, or about 650 feet).
Screwdown crown and caseback.
Flat sapphire crystal.
Date perfectly positioned just inside the 4 o'clock index.
40mm wide case, 10.7mm high. These dimensions work really well for people with smaller wrists who still want a big watch.
Black matte dial.
Luminescent hands and hour markers.
At its heart, the Sinn 856 UTC is an aviation watch. The pilot style dial and hands (reminiscent of an analog dial in a cockpit), UTC feature, and anti-magnetic shielding make it a good choice for pilots who are looking for a beautiful, unique, and practical alternative to a Breitling or the Rolex GMT Master II. The one issue I have with the ETA 2893-2 movement, however, is that you can't set the 12-hour hand and date independently and simultaneously like you can with the GMT Master II. Instead, the hour and minute hands are set in the conventional way, and the UTC hand is set by rotating the crown in one direction (in the second position) while the opposite direction sets the date. Being able to set the 12-hour hand independently is a bit more useful for switching between time zones, in my opinion. Additionally, it's a little hard to remember which direction moves the UTC hand versus the date meaning you're likely to get it wrong every now and then which can be frustrating.

Otherwise, the Sinn 856 UTC is a very competent and practical watch. For someone who loves unique and robust mechanical watches, you can see how the Sinn 856 UTC is very appealing. I've been wearing it on and off for a few months now, and whenever I put it back on, I fall in love with it all over again.

Review of the Orient CFT00004B


The Orient CFT00004B is a handsome, semi-dressy sport watch which incorporates Orient's own 46R40 self-winding automatic movement. It has a great looking polished case and bracelet, a power reserve indicator, a slide rule, and an "open heart" skeleton dial that shows the balance wheel and the crown and stem assembly.

The Case

This is a well balanced watch with a 43.7mm case that sits 12.1mm off your wrist. The case is polished and has a pleasant shine to it that compliments the fixed bezel and the nicely shaped dual crown system. The 9 o'clock crown is for setting the time while the 4 o'clock crown operates the internal slide rule. As a side note, before you decide to buy a watch with a slide rule, I recommend that you read up on how to use it, and make sure it's something you really want. They are complicated and difficult to use, and tend to make the dial much busier than a simple dive-style timing bezel. The slide rule on the Orient CFT00004B is unique in that it's internal (below the crystal) which means it's operated by a crown rather than rotating it directly. Internal rotating bezels, or reflectors, are usually reserved for dive watches since you don't want the bezel to get bumped and inadvertently adjusted; this is the first time we've seen one one a pilot style watch.

The dial and movement are sandwiched between twin sapphire crystals to give you a view of both the time and the technology behind it. The dial is cluttered but easy to read, thanks to the exaggerated arabic markers at the twelve and six o'clock positions as well as ample markers and long, wide hands. All the markers and hands have decent lume that lasts long enough to be usable, but don't quite give Seiko or Ocean7 a run for their money. The Orient CFT00004B does not have a date feature which is one of my few complaints.

This is the second Orient I've owned. The first was the "Red Beast", a boisterous diver that crowded your wrist and screamed out with its bright red face and massive hands. The CFT00004B seems to be more accurate than its diver cousin, and bears less resemblance to the Miota automatics found driving Invictas and automatic Citizen divers. This is a nice watch with an asian movement that keeps better time then one might think, given the price.

The Bracelet

The bracelet on this Orient bears a strong resemblance to the bracelet from the Tissot Seastar 1000 I reviewed last year, however I'd place the Orient's bracelet slightly higher in terms of quality. It's heavy, uses solid end links to interface with the case (we like SELs), and has polished center links. The Orient's bracelet is much quieter then the Tissot's which is guilty of making squeaking and rattling sounds, and has a far better Seiko-style push button deployment clasp. The fold-over clasp is nicely signed with the Orient name and their logo which adds a bit of class. I think the bracelet is nice enough that I would not consider the variations of this watch that come without it.

Packaging

This watch comes in relatively pedestrian packaging similar to many other watches in the price range: a plain marked box, hang tag, and an instruction booklet are all that accompany the watch itself. On a watch like this (which is not a special edition or a collectors item) the packaging is not a huge part of the experience, and I'm happy to see that they put more time into the fit and finish of the case, movement, and bracelet then the packaging (though nice packing always helps make a good first impression). Most watches of a similar style come in very similar packaging; it's usually dive watches that get all the cool boxes.

