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.
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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!
Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar 45mm (ref. T091.420.46.041.00)
Designed for persons leading an active lifestyle, the 2015 Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar (ref. T091.420.46.041.00) is a mild face-lift of the 2014 model. The refreshed exterior is more convincing. The list of functions is more or less the same. It’s awesome in its simplicity, yet not rugged enough to compete with a G-Shock. While the piece’s altimeter is good for 4478 meters, you probably don’t want to take it mountain-climbing.
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?
Seiko Prospex Solar Pilot Quartz Chronograph (Ref. SSC279)
Although not as technologically advanced as the stunning Astron GPS Stratosphere, the 2014 Seiko Prospex Solar Quartz Chronograph (Ref. SSC279) is also about five times less expensive. Offered at MSRP of just $450 (and you can find one on eBay at less than USD $350), it looks cool for a daily beater, and its built-in solar charger makes the gadget a must-have for a person that spends more time outdoors than inside an air-conditioned office. Just don’t forget to swap the brown leather strap for something more practical, like a solid steel bracelet or a hypoallergenic silicon band.
Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar Quartz
Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar (ref. T091.420.46.051.01) packs the usual (at least, for the family) mix of functions into a lightweight titanium body that combines finely brushed surfaces with black PVD inserts. While the watch neither looks as rugged as a “real” training computer designed for hard-core athletes, nor sports as advanced functionality, it is still sturdy enough to be used as a daily beater by those who prefer an active lifestyle to countless hours spent on a sofa in front of a 55-inch TV set.
Seiko Astron GPS Stratosphere (Ref. SAS033)
Seiko has officially presented its Seiko Astron Stratosphere GPS-enabled watch. Although currently there is nothing more than a presentation page on their corporate site, it is already clear that the new version looks a lot more impressive than the high-tech Astron GPS Solar World Timer in black titanium that the Japanese brand started selling in October 2012. Just look at this huge, domed sapphire crystal that covers not only the dial itself but also the bezel with its luminous UTC city codes. Isn’t it amazing?
Casio G-Shock Metal-Twisted (MTG-S1000D-1AJF)
Offered in plain and black ion-plated stainless steel, the new Casio G-Shock Metal-Twisted (MTG-S1000D-1AJF) not only offers their pretty solid Triple G Resist shock protection technology and lots of useful functions, but also packs them in an impressively designed, massive body that makes your normal “sporty” chronograph look like a real pussy near this rugged giant.
Citizen Eco-Drive AP4000 Solar-Powered
The 2013 Citizen Eco-Drive AP4000 offers a nice combo of a high-grade, solar-powered quartz caliber packed inside a well-designed, comfortable-looking body that will probably fit just about any wrist even despite its generous size.
Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400
Although Casio’s positioning of the new G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 as a “survival” tool is a little bit too far-fetched, the gadget still deserves a certain degree of attention. Sporting a long list of useful functions that millions of fans are already familiar with, the Rangeman also sports their famous Triple Sensor system that makes it especially useful for hikers, forest tourists and, perhaps, even soldiers and other professionals who need a reliable and durable tactical watch.