In a matter of days, the Japanese conglomerate Seiko will start selling the hybrid-powered Grand Seiko Sport Collection Spring Drive GMT Limited Edition (Ref. SBGE245G). With the luxury gadget being limited to the Japanese domestic market, it will be a bit difficult to come by if you happen to live on the other side of the globe. Yet, the device is so beautiful, so impressive that it will be absolutely worth going into all the trouble to get one.
Japanese
Casio G-Shock Rangeman GPR-B1000-1/1B with Solar-Assisted GPS Navigation
To some, the new Casio G-Shock Rangeman (ref. GPR-B1000-1 / 1B) line of adventure watches may look like a glorified steam engine trying to compete with sleek and glossy bullet trains.
Seiko Prospex Diver Scuba Giugiaro Design Limited Edition (refs. SBEE001 & SBEE002)
Already released as the Japanese Domestic Market (ah, that legendary ‘JDM’ abbreviation that’s been rice-rocket freaks’ and watch aficionados’ darling for so many decades!) models, the 2017 limited-edition Seiko Prospex Diver Scuba Giugiaro Design (available at the time of writing as refs. SBEE001 & SBEE002) is an almost perfect re-issue of the model from the 1980s that had a great potential, but for some reason failed to become an icon of industrial design. I can only welcome the Japanese brand’s decision to give the collection a second chance, even as only a limited-edition model.
Casio PRO TREK PRG-600 “Outdoor” World-Timer with Tough Solar Movement (ref. PRG-600-1ER)
With its new PRO TREK PRG-600 “outdoor” world-timer, Casio delivers a stylish, surprisingly tastefully designed product. Primarily targeting people who lead an active lifestyle and do need a time-measuring device that would do a good job during a hiking expedition, it will also look great with a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt in a safe co-working environment. Although inevitably having limitations of its own, the PRG-600-1ER gives you a great combination of good build quality, reasonable price, and an almost overwhelming list of functions that would make an owner of a Swiss-made analog/digital timekeeper drool. The only thing that spoils the fun is the “cased in Thailand” inscription on its machine-brushed back.
Citizen Promaster Navihawk Satellite Wave GPS CC9030-51E
Citizen Promaster Navihawk Satellite Wave GPS (ref. CC9030-51E) is a fine example of how you can get a lot of know-how, a block of high-grade steel, and a handful of silicon parts and create a wonderful object that can be a watch, a gadget, and even a surprisingly low-priced fashion statement as well!
Seiko PROSPEX Radio Sync Solar World Time Chronograph (refs. SSG001/SSG003/SSG005)
Featuring design cues similar to other “aviators” released by Seiko during the last five or six years (those including not only relatively expensive members of their higher-range Prospex family like this ref. SSC279, but also a lot more affordable ones like their older SND253P1,) the 2016 PROSPEX Radio Sync Solar World Time Chronograph is available in three different finishes. The new chronograph was probably introduced to cover the niche of XXL-sized timekeepers designed with the price-conscious public in mind. While a lot of prospective customers will only wince looking at this 48 mm monster, I am sure that the model will be successful in the long run. I mean, look at this watch! This watch is amazing!
Grand Seiko 55th Anniversary Spring Drive Chronograph LE (ref. SBGC013)
With its extremely precise mechanism and a nice sporty case, the new Grand Seiko 55th Anniversary Spring Drive Chronograph (ref. SBGC013) is a perfect (if not a bit overpriced) choice for a person who already has a collection of Speedmasters and wants to spice it with a lot more technologically advanced -and better finished- timekeeper from Japan.
Seiko Recraft Automatic (Ref. SNKM97)
Seiko has recently presented the new Recraft line of affordable dress watches. The collection comes in different color variations and features stainless steel and gold-toned versions. The main selling point? The finely crafted, mildly oversized cases, of course! Also, the in-house Caliber 7S26 self-winding movement. It is the same inexpensive, bullet-proof mechanism that also animated their Seiko SKX781 Orange Monster diver.
Casio G-Shock GravityMaster GPW 1000
The 2014 Casio G-Shock GravityMaster GPW 1000 delivers inside its defiantly oversized body an extremely small GPS receiver, a state of the art solar-powered quartz movement, as well as their signature Multi-Band 6 technology that allows the device to automatically receive standard time-calibration signal from atomic clocks. What else would you probably ask from this little monster? Make you breakfast?
Casio Edifice EQB-500D-1A with Bluetooth
Featuring traditional for the Japanese brand design, the new Casio Edifice EQB-500D-1A also sports a handy Bluetooth module. To make all of its numerous features work you will only need to accompany it by