Iconic Nite a clear winner

May 31, 2015 by Bosartis

To be more precise it is actually the Nite Icon 201L T100 and certainly lives up to it’s name as a watch you can definitely see in the dark!

Nite Icon 201L T100 Tritium.

As many of you will know I love my Tritium watches, and have a good few of them today and none have ever let me down. In fact I when I used to be on “nights” in military service for 6 months at a time my Tritium light source models were an absolute must. In fact since those day Tritium models apart from some small cosmetic changes have hardly changed ever since GTS Light Source was first introduced, such as the colors available for example or in the basic watch model design.

I’ve always liked Nite watches but never actually owned one, mostly because I preferred other case/watch/dial designs from other Brands and also as price was an issue. However the Nite 201L T100 has the advantage of an updated GTS capability with the altered light source construction feature – flattened Tritium tubes. These spread the light more evenly than the more common round tube design and do away with any surrounding reflector ideas of older design watches.

Flat tube Tritium at it’s very best.

In fact the tubes look very like traditional dial markers but at night appear much brighter, yet at the same time much easier on the eye. There are in fact the more traditional round Tubes on the Hour, Minute and center Seconds hands, where they are ideal with their narrow light line acting more as pointers.

This particular model is also very well specified and with some thought gone into regarding the choice of materials etc. The case is a decent sized 44 mm diameter with a good dial diameter of 38 mm and overall though the case is a fairly substantial 12.1 mm depth. It is constructed of 316 Stainless Steel in black PVD and uses K1 Mineral Crystal with enhanced scratch resistance and hardness plus the advantage of Triple Anti-reflection inner coatings, so clarity is very, very good indeed. It is also fairly light weight at 80 g, has a decent sized Screw down Crown @4 and a Water Resistance of 30 ATM or 100 m. Incidentally the screw back has Nitrile Gasket/seals which are manufactured to withstand -40ºC to +60ºC so should last a long time.

Night use perfection = the Nite Icon T100

Night use perfection = the Nite 201L T100

Movement wise Nite have gone for a sensible choice in the Swiss Ronda Quartz 515, which has a Date window between 4 & 5 and a Battery life of between 3 and 4 years.

The price direct from Nite for this strapped model is £320 here in the UK, though as I often do I’d probably have an silicon/rubber deployment one as an alternative. Easy to fit of course as this case has conventional spring bar fittings. I tend to avoid steel bracelets these days as invariably they’re heavier than the watch and I don’t need that (and more expensive).

The higher price Point is maybe at the top end for a Tritium model, as personally I think high price & practicality could be viewed as a contradiction in terms – but the Icon 201L T100 with it’s considerable advantage of the flat/tube illumination, is definitely worth it and represents very good value.

I’d go further and say that if you’re considering a watch for night use and certainly if you are involved in night work, then in my opinion for what it’s worth, it’s probably one of the best options available today.

Addendum – I note they now have a polycarbonate cased version of the Nite watch – the Hawk. But unfortunately it has a much larger diameter case, which kills it for me personally. Why the larger case I don’t know, but what a shame as it really competed so well against the Casio range of G-Shocks, which of course also tend to have in the main an over large case for me. So the Nite 201L T100 model will still be the model I’ll probably end up with in my collection.

I love my “Carlo”

May 28, 2015 by Bosartis

I’ve never had many Italian watches in all the years of collecting, yet with the innate Italian flair for design I’ve often wondered why I didn’t own one. It’s not as if the quality is any less good than Swiss watches as indeed many of the Italian brands either manufacture in Switzerland or use Swiss movements anyway.

Carlo Ferrara Regulator Classic

Maybe it’s the premise, right or wrong, that Italian design and watches don’t go together as well as perhaps shoes or clothes or that their particular slant on watch design never really did it for me.

But of course and as always, these perceptions change and things move on and so it was and is with this particular model from Carlo Ferrara – the Regulator Classic.

