The One About the Casio G-Shock Rescue Red G7900A-4 (Metro Media Complex/a J!-ENT Watch Review)

The G7900′s may not be one of the flagship G-Shocks for Casio but in terms of style, comfort and most importantly, features…the G7900A-4 is awesome.  If you are looking for a red G-Shock, this “G” is highly recommended!

WATCH TITLE: Casio G-Shock Rescue Red G7900A-4

DIAL TYPE: Mineral

DISPLAY: Digital

BAND: Red Resin Strap

CASE MATERIAL: Resin/Stainless Steel

CASE DIAMETER: 50 mm

WATER RESISTANT DEPTH: 660 Feet

MOVEMENT: Japanese Quartz

WEBSITE

CASIO G-SHOCK HISTORY

G-Shock is the ultimate tough watch. It was born from a developer’s dream of “creating a watch that never breaks.” Guided by a “Triple 10″ development concept, the design teams sought a watch with 10-meter free-fall endurance, 10-bar water resistance and a 10-year battery life.

At a time when it was commonly believed that watches were breakable items, G-Shock’s development represented a challenge to common sense. The number of experimental prototypes built for endurance testing reached over 200. And the structural development and parts improvement took approximately two years. After a long, hard process of trial and error, G-Shock was finally launched. A shock resistant structure that overturned conventional thinking about watches was realized thorough breakthrough thinking, including the ideas of a hollow- structured case, all-directional protective covering and the use of cushioning material to protect critical parts.

These were the fruits of technological development that insisted on “toughness” and a revolution in watch design. Since its launched, G-Shock has continued to evolve for 25 long years, carrying on the toughness of spirit and uncompromising passion that led its developers to persist in their unshakable belief.

Watch Information

From G-Shock, the watch that delivers unmatched toughness, comes a collection of new models that deliver a new level of protection.  These watches are designed and engineered for rough and rugged activities.

Major features include four large bezel screws and protruding surfaces that divide the bezel & case of watch into four sections for a functional four point protection.  The buttons are among some of the largest in the G-Shock line-up for easy operation.  Low-temperature resistance allows operation even under very cold conditions, while moon and tide graphs provide essential information for marine professionals & enthusiasts.  The large LCD, which is divided into sections, makes information easy to locate and read whenever you need

• New Four Point Design Protection
• Large Buttons & Display Format
• Tide & Moon Data

I have been eye-ing the Casio G-Shocking Rescue Red G7900 for some quite time.  Casio has released several colors of this G-Shock, one being a limited edition negative display of the red version, but other colors such as white, olive green, black, and another black but with yellow display.

But what caught my attention is the moon and tide graph.  I have a Gulfman and G-Lide and the tide and moon display for the G7900 was one of the best I have seen out from Casio thus far.  The display is nice and clear, not many obstructions as you get a circular moon tide graph on the upper left, tide graph on top and on the right, you get stop watch modes (for stopwatch 1 & 2).  The larger display is the time and date.

Of course, aside from the cool display and what really pulled me in was its red color.  The red bezel and band really pops and love the black highlights throughout the watch.  Unlike other G-Shock red watches that have orange, this one is red and black and really enhances an outfit (especially if you were a lot of dark colors, especially black and blue).  This watch definitely compliments an outfit.

As for the back case, it is stainless steel and you get the usual G-Shock Resist on the back.

The battery used for the G7900A-4 is one lithium battery (CR2025) which lasts approximately 2 years (normal usage). Accuracy at normal temperature is +/- 15 seconds a month.

Now, the band for the Rescue Red is also awesome looking! It doesn’t have a shiny look but more of a matted resin look, which I like.  The band is quite comfortable, but while not as perfect like the Mudman strap, it still fits comfortably on your wrist and at the base of the strap which connects to the case, there is a black guard that goes over the bumps of the band.  Some people complained that watches with those ridges near the base hurt their wrist, so I felt that it was smart for Casio to include those black plastic guards on the back.

I. THE FUNCTIONS

The G-7900A-4 features the moon and tide display on top.  Day indicator on top and at the bottom is the time, seconds and date.

Pressing the illumination button on the front gives you an aqua light which is the blue and blue/green illumination that many G-Shocks do come with. This G7900A-4 has two EL (electro-luminescent) panels that cause the entire display to glow for easy reading in the dark and also comes with an auto-light switch, if set, by a slight angle movement will make the light turn on. I have this turned off because I want my batteries to last long! You can set illumination from 3 to 5 seconds.

The modes that come with the Casio G-Shock Rescue Red G7900A-4 is:

• Timekeeping Mode
• Tide/Moon Data Mode
• Stopwatch Mode (ST1)
• Stopwatch Mode (ST2)
• Countdown Timer Mode
• Alarm Mode
• World Time Mode (48 Cities/29 Time Zones)

The stopwatch modes have a display range of 999 hours, 59 minutes, 59.99 seconds and there is auto-start. As for alarm mode, is good and audible. You can also mute the tones as well.