Conclusion

This is a pretty slick little timepiece that really starts to grow on you. I miss the date complication, and the slide rule is lost on me, but I love the size and polish of the case, and the open heart dial adds some class and uniqueness. The bracelet will stand up to most competition and the lume is pretty good for a dress watch. In general, I like Orient a lot as they remind me of an Asian Tissot with many different styles and finishes to appeal to most buyers. The list price on this watch is $600 USD, but with discounts, you can usually find one for around $450 USD. At this price point, it has a lot of competition from Seiko and Citizen, but may win buyers over because of its original look and novel brand

The Swatch Irony Body and Soul


As an engineer, it's always interesting to me to think about what a watch is designed for. In some ways, it's easy to make "The World's Finest Watch" if cost and time are no consideration. It's much harder, on the other hand, to make a world-class watch for the masses for under, say, $200. Engineering both low-cost and style into a mechanical watch is not a simple task.

Today I'm reviewing a watch that tries for just that. Say hello to the Swatch Irony Automatic "Body and Soul". It's a skeletonized mechanical watch where both front and back are clear to allow an unobstructed view of the ticking heart inside. The movement is an ETA 2841 which is a modified version of the hugely popular 2824-2. Beating at 21,600 VPH, it simply displays hours, minutes and seconds. (VPH stands for "vibrations per hour." 21,600 means that the second hand moves five times per second — a medium rate.)

Swatch made a number of innovative modifications to the 2824-2 to lower costs and reduce part count. The beat was slowed, the date removed, the plates of the watch were integrated into the case, and the ability to "hack" (have the second hand stop when you pull the crown all the way out so you can set the time precisely) removed as well. Of course, you probably don't need a hacking movement in a watch without markings on the dial — this is not a watch for the obsessively precise timekeeper!

Moving to the outside of the watch, it's the usual size for a men's Swatch: about 36mm across and 13mm thick. The bracelet is alternating 3 and 5-link, with the center links hollow and hollow end links (another cost cutting measure). The stamped clasp uses a friction-fit with fliplock, secured with split pins. Although Swatch has their own end design, you can easily find replacement bracelets and straps on the internet in a variety of styles and materials. The crystal and caseback are both plastic, and it's rated as waterproof to 30 meters (about 100 feet), however since the crown doesn't screw down, I'd be hesitant to get it wet.

As with all skeletonized watches, the main issue is readability. The detail, movement, and different colors of the movement make the hands harder to see, and the lack of hour or minute markers makes exact readings tricky. That's not the point of this watch, however. The point is to enjoy the movement, and to be able to watch its tiny beating heart. You can certainly do that with the Swatch Irony as the bridges and plates have been modified to display more of what's going on. The mainspring barrel is also opened so you can see at a glance how wound or unwound the spring is. The rotor spins merrily, visible even while worn from the front, and the balance at 12 o'clock is a blur of motion. The hands are thoughtfully filled in with white luminous material that doesn't last very long in the dark, but during the day, the white color actually improves the visibility.

It seems to keep time to within a few seconds per day. I'd expect it to last many years, more if you get it serviced every 2-3 years. At 36mm, it sits very easily on a wrist and slides under dress cuffs effortlessly due to a low and beveled profile. If you like mechanical watches at all, this is a wonderful one to have. It's inexpensive (under $150), well-made, contains a genuine Swiss movement, and it's great fun to let people see just what's inside a ticking mechanical watch.

Review of the Casio Edifice EFX700D-1A1V


A few months ago, I received an interesting and rather surprising watch in the mail: a Casio Edifice EFX700D-1A1V. I like some Casio models, but as a whole, they usually don't register as one of my favorite brands, primarily due to the styling of their most popular lines. I could never get behind the G-Shocks (unlike Christian), and despite the amazing functionality of the Pathfinder family, I always found them too big for my wrist. In retrospect, it was probably because of this bias of mine that Christian passed the Edifice on to me. I think he wanted to challenge my preconceptions.

I must admit, the watch I received changed my view of Casio in a profound way. The Casio Edifice EFX700D-1A1V (hereby referred to as the “Edifice 700”) is a great looking watch — probably the first analogue/digital combination watch I've seen that actually looks better then the analogue-only version. It's just a flat-out good looking watch by almost any standard, mixing styles and influences, sporting a high-contrast dual display and a very respectable feature list:

Sapphire crystal.
100 meter water resistant (about 330 feet).
Electroluminescent backlight.
Dual time.
Stopwatch with a 60 lap memory.
3 alarms.
Countdown timer.
Solid stainless steel bracelet.
$210 retail (which we consider to be very aggressive).
The Case

As previously mentioned, this watch really sings to me. I love the mix of different visual elements from the screwed black bezel to the subtle inlay between the digital readouts. The dial has a pleasant depth and is accented by a tiny gold "Edifice" label (the Edifice 700 is part of Casio’s premium “Gold Label” line). The digital readouts are high contrast, very easy to read, and are complemented by a two-hand analogue movement that is synchronized with the digital time panel (the bottom readout). The addition of a sapphire crystal and 100 meter water resistance is a welcomed bonus given the price.