Perhaps the whole concept of the “vertical elliptical dials” which fascinate and yet don’t detract one iota from either the readability, or indeed the clarity of the dial. It looks completely different to most other dial layouts and fundamentally it’s like it is this owing to it’s intriguing technical function rather than just an odd dial. The wonderful design element of this watch is in it’s technical movement set up and the use of a vertical linear drive chain.

I love it!

The Classic features a Swiss Automatic Cal.2892.2 movement and the stainless steel case measures just 39 mm which is such a sensible size, mineral glass, a magnifier Date window @6, centre seconds hand and 5 ATM Water Resistance and a very nice stainless deployment bracelet. It’s also available in quite a few different dial layouts based on the same elliptical premise, and all of them are interesting in their our individual manner. I know I’ve seen one like this but with a yellow dial – and it’s awesome!

So an Italian model at last for me and one that’s certainly different – and perhaps I’ll be having another look at Italian design after all . . . .

Practical “Moments”

May 25, 2015 by Bosartis

As I already own and like very much my St. Moritz Momentum watch – the Format 4, I remember that there was another couple of their models that attracted me almost as much. At the time I was after an Ana/Digi, so the Format 4 was ideal, but the other two models had a practical aspect to them that I found refreshing.

Momentum Steelix – a Daily beater if ever I saw one!

The first is the Momentum Steelix which is a solid stainless steel, very well made model that has “daily beater” written all over it. Great clear dial layout with good luminous broad hands and numerals. A triple Date window (which I’ve always liked) @3 and a decent sized screw down crown with 200 m Water resistance means you can take this virtually anywhere. In fact it’ll survive the trip even if you don’t!

The second model that caught my attention is the Vortech Alarm GMT, which is ideal as a travelers watch, owing to the neat GMT pointer that you simply set as your Home Time and then adjust the hands to your destination time – what could be easier.

Momentum Vortech GMT, Alarm model in Titanium.

The yellow GMT pointer tracks your Home Time, targets the outer 24hr index and it’s what I call a runner – in other words it’s set by a constant push on the top push button, which motors the GMT pointer around the dial to wherever you want.
Neat and as I say a great travel watch without over complication and is both noticeable and yet unobtrusive too – and that’s clever.

The red pointer is for the Alarm and is easy to set using the Crown to set the position and the lower red push button to set ON/OFF. The information says it’s a particularly loud Alarm (having a built in resonator?) but I really can’t comment, as I have a slight deafness these days and rarely if ever hear these things anyway!
The Crown basically sets the Hour and Minutes Time, the Date and the Alarm time, so the operational mechanics are pretty simple and easy to remember. I also note that Momentum have instructional videos online for these so what could be easier than that.

This model like the Steelix is also a tough watch, this time with a solid Titanium case at 44 mm wide and barely 12 mm height and yet is only 53 mm lug to lug which means small wrists wearing is OK. The strap is substantial at 22 mm wide so is proportional to the case and is available in a variety of NATO strap options and colors.

There’s also a Low Battery indicator (battery life is approx 5 yrs) and it has Grade A Super-luminova hands and dial detail so is a great night performer. A 100 m Water Resistance also means swimming pools are no problem at all.

Currently the Steelix model (around£70) and the Vortech GMT (around £170) appear to be available here in the UK, which pleases me no end as there’s no question about it – these are my kind of watches.

Most of their range is available HERE in the UK.

Directions

May 21, 2015 by Bosartis

I had a real fixation a while ago about “compass” watches and I got myself quite a few at the time, though after my fad wore off, I got rid of most of them, except for a couple of favorites. But it certainly got me thinking of just how many weird and wonderful “compass” creations are out there – and this time I feature analog only models and there are lots of ’em . . . . .

Columbia CA002001 Waypoint “Singletrak” Compass Watch

It’s also fair to say that most of them don’t have much to do with accuracy, except in the loosest sense that is, which is why the old schoolboy technique using an analog faced watch is probably as good as any for getting the basic direction.