II. THE BUTTONS

The buttons are black and flat and not steel and have a feel similar to the Mudman’s but of course, where the Mudman’s are designed to keep mud out and takes much more pressure (and for some people, much harder to press), the buttons are easy to press on the G7900.  There are four buttons and for the most part, one should not have problems with selections.

III. WATER RESISTANCE

The Casio G-Shock Rescue Red G7900A-4 is marked at 20 Bar which means and this means you can go scuba diving and snorkeling with it.

IV.  TIME & MOON GRAPH DISPLAY

The Casio G-Shock Rescue Red G7900A-4 features a circular moon graph on the top left of the display.  The moon phase indicator indicates the current phases of the moon as viewed at noon from a position in the Northern Hemisphere looking south.  The watch performs a rough calculation of the current moon age from day 0 of the moon age cycle and the margin of error of the displayed moon age is +/- 1 day.

The tide graph has six graphic segments, each of which indicates tide level.  The tide graph displayed on the watch is based on the current moon age.  The greater the error in a particular moon age, the greater the error in the resulting tide graph.

IV. OVERALL

I absolutely love this watch! It scores high on style (looks great if you wear a lot of black or darker clothing), high on comfort and the display, is stylishly cool, especially if you are looking for a larger tide display on a chunkier watch. The functions are awesome and you really get a lot for your money for the 7900 (I paid $64.99 during the holidaysfor the Rescue Red but they typically sell for under $90) and you can often find various versions on sale on Amazon by Amazon or third party fulfilled by Amazon as well.

It’s important to note that some people have received their G7900′s in the tin G-Shock cases, I did not. Mine came in a black standard G-Shock cardboard box.  The manual as usual with Casio G-Shock releases are quite thick, especially for this watch.

There is really nothing negative that can be said about this watch.  It’s simple to set (if you are used to G-Shocks), otherwise you get a nice thick manual in various languages to peruse.   The watch looks great, it is comfortable and Casio went all out in making sure that those who care about moon and tide displays get a cool watch.  Also, the fact that you get the guards on the base of the straps is a plus.  I have to say that while the Gulfman was created for the sea and has a pretty cool tide display, I prefer the Rescue Red over the Casio Gulfman in terms of aesthetics and also, it’s a 20 bar watch, so you can go deep sea diving with it.

I do recommend purchasing Vinylex Quick Wipes (or spray) to keep your G-Shocks protected (since Resin does tend to harden or crack if not cared for).

But in the end, I have to give the Casio G-Shock Rescue Red G7900A-4 a pretty solid rating.  For those looking for a red G-Shock, this is the best out there in my opinion.  It’s not too flash, it’s stylish and cool.  But most importantly, it has a lot of the features that make it a pretty awesome G-Shock.

Highly recommended!

The One About the Casio G-Shock Mudman G9000-8V (aka “Stormtrooper”) (Metro Media Complex/a J!-ENT Watch Review)

The Casio G-Shock Mudman series is a tough, durable watch that is specifically designed for those needing a watch for outdoor use in which you think you will be around mud/sand and harsh elements.  A tough watch designed to withstand mud but also means, tough buttons to press (prevents mud from getting in).  Still a wonderful G-Shock and with various versions and colors out right now, it’s definitely worth having in your collection.

WATCH TITLE: Casio G-Shock Mudman G9000-8V

DIAL TYPE: Mineral

DISPLAY: Digital

BAND: Ivory Resin Strap

CASE MATERIAL: Resin/Stainless Steel

CASE DIAMETER: 46 mm

WATER RESISTANT DEPTH: 200 Meters

MOVEMENT: Quartz

WEBSITE

CASIO G-SHOCK HISTORY

G-Shock is the ultimate tough watch. It was born from a developer’s dream of “creating a watch that never breaks.” Guided by a “Triple 10″ development concept, the design teams sought a watch with 10-meter free-fall endurance, 10-bar water resistance and a 10-year battery life.

At a time when it was commonly believed that watches were breakable items, G-Shock’s development represented a challenge to common sense. The number of experimental prototypes built for endurance testing reached over 200. And the structural development and parts improvement took approximately two years. After a long, hard process of trial and error, G-Shock was finally launched. A shock resistant structure that overturned conventional thinking about watches was realized thorough breakthrough thinking, including the ideas of a hollow- structured case, all-directional protective covering and the use of cushioning material to protect critical parts.

These were the fruits of technological development that insisted on “toughness” and a revolution in watch design. Since its launched, G-Shock has continued to evolve for 25 long years, carrying on the toughness of spirit and uncompromising passion that led its developers to persist in their unshakable belief.