The Edifice 700 is controlled like just about every other Casio: a button on each corner of the case has a contextual use given which mode you are in. Modes include:

Timekeeping.
Stopwatch.
Countdown timer.
Alarm.
Dual time (to track the time in another time-zone).
Hand sync mode.
That's a pretty stacked feature list. I loved having a different time zone displayed on the screen for when I travel, and a countdown timer is surprisingly useful. One of my favorite features is probably the EL backlight. It's a "reverse" backlight which illuminates the numbers rather than the area around them. Not only does it look extremely cool, but it's very practical, as well, since it makes the watch unusually legible in the dark.

The Bracelet

The 700 has a solid stainless steel bracelet with solid end links (on a $210 watch!), and a push button flip-lock clasp. Everything about the bracelet is great: it's quiet, heavy, and shiny. Of course, it's not the best bracelet I've ever come across, but it's probably on par with the bracelet on the TX 730 Flyback Chronograph (which is a $600 watch).

The Packaging

When you open this watch, you almost forget it's a watch and begin to believe that you are handling the packaging for a tiny bottle of liquor. It comes double boxed and says “Edifice Gold Label” on the outer and inner boxes. Once inside, the packaging is plain and similar to the box for any other Casio, Seiko, or Citizen. In general, it's a big step up from what you usually see from Casio.

Conclusion

The Casio Edifice EFX700D-1A1V is indeed worthy of its “Gold Label” moniker as it's easily the best Casio I've ever worn. During my evaluation, it got a lot of compliments with its unusual but unified style, and I love its long feature list which looks even better next to its entry-level pricing. If you're looking for a great “daily wear”, make sure you check out the over-performing Casio Edifice.

Review of the TX 730 Flyback Chronograph


When we think of Timex, we usually think of the king of the American bargain bin. Timex is known for inexpensive "drugstore" watches sold in places like Walmart and Target. But they are good inexpensive watches, and because they are such a good value, we like Timex. Besides, any company that has put over a billion watches on wrists over the years deserves and gets our respect.

And now, with their new TX line of premium quartz watches, Timex deserve even more respect. The TX 730 Flyback Chronograph is a watch to stand against the canons of Asian elites like Seiko and Citizen. Like Ford beating Ferrari with the GT40 in the LeMans in 1966, Timex is showing the world that even a good old-fashioned American staple can rise to the occasion.

Features of the TX 730 include:

PVD coated stainless steel case, and PVD coated bracelet with solid end links (SEL).
46mm case.
German designed 6-hand quartz movement.
Sapphire crystal.
Analog time, retrograde GMT, retrograde chronograph, and compass.
Date between the 2 and 3 o'clock positions.
100m water resistance (about 330 feet).
Retail price of $550.
Case and Hands

Given the price point, the case is very good, and the finish is on par with the Seikos and Citizens that tend to dominate this price range. The crystal is flat and sits over an inky black dial with inlaid markers that are too small to glow brightly in low light. The hands are interesting, unique, and nicely fashioned, however they, too, do not glow as brightly as I would have liked. This is one area where TX has some room for improvement.

Features

Outside of the lume issue, I really like what the TX 730 has to offer. The six-hand system displays standard time, GMT (on the 10 o'clock retrograde dial), a chronograph (which uses the pilot hand, and both retrograde dials), and an electronic compass (with magnetic declination compensation). In my mind, the compass is sort of in interesting bonus, and not something you'd expect on a watch like this, but for a flight oriented watch, it makes sense. The chronograph really stands out because it measures up to 4 hours, and if you've read my review of the Ocean7 G-2 Chronograph, you already know just how much I love chronographs that can measure in large increments.

Using retrograde dials allows for very simple reading of the chronograph as the four o'clock dial measures minutes, and the ten o'clock measures hours in ten minute sets. It's easy to use, and as the name suggests, it has a flyback feature that allows the chronograph to be instantly reset and restarted in a single motion. In other words, if you're measuring the finish times of a series of events, there is no lag in the timing as the chronograph can be instantly reset to zero after which it immediately begins counting again. Flyback chronographs are much more efficient complications than standard chronographs which require three separate button pushes to stop, reset, and start again.