Oulm Outdoor Sport Compass quartz @ $8.99

Anyway here’s a selection of the weird and the wonderful – mostly in the lower price bracket (except for the Porsche!) – of course I like it!

I hasten to add that I do not vouch for any of the models featured here (except the last one, which I own) as I suspect the really cheap ones have all sorts of issues, but looks are something else. I have even found some where the compass doesn’t do anything but “look” like a compass – Wow! – and I thought those days were long gone!

And there’s something about the old schoolboy or often called “spy school” method of finding North and South on your average analog handed watch. Some watches even call themselves “compass watches” because they have a movable bezel with the cardinal points and degrees marked around the perimeter.

Cheating perhaps – but so is the watch in this case – a lookalike Swiss Army from China.

A bit of a cheat perhaps, but if you know your sundial method, then these can be as “accurate” as some digital compass models I’ve seen and at considerably more expenditure. I kid you not!

I particularly like the old method of using a small button liquid filled compass and have it attached to your watch strap – I mean what could be easier than that. The beauty of that of course is that you can stick it on any watch you care to be wearing at the time – easy peasy!

Porsche Design – P6520 in Titanium

The Porsche Design P’6520 Heritage Compass model above is the modern and much more expensive take on the Chinese job in the previous image. Separate compass yes, but a high quality liquid filled

Real “Mans” stuff this Retrowerk R002

full graduation one at that, semi built in and hidden away until required.

I like the watch, but not the price at around 5000 Euros! Still you get a Titanium cased and beautifully built piece of kit with a Sellita SW300 automatic movement, lots of definition and dial clarity and more James Bond than Bond himself!

Old favorite today Timex

The Retowerk features a disk rotor display coupled to an ETA 2824 Automatic Swiss movement, with 45mm diameter and a 200m Water Resistance, though the compass is a little low tech perched on the top. Interesting concept though and the more I see it, the more I quite like it.

Smith & Bradley AR15

The Timex of course is a bit of an old favourite today, IF you can read it, which I always found to be the issue (goes to prove – NEVER believe the online images). The clarity of the dial figuring always to me at least seems to disappear into the background clutter and so much of the indices and so on were reflective. However I understand the later models are improved? but function wise the hands lining up as a pointer is certainly a classic compass idea – but as I say – IF you can read ’em!

My last featured one on this is the Kickstarter promotion job, which I featured once before – The Smith & Bradley AR15 which features digital displays and analog compass set up. Here in compass mode the Minute Hand points to true North and the Hour hand shows your current heading – which to my mind is a really useful compass function and maybe even actually practical!

Compass mode – Hands become True North pointer. The digital display indicates angle in degrees between the 12 o’clock and the True North pointer. Declination can be set in menu.

Personally though, at the moment at any rate, I’m sticking to my wonderful Tissot Solar Touch Compass (Altimeter, Timer, Meteo, Alarm & and everything else it seems), a model I’ve always wanted and bought myself as a present to me, some time ago. It doesn’t disappoint and I’ve also just noticed looking at it that the weather (Meteo) is taking a turn for the BETTER! (this Tissot is great!).

So brilliant! – it looks like the golf course beckons – so I know which direction I’m going in within the next couple of hours!

What happened to Morgenwerk?

May 15, 2015 by Bosartis

Perhaps the ultimate GPS watch, but which sadly to my knowledge yet to make a proper appearance. The German made Morgenwerk Precision Mk1 – GPS watch.

Morgnwerk Precision Mk1. GPS controlled watch

Understated full GPS function model with geographical co-ordinates, Compass, Altimeter etc. this is one VERY accurate watch.

No longer using what could well be described as old technology Radio Control, but instead feeding off a multitude of satellites, this model apparently will manage a staggering accuracy of under 1 second – per month!