Watch Information

From the Master of G series of timepieces designed and engineered designed and built for professionals come a new collection of mud and dirt-resistant MUDMAN models in a choice of three colors. Dual independent stopwatches include a 1/100-second stopwatch capable of measuring continuous elapsed time for up to 1,000 hours for separate timing of two different events simultaneously.These models come in a choice of three different colors that are often used on FMX (freestyle motocross) and MX (motocross) motorcycles. Mud & Dirt Resistant, Dual 1/100 Second Stopwatches, Auto Dual EL Backlight w/Afterglow.

Having a good collection of Casio G-Shocks, I have debated purchasing a G-Shock Mudman because I tend to like my G-Shocks to be slightly larger in size and color-wise, I wanted a normal red version but unfortunately the US release has the negative display, while the Japanese release received a positive display.

Also, I have read about people’s complaints of how the Casio G-Shock Mudman buttons are hard to press.  Typically, when you are driving or out and about, you want to press a button and get a time or function immediately rather than struggle with pressing a button to achieve a mode change.

But like most wristwatches, I prefer not to get too carried away with other watch reviews and experience the watch for myself because when it comes to G-Shocks, there are so many other consider from functions, comfort and it if generally works for you.  Although I am a watch collector and own several G-shocks, I wear mine and I want to make sure that it also fits with the wardrobe I wear.

And sure enough, I decided to purchase The Casio G-Shock Mudman G9000-8V which many owners have called it the “Mudman Stormtrooper” or “Stormtrooper”.

I’ve debated of which Mudman to own.  Atomic/Solar, one with better display, one with negative display, red, black/orange, classic, etc.  But in the end, the watch that caught my eye was the Stormtrooper.  Also, because I have a lot of black G-shocks and a red g-shock, I never owned an ivory/tan version.

I received the Mudman G9000-8V from a watch company fulfilled on Amazon.  I have to admit that because my Gulfman came with a tin, I was expecting a G-Shock tin case as well.  But instead, it was a standard black G-Shock box (I’m still trying to figure out which watches come with a tin as of the many G-Shocks I have purchased only the Gulfman thus far came with a tin).  And you do get the thick Casio catalog, in this case Module No. 3031 and features instructions in various languages.

But taking it out of the box, I have to say that I am impressed, the G9000-8V is an awesome looking watch.

I never quite realized why fans called it a “Stormtrooper” but I realize that since I have so many Star Wars Stormtrooper action figures I have collected over the years, I wanted to compare the look and colors.  And sure enough, the one that did come close to it was the Sandtrooper from “Star Trek IV: A New Hope”.

As for the back case, it is stainless steel and you get the rodent with the wheels on the back and you see the G-9000.

The battery used for the Mudman is one lithium battery (CR2025) which lasts approximately 3 years.  Accuracy at normal temperature is +/- 15 seconds a month.

Now, the band for the Mudmans are awesome looking!  Where most G-Shocks have a single hole for the buckle, the Mudman straps have two horizontal buckles and unlike other G-Shocks that have ridges right near the casing, this one doesn’t.  I have to say that among all the G-Shocks that I do own, the Mudman is one of the most comfortable watches that I have worn on my wrist.

I.  THE FUNCTIONS

While the watch case and band are ivory, you get black buttons and the display has white, black and dark orange/brown while the display module has orange with black digits.  I like the look of the watch with the white and the triangle with silver on top and it makes the Mudman G9000′s quite distinct. But the reason for this display is for the Flash Alert.  When Flash Alert is on, the illumination flashes for the alarms, hourly time signal, countdown alarm and stopwatch auto-start.  On the right circle, you can see an “on” button if you have Flash Alert on.

Pressing the illumination button gives you an orange light and for me that was pretty cool as most G-Shocks I own are all blue and blue/green illumination.  This Mudman has two EL (electro-luminescent) panels that cause the entire display to glow for easy reading in the dark and also comes with an auto-light switch, if set, by a slight angle movement will make the light turn on.  I have this turned off because I want my batteries to last long!  You can set illumination from 3 to 5 seconds.

The modes that come with the Casio G-Shock Mudman G9000-8V is:

• Timekeeping Mode
• Stopwatch Mode (ST1)
• Stopwatch Mode (ST2)
• Countdown Timer Mode
• Alarm Mode
• World Time Mode

The stopwatch modes have a display range of 999 hours, 59 minutes, 59.99 seconds and there is auto-start.  As for alarm mode, I’ve read some people complaining about the alarm not being loud enough and I can tell you that this is not the case.  I have several Casio watches and the alarm for the Mudman is audible, even when kept in a box, you can hear it. You can also mute the tones as well.