Bracelet

The matching stainless steel PVD finished bracelet is very good, and uses solid end links (SELs) to attach to the case. The double locking deployment ("butterfly") clasp is strong and well made. The quality is comparable to what you might find in a good Tissot, Seiko, or Citizen. It is a thin and comfortable bracelet that is not noisy or distracting in any way, and it compliments the case handsomely. I consider this high praise since, unlike Christian, I tend to prefer watches on a good leather strap. I did test the TX 730 on some black leather, but I later reverted to the bracelet for both its comfort and the way it compliments the case.

Packaging

The TX 730 Flyback comes in attractive packaging that bears no resemblance the spartan plastic boxes of Timex's more pedestrian products. The TX 730 comes bound in a curved, pillow-packed case that is nicer than any of the cases that I've seen recently from Seiko or Citizen. This is another area where TX has outperformed the competition.

Summary

Timex should be very proud of the new TX line. Like Ford and their GT40, TX is showing that there is no substitute for experience, and when push comes to shove, they can build a machine to compete with anything in its price range. If you are looking into a multifunction Citizen or Seiko chronographs, you owe it to yourself to consider the TX 730, as well.

This watch was generously provided by Princeton Watches.

Review of the Rolex Sea-Dweller


Without a doubt, the Rolex Sea-Dweller is one of my favorite watches of all time. It represents everything I look for in a watch of this sort: simplicity, quality, functionality, and stark beauty.

The Sea-Dweller is one of the less common Rolex sport models. While the Submariner is produced in several combinations of materials and colors, there is only one Sea-Dweller. It is only available in all stainless steel, and only with a black dial and black bezel. Rolex designed the Sea-Dweller purely as a dive tool — not a fashion accessory.

Features of the Rolex Sea-Dweller:

Guaranteed waterproof to 1,200 meters, or 4,000 feet (that's significantly higher than the 1,000 foot rating of the Submariner).
40mm stainless steel case which sits 14.5mm high.
Ultra-thick synthetic sapphire crystal.
Unidirectional rotating bezel with a corrosion resistant anodized aluminum insert.
No date magnifier. I don't mind the "cyclops" on my Explorer II, but I prefer the cleaner look of the Sea-Dweller.
Helium escape valve. Developed in cooperation with the French industrial diving company, Comex, the helium escape valve allows helium molecules to safely escape without popping the crystal off the watch during decompression (I told you this is a hardcore dive tool).
Dive extension. The dive extension on the Sea-Dweller is actually nothing to write home about, but it's sufficient. This is one of the biggest improvements of the new Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA.
Triplock screwdown crown. The Triplock system uses an additional rubber gasket (clearly visible when the crown is unscrewed) beyond the Twinlock system used on many other Rolex sport models like the old GMT Master II and the Explorer II. The crown threads beautifully, and feels incredibly robust and secure.
Quick-change and quick-set date. Quick-change means that the date changes over to the next day instantly almost exactly at midnight (as opposed to changing gradually over the course of several minutes before and after midnight). Quick-set means that you can set the date while the crown is pulled out to the second position rather than having to change the time in order to change the date.
Some other interesting facts about the Rolex Sea-Dweller, and Rolex in general:

The Sea-Dweller is the only Rolex with a date, but without the date magnifier. This accounts for a lot of its popularity as many people love Rolex watches, but aren't crazy about the "bubble".
The Sea-Dweller is the only Rolex with writing on the caseback. It says "ROLEX OYSTER" and "ORIGINAL ESCAPE VALVE". The new Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA seems to take all this writing, and put it on the front of the watch, creating a much busier face.
The additional thickness of the Sea-Dweller's case beyond that of the Submariner is to accommodate the helium escape valve.
The bulbous shape of the hour hand which Rolex uses on many of their sport models allows it to be seen while directly under the minute hand. This may seem like an unnecessary detail, but it's actually a great, widely copied, and under appreciated design. It also makes the hour hand more easily distinguishable in low light.
This extraordinarily beautiful watch is being discontinued. It is being replaced by the admittedly interesting, but very different Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA. I can promise you that there will always be a market for the "old" Sea-Dwellers, however. They were classics even before being discontinued.
Most, if not all, modern Rolexes have the Rolex coronet etched on the inside of the crystal at the 6 o'clock position. If you're buying from anyone other than an authorized retailer, make sure you can see the etching before you buy it.
Rolex is one of the few remaining Swiss watchmakers who still makes their own movements. Most brands purchase either movements, or movement kits, from companies like ETA. Rolex, however, designs and builds everything but a few oils themselves.
Rolex is a privately held company which donates a great deal of it's profits to charity. I think of Rolex as the Robin Hood of the watch world: take from those who can afford it, and give to those who cannot.