Wherever you are in the world it will automatically display your Time Zone current time, day, date etc . A travelers dream.

It’s under 14 mm depth, 44 mm diameter, Stainless Steel or Titanium cased, double anti-reflect coated Sapphire crystal, black dial with selectable discrete digital display.

Of real importance and a major breakthrough has to be the Battery life, which is specially enhanced with a reserve of up to 18 months, assisted by the use of a self correcting thermo-compensated quartz movement allowing variation adjustments and allowing amazing accuracy.

The actual GPS receiving system (between the lugs) is programmed to pick up 6 satellites and auto select the 3 with the strongest signals as the time source. The synchronization and reception process takes anywhere from 8 to 90 seconds.

What I love is the fact that the watch is both understated and really easy to read and on wrist, seen to be just another “daily beater” albeit with great looks, but function wise does so much. It appears to me that if the brief functional detail is true, it will out perform just about anything else on the market.

However the burning question is – where is it?

The first intimation of it was way back in 2012 and the latest information I have is that their web site is currently in the build stage. One has to hope that once completed, the final watch details will be highlighted and models will be available for sale, especially as the price point quoted back in 2012 was from around $1100. And that could be a real winner.

I hate to say the phrase “ultimate watch” – but it could well be – IF it hasn’t died a death along the way. And that would be a real shame . . . as it could be my final “grail”.

BUT – and here I float down to earth after being initially blown away with all this technology. Yes it’s that old chestnut! Battery life! I mean let’s face it 18 month? Come on . . . . I was hoping for 10 years MINIMUM – with all this super tech stuff – it should be 18 years!
Ah well back to reality . . . . .

Smart Vivoactive – brief look (2)

May 12, 2015 by Bosartis

I suppose this model from Garmin really IS Smart – what with all the stuff it can do.

Garmin Vivoactive GPS Smart Watch

Will definitely suit the “wannabe” fitness freak, Golfer, Swimmer, Runner and Biker and general Health Nut (heart monitoring and all that).

It also tells you the Time, pairs with your Smart Phone for calls, texts and emails, takes widgets from the ConnectIQ store, has watch face options and has a 3 week battery life in Watch Activity mode (10 hours golf mode).

And it goes without saying this is a GPS enabled watch and it actually looks pretty good – and that’s praise indeed from me.

It’s the slimness that does it as it’s just 8 mm, easy on the wrist and I would suppose if you’re involved in any of the activities described, then this is the only watch you will ever need. And I thought the Tom Tom Golfer watch was the business, but this is something else! And I don’t really like “Smart” watches either – but . . . Wow!

In fact there’s so much in it I can’t even start to explain it all, except to say that it appears that Smart and GPS are here – perhaps to stay AND at a price that is actually affordable. £199 ish from everywhere . . . . . .

I’ll direct you HERE for all the information you need – so get healthy and fit and . . . . whatever.

Personally I’m going for a lie down! (mmm wonder what my heart rate’s doin’ . . . .?)

Note – Whether anyone would need all the functions is of course highly debatable, but the miniaturization of the modules within such a small footprint case is pretty impressive. So whilst I mentioned the Tom Tom Golfer Watch in the text, it is of course hardly comparable. The Tom Tom is designed purely as a GPS Golfing function watch and as that it is ideal for the Golfer – and not all golfers are into the fitness – and I’m definitely one of them!

Smart Vector – brief look (1)

May 12, 2015 by Bosartis

Another Smart watch but this time connects to the phone operating systems of Android, Windows, including iPhone. Smart use of monochrome LCD displays means longer battery life at around 30 days – with charge point at rear. Classic watch look in a decent steel case at a sensible size, conventional strap/bracelet fitting and with a good clear non touch screen face. Operated by use of the conventional watch pushers – looks good too. Does the smart basics and is more costs effective than many of the big mainstream boys – so this is good news.