II.  THE BUTTONS

This is the big thing about Casio G-Shock Mudmans that many people love or hate about the watch.  Because the watch is designed to prevent mud from coming in, the buttons require more pressure than any Casio G-Shock watch.  I have no problem with it and I actually came in thinking the worst because some people felt it was too difficult to press.  I didn’t feel that way.  Setting the time and everything else did require pressure but it’s not that bad.  Now, if you are driving in darkness and are use to pressing the illumination button easily or in a quick rush to look at the worldtime or use the stopwatch and need simple buttons, then yeah…you may want to wear a G-Shock that is easier to press.

But the Mudman is tailored for those who are outdoors, get dirty, get in the mud, sand, etc.

For me, this is perfect as I surf, I bodysurf and it’s good to know that the Casio G-Shock Mudman has buttons that prevent elements from getting in.

So, this is important to consider.  The buttons are not as easy to push as regular G-Shocks but they are not that difficult to press, it does require a bit more pressure than other non-Mudman G-Shocks.

III.  WATER RESISTANCE

The Casio G-Shock Mudman G9000-8V is Rank V 200M water resistant and this means you can go scuba diving and snorkeling with it.

IV. OVERALL

I absolutely love this watch!  It scores high on style (looks great if you wear a lot of black or darker clothing), high on comfort (the band is one of the best G-Shock bands in look, design and feel) and the display, is stylishly cool.  The functions are great and you really get a lot for your money with a Mudman (I paid $64.99) and you can often find various versions on sale on Amazon by Amazon or third party fulfilled by Amazon as well.

Of course, the biggest thing that will either hook you or push you away are the buttons.  The Mudmans are created to withstand the elements and thus, preventing as many elements or mud to get inside the watch.  So, the buttons take more pressure when it comes to pushing them than other G-Shocks.  For some people, that’s great and for others…it’s a turnoff.

But in the end, I was looking for a G-Shock different from what I owned already, something that can withstand the elements as I have Gulfman and G-Lide for surfing but I wanted a Mudman that is more durable for the beating and also a watch that looks great but also provides the functions that I use a G-Shock for, this one has it all and more.

The Casio G-Shock Mudman G9000-8V is flat-out awesome and I highly recommend this watch!

The One about the Orient Men’s CEM5J005B Automatic Day and Date Black Stainless Steel Watch (Metro Media Complex/a J!-ENT Watch Review)

The CEM5J005B features style, dependability of a long-standing quality brand name and all for a low price!  If you are looking for a Japanese watch with a great tradition and dependability for the lowest price, you can’t go wrong with an Orient wristwatch.  Definitely recommended!

WATCH TITLE: Orient Men’s CEM5J005B Automatic Day and Date Black Stainless Steel Watch

DIAL TYPE: Mineral

DISPLAY: Analog

CLASP: Fold Over Clasp

CASE MATERIAL: Stainless Steel

CASE DIAMETER: 39 mm

BAND WIDTH: 11 mm

WATER RESISTANT DEPTH: 165 Feet

MOVEMENT: Japanese-Automatic

WEBSITE

ORIENT HISTORY

The Orient Watch Company, Limited (Orient Tokei Kabushikigaisha) is Japan’s largest producer of mechanical watches and is owned by Seiko Epson.  Although the company producers both quartz and mechanical watches, Orient is best known for its mechanical watches internationally.

The company was founded back in July 1950 but its roots began back in 1901 when Shogoro Yoshida opened a wholesale watch shop in Ueno.  The company is known for the development of power-reserve indicators and the use of in-house movement production of watches in the hundred-dollar price ranged.

Although the company is owned by Seiko Epson, they operate as an individual entity.

Watch Information

The Orient Men’s Automatic Day and Date Black Stainless Steel Watch showcases a unique dial featuring an easy-to-read day subdial surrounded by bold silver-bar hour markers. This handsome everyday timepiece is constructed with a stainless steel case, a stationary stainless steel bezel, and a stainless steel link bracelet secured with a fold-over clasp. A durable mineral window shields the black dial, which features luminous silver-bar hour markers, slim minute markers, and discrete white Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals. The dial also includes an inner subdial that tracks the days as they pass, and a date calendar at the six o’clock position. Featuring Japanese-automatic movement, the watch is water resistant to 165 feet (50 M).

The reason why I enjoy Orient watches are a) Brand Name and their long standing tradition in Japan  b) their dedication to quality in producing mechanical watches  c) Price.

Orient wristwatches are built for quality and dependability for a great affordable price and the CEM5J005 series wristwatches typically are sold on Amazon for under $60 (list price is $135) which is fantastic!  With many Seiko’s, you do see the movement in the caseback but with the CEM5J00B, it’s stainless steel which is part of the reason why this watch is under $60.

Upon receiving the watch, the first thing I noticed is how cool the Orient case was with stainless steel box with the Orient logo and it came with a warranty booklet but also a pretty thick mechanical watch instruction booklet.