If you follow Watch Report regularly, you probably already know that I'm a big Rolex fan. Sure, I like plenty of other watches, and yes, I think Rolexes are getting to be slightly overpriced these days. But in my experience (I've owned a total of four Rolexes in my life, and started wearing my father's in high school), they are some of the best built watches in the world. I love the fact that they design and build almost everything in-house, and cut no corners when it comes to quality. I love that Rolex manages to be both classic and innovative simultaneously. And I love that they donate so much money to charity.


What I don't like about Rolex is that the brand has become a status symbol. I've actually met people with GMT Masters who didn't even know how to operate them. And every time I see a someone in a suit at the airport talking a little too loudly on his Bluetooth headset and making a big production of looking at his Rolex, I cringe. To me, Rolex doesn't mean status, or even success. It means achievement, a refusal to compromise, and a commitment to quality in a world where everything around me seems to be getting cheaper and flimsier by the day.

Review of the Immersion Prowler Dive Watch


Up for review today is a dive computer wristwatch from a lesser known Italian company: The Immersion Prowler. It's a digital data logger, dive computer, and full-featured watch, all in a 200m (660ft) water-resistant housing.

Let's start with the feature list:

Stainless steel case with rubber side guards.
Integrated rubber strap with machined buckle and clever strap retainer. It's also long enough to easily go over a 1cm wetsuit.
Swiss-made depth sensor.
Dive mode which starts automatically by the pressure sensor on the left side (more on this below). In dive mode, it logs the min and max depths for each dive.
Always-visible temperature sensor, in Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Film supertwist nematic LCD. These are the ones with a brilliant green hue from certain angles which makes it very readable.
Electroluminescent backlight for the entire display.
Battery life indicator. Around the outside of the dial from about 5:30 to 9:30, there is a 11-bar battery "gas gauge" that shows remaining battery life. In a safety-critical item like a dive computer, this is a great feature.
In dive mode, the backlight comes on automatically when you tilt your wrist, as do many Casio G-shock watches. Nice touch.
The dive log records a total of 50 dives, with log date & time, max depth, min depth, and temperature at each recorded data point.
Sleep mode. You can have the display turn itself off after a configurable interval, to be instantly activated on any button press. Also an excellent idea, especially for a watch that you may only break out a few times a year.
Fast ascent warning. An alarm warns you that you are surfacing too rapidly and are risking the bends.
There is also a full complement of digital watch features:

Dual time zones, easily toggled from the main display by holding down a button.
Three alarms.
Stopwatch.
Multi-mode countdown timer.
Simultaneous display of H/M/S as well as day, date, and year. As Christian never tires of preaching, this is surprisingly useful.
Dive mode is actually two modes: free dive, or deep/scuba. In free dive mode (which the watch is primarily recommended for), the Prowler displays the surface interval, one of the variables in avoiding the Taravana bends; in scuba mode, it displays dive start time instead. In either mode, it keeps (and logs!):

Total dive time.
Maximum depth.
Actual depth.
Minimum temperature.
Date and time of the dive.
Submerged descent speed.
There's a wide spectrum of dive computers/watches, ranging from minimal to full-blown computers with bitmapped displays and USB interfaces (like the Suunto D9). The Prowler sits squarely the middle in that a lot of info is logged, but it doesn't have the USB interface or on-screen plots of things like depth vs time. Which you prefer probably depends on how you dive, and how often. And, as previously mentioned, the Immersion Prowler is primarily recommended for free diving.

The dive mode is triggered automatically by two sensors hidden under the left rubber bumper. There's a conductive water sensor, and the Intersema pressure sensor. Once the water sensor activates, the watch waits for 1.15atm of pressure, and then starts dive mode. Very cool!

So how is it to wear on dry land? I found it to be pretty comfortable with one minor caveat: it's a large watch, about 50mm at the widest point, but low-to-medium weight (120g) due to the use of rubber on the strap. The contoured strap is comfortable and keeps the watch in place on the wrist without shifting around, and the general look is that of a sports/fitness/outdoors watch, not too different from a Pathfinder or perhaps a G-shock.