Vector Luna Smart watch with classic dial layout

Supposed to be available soon at around $349 or thereabouts and there’s also a square version, the “Meridian”. I prefer the strap version on the Luna above and the fact you can change to a different color strap can really show the watch off to best advantage.

Definitely going in the right direction and good to see a non Apple product with such a sensible approach. Hopefully this is only the start.

Casio Ana/Digi affordable

May 10, 2015 by Bosartis

One thing Casio has certainly got going for them is their uncanny knack of making watches to suit everyone. And if you’re not a great fan of their “G” shock stuff, then what I call their hybrid plastic/resin & stainless/metalized look models could be for you. One thing is definite, they sport some great electronics, are easy to use, tough as any and make ideal “do everything” daily beaters.

Affordable value Casio World Time Chronograph – the AQ-190W

I actually have a “hybrid” model already, the Casio Tough Solar WVA-470, but more of this later as here I want to major on the Casio AQ-190W model shown above which is my newest affordable Casio to date. I like this for all sorts of reasons and not just the price, but for having none of the over muscular lumpiness and often less than easy to use pushbuttons of a “G” shock. This particular model is easy to use, easy pushers and easy intuitive functionality and reasonable dial clarity. As I said this is all at a very affordable under £40 price tag – and function for function is pretty decent value.

It has a Citizen Navitimer familiarity about the dial set up with it’s separate digital displays, and it functions in similar manner. The contrasting background layers, clear digits, contrast and clever use of tones makes this not too bad clarity wise, though the sub dial unfortunately is a little reflective – matte would have been so much better.

Features – Casio Module 5082

As expected with Casio the feature list is long and mostly useful in this particular model and for those who like chronographs, the 1/1000 sec stopwatch analog counter is a bit special.

Resin Glass / curved Spherical Glass
100-meter water resistance
Case / bezel material: Resin / Stainless steel
Stainless Steel Band
One-touch 3-fold Clasp

LED light
Selectable illumination duration, afterglow
World time
29 time zones (48 cities + coordinated universal time), daylight saving on/off, Home city/World time city swapping
1/1000-second stopwatch
Measuring capacity: 99:59’59.999”
Measuring modes: Elapsed time, lap time, split time
Other: Speed (0～498 unit / hour), Selection distance input (0.0～99.9), Best lap indicator
Countdown timer
Measuring unit: 1 second
Input range: 1 minute to 24 hours (1-minute increments and 1-hour increments)
Other: Auto-repeat
5 daily alarms (with 1 snooze alarm)
Hourly time signal
Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
12/24-hour format
Regular timekeeping
Analog: 2 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 20 seconds)
Digital: Hour, minute, second, pm, month, date, day
Accuracy:±30 seconds per month
Approx. battery life: 2 years on CR1220
Size of case: 50.1 × 45.4 × 13.7 mm
Total weight: 98 g

The amazingly bright orange/yellow back light is at 3 o’clock and being just above the 3 marker, it reflects right across the dial and manages to illuminate both the analog hands and the digital windows which is a surprise. Certainly bright enough to read the time in the dark and maybe even to find your way to the bathroom at night! and certainly better than expected, especially compared to many other Casio models. Note that the analog hands and markers are also luminous and pretty decent in their own right.

The World Time feature is about as good as it gets and again very Citizen like. This makes it really easy to adjust, without continual reference to instructions unlike some, so is a practical watch for travel.
It’s easy to set the time or to select another Time Zone or indeed change from your current time to destination time. As the digital and analog times are linked, you first select World Time and set the destination Zone you want, then “Swap” the digital time you’ve just set on to the hands – simply by pressing buttons A and B at the same time (that is the two upper buttons ) and the hands immediately move quickly round to the new digital setting. Your previous analog time will now show on the digital screen. On your return journey again select World Time, press both buttons A & B simultaneously again and job done – the times will revert once again. Very simple in practice.