Upon taking out of the watch, the watch fit on my wrist perfectly.  So, I was happy I didn’t have to remove a link. The bracelet is not super shiny and is brushed metal, while parts of the link are shiny.

Setting up the watch was easy.  As the watch is an automatic mechanical watch, the watch starts up upon movement and works around arm/wrist movement.  The crown when pulled out sets the clock arms when pulled out all the way, half way you set the date on the 6:00 position.   There is no hacking (second arm) with this watch for those who are into precision timing.  Above the crown around the 2:00 position is a button to do the days. One click for red (am) and one click for blue (pm) and it’s very easy to set the correct color for the corresponding day.

Although I do prefer watches with a case diameter of over 42″, the CEM5J005B works great using the standard 38″.

But the display is what I love about this watch.  I wanted a watch that showcased the Orient logo and this silver and red logo on the black dial worked perfectly.  Also, I wanted the Orient three stars right above the 6:00 position, so it was great that this watch had that.  Also, enjoyed the matching silver logo, silver stars and the silver 5-minute increments around the watch.  Also, another importance were the little words going around the watch.  It was important for me to have the “Automatic” and “21 Jewels” on the dial.   The dial also has Crystal and Water Resistant 50M.

I like the long hands on the CEM5J005, I’m not really into smaller hand wristwatches, so that was another plus for me.  As for the lume, the lume is probably the weakest part of the watch.  Although the hands are long, they don’t have enough space for the lume and so if your eyesight is bad, you may not see the time well during complete darkness.

I was able to tell the time fine but looking at the watch, there seems to be lume around the 5-minute increment marks but the lume for those didn’t show up.  But other than that, it’s a pretty awesome watch.

There are some key points that people should know about this watch:

• The Caliber is EM-469.  So, for every 8 hours of use, you should get 40 hours of movement before you stop using it and it the movement stops (and of course, once you wear it again after not using it, you will have to set the date and time up and it will work upon arm/wrist movement like most automatics).
• The manual does point out that you can expect +25 to -15 seconds of time loss of gain per day.  I’ve tested this for several weeks and I have not seen that dramatic loss at all.  It has been pretty solid with may be a second or two but that’s it.
• Because this watch is water resistant for 50M, it’s good for swimming, car washes, even showering (although I always recommend not showering with a watch) but it is not suitable for diving or underwater activity.

With that being said, the Orient CEM5J005 series is pretty awesome.  There is a black dial, blue and a white dial available on Amazon.  The reason why I like the black is because the logo and words stand out and so does the blue dial (note: the blue dial is sold on Amazon for $101 instead of under $60 for some reason), while the white dial, I felt the silver logo and the three stars and increment markings didn’t stand out so much.

Sure, you don’t get to see the movement on the back of the case but for its price, its stylish look and the dependability of the Orient name, I definitely recommend the CEM5J005B!

CASIO G-SHOCK PRESENTS ALIFE COLLABORATION

Alife Aesthetic meets G-Shock Toughness and Technology

DOVER, NJ, January 12, 2011 — G-Shock has joined forces with the pivotal streetwear brand Alife to produce a limited edition timepiece that follows the design language of all Alife products while maintaining the G-Shock standards in water and shock resistance. A first time partnership, the new G5500AL-1 perfectly mirrors the classic, bold, clean and technical advancements native to both G-Shock and Alife.

G5500AL-1

“We look forward to having the Alife brand and Casio G-Shock produce a product together. It shows that an independent brand such as ours is able to make enough noise that a brand as large as G-Shock will distribute our product worldwide,” said Robert Cristofaro AKA Jestism©1970 of Alife. “It is very exciting and another step in the direction that the Alife brand will head in the future.”

Distinctively black on black, the G-Shock X alife watch features a striking reverse LCD paired with understated white detailing. The advanced feature of Self-Charging, Tough Solar Power technology makes the G5500AL-1 both smart and attractive.

Self-Charging, Tough Solar Power - A tiny, solar panel combined with a large-capacity rechargeable battery enables a variety of energy-hungry functions to operate smoothly. The result is an impressive solar timepiece that assures reliable timekeeping and greatly reduces the need for battery change.

G5500AL-1

“We are thrilled to work with such a progressive brand as Alife,” said Shigenori Itoh, Vice President of Casio’s Timepiece Division. “We both share a constant commitment to adapt to our consumers needs for cutting edge fashion without compromising quality.”

Accented with the Alife logo on the band and backcase, the G-Shock X Alife watch features 200M Water Resistant, Full Auto EL Backlight, World Time (29TZ/48 Cities), 4 Daily Alarms and 1 Snooze Alarm, 1/100th Sec. Stopwatch, Countdown Timer, Mute Function, 12/24 Hr. Formats, Battery Power Indicator and Power Saving Function.