The strap retainer has a stainless steel stud on it that locks the end of the strap in place. On my 7.25" wrist, the strap is too long, so (as pictured) the strap has excess length. Also, the retainer stud means that I struggle to free the end of the strap to remove the watch. That's a feature, though, if you think of it from the perspective of "I don't want to lose my watch in rough seas or high currents".

The buttons are large, low profile, and stainless. They work well with or without gloves, and are widely spaced so you never miss the one you want. There's no tactile click feedback, but its not really required.

In terms of looks, I like the Prowler. Despite being a dive computer, it doesn't trumpet the fact, and it is "quiet" in appearance. I think this makes a great all-around watch for the diver who also does other activities, such as running, hiking, lap swimming and life in general. I've used it for timing laps, and it works great.

The Immersion Prowler is not the most hardcore dive computer on the market, but overall, it's a very decent and capable watch.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

TokyoFlash Nekura Watches


The TokyoFlash drums have been beating for quite some time and finally, the new Nekura Series is here.The two models available in the Nekura series are the TokyoFlash Progression and the TokyoFlash Scramble, both at 12,900 Yen, about $123 of today’s US Dollars and best of all, the price includes free 5-day worldwide shipping!

Anyway… both watches, the Progression and Scramble, have a hybrid LCD display and a multi-color LED light guide, which is really cool because it allows one to choose the display color as you see fit… The LCD and LED really come to life, especially at night… they look sweet!

One of the really cool things about this wristwatch is that it comes with a stainless steel self-adjusting wristband, finished with a neatly designed clasp.

Take a look below at some the pictures of the Progression and Scramble and at some very interesting ways to tell time. TokyoFlash, as usual, does some pretty darn cool watches!

Nixon A140 The Player Watch

I’ve been debating whether or not to review this Nixon A140 Watch for some time, but that debate ended as soon as I saw a friend with one.

This watch looks as sweet in real life as it does in pictures. It’s weight and sleek designed are perfectly balanced… I tried it on and it felt great!

The Nixon A140 Watch has the reliability of Japanese Movements. It comes with a Hardened Mineral Crystal , a solid Stainless Steel Double Locking Clasp, a Triple Gasket Crown, a Diamond and it’s Water Resistant up to 100M .

I checked Nixon’s Website and they have it comfortably priced at between $160 and $240 depending on the style you choose.

Here is a pic of The Player:

TokyoFlash’s NEW Oberon SS Watch!


Ever thought you can have an elegant and techie watch at the same time? Well TokyoFlash just came out with a sweet new watch and they’ve named it the Oberon SS. This sleek design comes in a black mineral crystal and blue LED lights. It’s solid brushed stainless steel body, case and strap make it a great looking timepiece. It’s definitely one of my favorite TokyoFlash designs and they’ve priced it at a comfortable 15,900 YEN which is about a little more than $150 bucks and they will ship it for FREE! Not a bad deal.

How do you read the time you ask?

The outer LEDs lights are for the hour, the next set of LED ring lights show single minutes and the center is for the minutes in groups of ten. If you want to switch the mode and take a look at the date, just touch the botton a second time.

Some it’s basic features include:

Water Resistance 5ATM
Time & Date Function
All Stainless Steel

Ebel Ladies Brasilia Watch


I confess that I’ve been slacking on my coverage of watches that interest Women. In my attempt to fix this, i’m showcasing a watch girls around the world will love: Ebel’s Brasilia Women’s Watch (Reference # 1215779). It’s very elegant and it’s diamond encrusted. Wondering how many diamonds? 36 in the case and 10 on the face! 46 diamond’s. Thats a lot of bling! Classy bling that is.

Features:

Stainless Steel Case & Strap
Scratch Resistant Sapphire Crystal
Water Resistant up to 50 M
Deployment Clasp
Quartz Movements
REF 1215779

Cool Tokyo Flash Watch: Twelve 5-9 B version Gunmetal




This is a sweet looking watch. I can picture myself wearing one of these and people asking, what the hell is that? A Tokyo Flash is what the hell it is I would respond. ha… In all seriousness, this watch looks slick. Very modern and forward looking design, not for everyone I would imagine, but a very sleek watch in its own techie category.

One of these TokyoFlash watches would run you about 14,900 Yen which in today’s dollars is about… 150 bucks. Not a bad deal.

It’s available with blue, orange or white LED lights and comes with a leather strap

How do you read time you ask?

12 in the circle for hours
5 on the bottom for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 minutes past the hour
9 across the top for single minutes