However whilst the functionality of this model is commendable, the quality of the band is let down by its rather sharp edges, which can cut into the wrist slightly and this is a real shame.
I say this as in another respect the bracelet is good, specifically in that the band fits to the watch case via a standard 18 mm spring-bar and is not a molded Casio only affair.

Because of that you would think that it could be changed for a standard 18 mm wide strap or bracelet. Well it can but it’s not quite as easy as it sounds and in any case you really shouldn’t have to, and that’s the point.

The reason for my caution here is that whilst the spring-bar fitting is 18 mm, the actual width of the bracelet at case is around 24 mm, so an 18 mm strap will look much too small in proportion to the watch. I managed to get round that by fitting a modified 24 mm silicon deployment strap, which wasn’t too difficult to do and it looks absolutely fine (when I get a photo of it, I’ll post it here). The watch now has the comfort it should have had at the start!

However bracelet apart in terms of price, functions, features, intuitive ease of use, size, weight and style, this is a very good buy and it even manages a 100m Water Resistance as well – So it’s got quite a lot going for it. A friend of mine has a rubber strap version of this model he picked up in India, where it seems to be very popular (Oh had I known!).

AQ-190W (left) and WVA-470 Waveceptor (right)

I’ve done a brief comparison of my two Casio hydrids, and if pushed I’d have to say “out of the box” the slightly more expensive WVA-470 Waveceptor is my preference.

My WVA-470 Waveceptor (Radio Control), Tough Solar, World Time with it’s 5053 module overall has more to it and has slightly better build quality including the bracelet (though is Casio fit only) and functionality is good. For travel you basically have to set a new Home Time, but that said, it’s actually very easy to do – press button A (top left) to first see the transmitter selection, then toggle button C (lower left) to the City code – once selected press button A twice. The hands will move to the new Home Time, so pretty fast and easy to manage. It’s a deceptively simple and understated looking watch and it’s also very comfortable to wear and use.
Any downside – NONE

The AQ-190W model (module 5082) featured here doesn’t have Solar or Radio Control, but does have good functionality, especially regarding the World Time feature – and I like the fact you can instantly “swap” any digital Time Zone to the analog hand indication which is perfect for traveling. Whether the 1/1000 sec chronograph is a good thing depends on personal preference. Personally I don’t need that accuracy.
Any downside – The sharp sided bracelet is really inexcusable from Casio and whilst a strap could used in place, this is hardly the point. Also after wearing this model for a while I note the Gray color hour and minute hands, in certain light can disappear into the display background. These would be much better White. This is something that I didn’t expect, but noticeable after use for a bit and whilst not a sale breaker, being a stickler as I am for clarity it’s a little disappointing.

24 mm wide alternative Silicon deployment strap – fitted to 18 mm spring-bars.

—————————————————————————–

As regards Analog/Digital models I was starting to think these were on the decline – but far from it. Casio alone have literally dozens of variations on a theme, from the more expensive right down to the incredible under $20 models and each with varying degrees of functionality. It’s a mark of their remarkable strength in depth that almost all of them are pretty good with just a different emphasis here and there as to the actual featured function.

Unlike their resin cased range, where Casio’s quality is probably unsurpassed, the composite build cased models are a different matter. You really do have to carefully check build quality, as seen here with the AQ-190, whilst the watch/case etc is fine, the bracelet is not so fine. And it varies with each model and perhaps influenced by where in the group a particular part of the hybrid make up was produced and/or assembled. Some like the WVA-470 for example are about as good as you’ll get and yet model wise only marginally more expensive than the other.

A selection of Casio Ana/Digi’s –
AQF1000WD-9BV, AQ160WD-1BV, AE1000WD-1AVCF, AMW700V-1AV, W89HB-5AV, ERA201BK-1AV

There’s no question in my mind and fortunate for my wallet, that in general with Casio, I find the low to mid range priced models represent best value. I invariably find the more expensive range such as Edifice and above in comparison do not.

The model featured in this Post and more so with it’s pal hybrid Waveceptor model represent good affordable value.