Available in January 2011, the G5500AL-1 retails for $130. For more information, visit www.gshock.com.

The One about KE$HA and her Baby-G promotion in Japan

We posted the press release for KE$HA’s collaboration with G-Shock to promote the Baby-G but it also extends to Japan and the Japanese campaign is pretty cool.  Here is the image that CASIO is using at the moment!  The campaign appears to kick off on February 20th with four performances scheduled in Japan and a special KE$HA night scheduled at Studio Coast on March 25th.

The One about the Swiss Military HANOWA Sealander 316L (06-5095-04-001-06) (Metro Media Complex/a J!-ENT Watch Review)

Awesome looking!  Nice think Swiss Military watch from HANOWA.  Great watch but I wish the company includes instructions with their wristwatches.

WATCH TITLE:  Swiss Military HANOWA Sealander 316L (06-5095-04-001-06)

DIAL TYPE: Mineral

DISPLAY: Analog

CLASP: Fold Over Push Button Clasp with Safety

CASE MATERIAL: Stainless Steel

CASE DIAMETER: 44 mm

BAND WIDTH: 22 mm

WATER RESISTANT DEPTH: 660 Feet

MOVEMENT: Swiss Quartz

WEBSITE

HANOWA HISTORY

Hans Noll came to Biel in 1961, following a broad-based commercial career, and took over the European sales management responsibility for a mid-sized watch factory. In 1963, following a management changeover, he left this company to set up his own business with his wife. As sufficient capital was not available to buy a brand for himself, he used his imagination and blended the founder’s name Hans Noll with the word Watch, giving birth to the brand name Hanowa.

Already after only a few years, watches were being produced under own management, giving Hanowa right from the outset a reputation for fantasy watches (ring watches, pendant watches, clip watches, watch sets and much more). For the past 15 years, the company has adapted itself to the changing market trend and converted its production over to sports watches. Thus the “hw Swiss Military” brand was born. Soon afterwards sister brand “Swiss-Eagle” followed, appealing to the same target audience but offering special, exclusive models.

Watch Information

A flash of color against clean steel makes the Swiss Military Hanowa Men’s Sealander 316L Stainless Steel Silver Dial Watch quite the eye-grabbing timepiece. Sturdy stainless steel makes up the large case, featuring a dark green bezel marked with thick white lines and Arabic numerals at five-minute intervals. The white dial hosts thick black-lined hour and minute hands ticking above a black subdial featuring the seconds in white lines and numerals. Light green lines sit just below blocky black Arabic numbers at each hour mark, while the red and white Swiss Military cross appears for the 12 o’clock. A small calendar display near the three o’clock hour gives the date. The green inside both hands and the lines gives a soft glow in the dark, allowing you to tell the time regardless of where you and your watch are. The band consists of tightly linked steel pieces for a close fit and smooth feel, closing with a fold-over push-button clasp. Water resistant up to 660 feet (200 meters), this bold timepiece boasts the reliability of Swiss quartz movement.

As Victorinox is known for their Swiss Army watches and their Wenger line are known for their Swiss Military line.  But another company that has the Swiss Military designation is Swiss Military HANOWA.  Their trademark is HANOWA very fashionable, well-priced watches and is created by Hans Noll (HANOWA is the shortened word for HAns NOll WAtch).

Among there more popular watches is their Navy Line which the Sealander is part of and my eyes lit up when I saw it for sale during the holidays.  And I figured that it was a good time to give a Swiss Military HANOWA Sealander 316L a try!

So, I went for the 316L (06-5095) which features a stainless steel silver dial, a black subdial for the seconds, a dark green bezel and sporting Arabic numerals with a small calendar at the 3:00 section and red Swiss logo on the 12:00 position.

Upon receiving the Sealander, the Swiss Military HANOWA watch comes in a pretty smooth leather box with an embossed steel “Swiss Military” on top of the case.  There is no instructions when I opened the box but then again, I figured  Swiss Military HANOWA feels the watch is easy and self explanatory.

Upon trying on the watch, it fit perfectly but at the same time, that was a surprise as most watches, I have to take a link or two out to get that perfect fit.  So, it’s important to note that if you have a big wrist, you may want to check the bracelet size as this one is 22 mm.  I really like the watch and its look.  The bracelet is very nice and love the push button, security clasp.  The case is a very shiny, well-done stainless steel case with a screw back to make the watch water resistant.

Pull the crown out from the side to set the watch and to set the calendar date. I like how the Swiss symbol is on the crown but it is very important to screw down the crown for better water protection.

As for the movement, Swiss Military HANOWA uses Swiss made quartz movements and according to their website, HANOWA uses leading producers ISA and Ronda and for mechanical, they use ETA, TechnoSablier or Claro movements.

As for the watch, I love the look of the watch.  The newer 5096 is a chronograph watch but I have enough chronograph watches that I wanted something simple, elegant, cool and the seconds clock dial in black at the 6:00 position was all I need. The dial utilizes a Superluminova numbers and dots.  The hands were easy to see in the dark, as well as the Swiss cross on the top.  The dots could glow but were not as bright as the hand or cross.

The watch is a little heavy but I like that because you can tell it’s the case and watch is sturdy but because it’s uses a mineral glass for its dial window, I wouldn’t want to mess around with this watch and drop it as it may crack.

Although a Sealander and party of HANOWA’s Navy line, according to the specifications, this watch can be submerged up to 660 feet (200 metres).  Because there are no instructions, there is important information that can be found on the HANOWA website:

Any watch that is regularly immersed in water should be inspected for water resistance ability every year. Watch cases and bracelets should be rinsed thoroughly in fresh water after being in salt water.

Watches should never be put in a sauna or a hot tub since the exposure to heat can easily make the gaskets lose their shape and decrease their water resistance. Watches should not be worn in the bath/shower. The soap reduces surface tension of the rubber gasket in the watch, which allows water to get in. The soap can also damage the seal itself. Swiss Military-Hanowa highly recommends you do not bathe with your watch.

Overall, I’m pretty happy with this watch.  I typically do not buy quartz and opt towards automatic, I was still pleased with the overall quality of the watch.  I love the look of the dial, love the polished steel of the case and bracelet.  And it’s an awesome watch!  I have read a few reviews from owners who messed up their watch because they didn’t screw down the crown all the way down but this is very important and you can easily damage your watch if you don’t follow the instructions.  And this is where the caveat is with the watch, I’ve read others who didn’t get instructions with their case.

For those who purchase a Sealander as a first watch, people need to know this and its important that HANOWA at least includes a printout or something to let these people know about the screw down crown.

Other than that, I really enjoy the Swiss Military HANOWA Sealander 316L.  Definitely recommended!

KE$HA SHOWS OFF HER TIMELY FASHION IN LATEST MUSIC VIDEO WITH CASIO WATCHES

Baby-G Heats Up the Stage in Fashion-Forward ‘We R Who We R’ Video

DOVER, NJ, December 1, 2010 — Casio America, Inc. is proud to announce that its Baby-G BG-1006SA-1 watch is front and center in Ke$ha’s newest music video “We R Who We R.” As the brand ambassador for Casio’s Baby-G line, Ke$ha never shies away from setting trends. Ke$ha is Baby-G’s first female artist brand ambassador to design her own signature Baby-G watches, which will hit stores in Summer 2011. Other artists sporting Casio timepieces in their videos include Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Fergie, Jordin Sparks, and Kristinia DeBarge.

Ke$ha amps up the glamour in the music video for “We R Who We R,” by rocking Casio’s BG-1006SA-1 timepiece. “We R Who We R”, is the first single off Cannibal (RCA Records / Kemosabe Entertainment), the highly anticipated companion to her platinum selling debut album Animal, which was released on November 22nd. Consisting of nearly an album’s worth of new songs, it is available for sale separately, as well as bundled with Animal in a special deluxe repackage called Animal + Cannibal. “We R Who We R” has already hit #1 on Billboard’s Top 100 and set a brisk sales pace, moving 280,000 downloads within its first week at retail.

“We are excited to have Ke$ha as our brand ambassador sporting Baby-G through her music video,” said Shigenori Itoh, vice president of Casio’s Timepiece Division. “As a leading force in the fashion and entertainment world, Ke$ha is the perfect blend of street, sport, glamour and edge which Baby-G proudly symbolizes.”

Casio’s BG-1006SA-1 is a fashion-forward timepiece that represents fun, fearlessness and vibrancy. The timepiece has various features, including: four daily alarms, one snooze alarm, 1/100 second stopwatch, countdown timer, 12/ 24 hour format and world time in 29 time zones and 48 cities. Constructed with a “protector” design, the BG-1006SA-1sports a combination wire and resin guard that protects the glass and case from whatever life throws its way. The timepiece is available in black, green, pink, orange and silver at an MSRP of $79.

Ke$ha has sold over 2 million copies of her debut album worldwide along with over 17 million tracks and ringtones. “We R Who We R” continues Ke$ha’s impressive run, dominating the Pop charts with ridiculously catchy hit songs like “TiK ToK,” “Blah Blah Blah” and “Your Love Is My Drug.”

The Baby-G brand was developed as the women’s counterpart to the brand’s highly-successful G-Shock brand. The watches are a fun way to add a pop of color and expression to any outfit. For more information on Casio’s new collection or to check out Ke$ha’s latest music video and images please view www.baby-g.com.