Also getting away from the grey resin only cased models, I like the look of the composite resin/steel case structure, which certainly reduces the overall price point and they are each a sensible size and whichever one you prefer in this Post, both have exceptional functionality. And they are two of a wide selection from Casio that manage to get the balance just right, and yet I also note are rarely if ever advertised highly. Casio’s marketing hype tends to be geared towards their more expensive models, which I suppose is par for the course.

But don’t be fooled. Really good value Casio models are there, but usually just under the radar and you may have to actively seek them out.

But if you do, I can almost guarantee you won’t regret it.

Note – The WVA-470 Waveceptor,AQ-190W was featured here in my “Watch of the Week” as it still represents a great value watch. I also note there are quite a few variations of this watch (mine could be replaced by now) such as the WVA-105H, the WVA-M630D, the WVA-M640 to name but three . . . . so it appears it was and is still a winning combination and popular.

Smarter Pebble

May 6, 2015 by Bosartis

One of the Smarties I find myself having “time” for is the old (did I say old?) Pebble watch. It seems to have been around for ages and maybe because in “smart” terms it has, but it has also had the chance to be upgraded and refined in line with customer reaction.

Pebble Time and Pebble Steel – Smarter updates at last.

In one of it’s latest guises the Pebble Time model seems on the face of it to be quite decent effort and outdoes Apple in my opinion. It does what it does and seems to do it pretty well.
I particularly like the new display – using color E Ink technology, which makes perfect sense and stretches out the battery life accordingly to something like a week instead of a day, which has to be an improvement.
It also has a microphone, so you can send voice messages or take notes I suppose and the operating system has had something of a major makeover. It uses the “timeline ” idea that lets you see events or notes in chronological order, via 3 side buttons – so a simple idea that makes a lot of sense.

There’s more to this voice microphone stuff than appears at first glance however – you can apparently answer an email immediately by voice or optionally translate that to text. You can also send an audio file, which is great if you’re really busy or in the middle of a noisy crowded street for example. It all sounds a bit more practical than some to me, being a bit of a Neanderthal, so personally it’s looking promising.
I also like the fact they’ve reduced the size of the watch – so important in my opinion – who wants a great square lump on the wrist? It’s smaller and thinner than before at under 10 mm and the case is curved slightly to fit the wrist better. The case is made of a combination of polycarbonate/steel and the glass is super tough “Gorilla glass, so no worries there and it’s water resistant too.
The Pebble Time has a silicon strap which is not molded into the case, but fitted sensibly to a standard bar fit with 22 mm width, so you can easily change it for any standard 22 mm watch strap – and for me Pebble are certainly going in the right direction and refining as they go, which I do like!

And did I mention the proposed price – well it’s around $179 and that’s about as far away from the Apple idea as you can get. And I like that too . . . . 😉

Now whether the whole concept of Smart watches is right or wrong, they seem to be here to stay. Albeit maybe not in their current form as this sort of technology has a way of directional change determined by public reception as much as anything. Personally I think that the mainstream watch manufacturers will eventually offer “proper” watches with their inherently long battery lives of 5 + years and/or solar power maybe, but with the additional functions, such as Bluetooth and “Smart” features as modules that can be used as and when (and if) the wearer requires such connection. Let’s face it nobody asked whether we the public actually wanted or needed a device that “talked” to our cell phone, which can be accessed within a couple of seconds anyway?

Talk about creating a market where it’s a moot point whether there even should be one in the first place – it’s a good trick if you can get away with it!

For me personally I’d be very happy with my normal watch + additional functions, that I can use or not, in preference to what, if I’m honest, I still don’t consider a watch at all, which includes most of the so called “smart” wearables on offer so far. But as Pebble have shown here, the gap between the two disciplines appears to be narrowing – so as ever – Watch this Space.

Watch space

Favourite watches & reviews

Monthly Archives: May 2015