The One about the Modern Home and Simplicity… Dream Home 001

I have always wanted a modern home and to keep things simple. But the truth is…I’m a gadget freak and a collector and my books, Blu-rays and cinema shrine really take up a lot of room in my home. But sometimes I come along photos of people with amazing modern homes that manage to keep things simple.

One of those is “The_Force” who lives in Europe who just amazed me with how he decorated his home.  From the kitchen appliances to his living room.  Simple, stylish and just a really awesome look and feel for the cinema fan with style!

The_Force has also put photos of the interiors of his home on Flickr.  Definitely check it out!

The One about the Seiko 5 (cheaper models)

For those with affordability in mind, I know there are people who love their Seiko 5′s.  For one, they are inexpensive and can be found under a $100 and also they are known for their longevity.  But when the watch is dead, for the cost of servicing a Seiko 5, it’s probably best to just buy a new one.

Seiko 5′s are automatic and goes by movement.  So, it’s somewhat of a must that you wear it or else when you do stop using it, it will work up to 40 hours and once its dead, you will need to do a lot of movement in order to get it working, and you will have to reset the time and date.

As for servicing, it’s hit and miss with people who have owned a Seiko 5 for decades and not needing it serviced.  While those who have had it for a few years and needing it serviced.  But for the most part, most people that I do know who own one say they got their money’s worth as the $70 spent, for $10 a year…it has performed quite well for them.  So, if you are looking for a Seiko watch that you don’t plan to wear as much but want it to last long, some opt for the Citizen Eco-Drive watches.

And because they are priced quite low, you don’t have to worry about fake Seiko 5′s but I have read that people have seen them.  So, in 2005, Seiko did away with their stainless steel caseback and now using a glass display (as seen from the Amazon photo above).  Also, look at how the Seiko logo is curved.  Fake Seiko 5′s have been seen as straight.  But once again, why would they counterfeit a cheaper watch?  It does happen.  But if you want to save the agony of purchasing a counterfeit, order from a trustworthy company like Amazon, especially for their great return policy.

History

The watch is made by Seiko, one of the big three in Japan (along side Citizen and Casio, note: Orient is considered among the big three depending on one’s love or hate towards Casio and the latter is also owned by Seiko).  Seiko began back in 1881 when Kintaro Hattori opened a watch and jewelry shop known as K. Hattori in Ginza, Tokyo.  In 1892, he began making clocks known as Seikosha.  The word “Seiko” means “exquisite”, “minute” or “success” and in 1924, the first Seiko branded watches were released.

Known for their quartz and mechanical watches, the Seiko “5″ series (which the number is the features which include shock resistance, water resistance, automatic, date and day display).

But as for the “Seiko 5″, many who own the watch for years and various versions have said it has been a reliable watch, the seconds have been very good.  These are great “beater” watches, so if you are prone to dropping a watch, hitting it on a desk or some object and tend to scuff up your watch, because of its durability and its low price, it’s definitely a watch that you may want to consider.

So, far so good…any bad?

Really, this is a watch that lasts long and is quite inexpensive.  If there was one caveat, for me it’s the size.  I prefer the casing to be around 41-43 mm but these Seiko 5′s are 37mm-39mm.  So, if you want a larger case, expect to pay a little more by going with a Seiko 5 Sports watch.  These range from $140-$250.

Also, the cheaper Seiko 5′s utilize a mineral crystal and not sapphire, so those who are prone to scratching their watch may not like these because they are mineral crystal. Possibly the only caveat for me is looking at the various Seiko 5 watches from Amazon Japan and seeing the variety but also the prices compared to the limited offering on Amazon USA (at this current time, most of them are being offered by third party and very few from Amazon).

But really, there is no wrong for Seiko 5′s if you are looking for an affordable watch.  But I would recommend at least saving up at least $140 for the Hardlex crystal if you want a Seiko 5 (this is for the Seiko 5 Sports models) or even going for another brand of Seiko watch (or another brand – always check out your options).

The One about the Cowboys and the Playoffs

Every year around this time, I get quite tense.  But this time, my favorite football team, the Dallas Cowboys have made it into the playoffs and I’m happy.

But I suppose the reason of being so tense is that the team they beat this past Sunday, the Philadelphia Eagles who have always been a brutal rival, is their opponent this coming Saturday.

As a Dallas Cowboys fan, it’s been over 14 years since we saw any major progress in the playoffs.  I still feel that 2006 was our year…and 2007, was our year but those are two years, that I try to forget about.  Even if the networks continue to show those replays.

But this is a new Dallas Cowboys team.  A young team that has a lot to prove.  A team in which some of those losses shouldn’t have been losses. But let’s just hope that on Saturday, it all doesn’t come to a field goal…

Let’s go Cowboys!

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