Ex Military, Armaments, Electronics, Commercial Tech Sales, Technical Consultant to occasional writer and columnist, artist, photographer and watch collector. Had a few web sites over the years, but watchspace.co.uk takes up most of my online activities now. Here I can share my watch collecting comments and experiences with anyone who cares to view. Other interests are wildlife, military security applications and computer graphics. Plus golf when I have the time.
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 . . . . .
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!
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.
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 pretty good dial clarity. As I said this is all at a very affordable under £40 price tag – and function for function is very decent value indeed.
It has their competitor’s Citizen Navitimer familiarity about the dial set up, though actually clearer to read and with similar separate digital displays, and it functions in in the same manner. The contrasting background layers, clear digits, contrast and clever use of tones makes this rather good clarity wise, considering the functions shown, though the sub dial is perhaps a little reflective – a matt finish would have been so much better – but perhaps I’m being over critical.
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 analogue counter is a bit special at this price range.
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, with some 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) – though one is enough for me!
Hourly time signal
Full auto-calendar (to year 2099) – always a great feature.
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 analogue 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 better than expected, especially compared to some other Casio models. Note that the analogue 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, 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 your destination time. As the digital and analogue 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 analogue 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, inexplicably the quality of the band is let down by rather sharp edges, which can cut into the wrist slightly and this is a real shame. Perhaps this was just on my one.
I say this because in other aspects the bracelet is good, specifically in how it fits to the watch case, via a standard 18 mm spring-bar and is not a moulded 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 the 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, very good buy and it even manages a 100m Water Resistance as well – So it’s really 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 the two Casio hybrids I have and if pushed as to which I like best – well I’m stuck – both different, but both VERY good.
My WVA-470Waveceptor (Radio Control), Tough Solar, World Time with it’s 5053 module overall marginally might have fractionally better build quality and whilst the bracelet certainly is better, it’s let down by being a Casio fit only.
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 if you’re happy with the Casio fit bracelet.
And back to the AQ-190W model (module 5082) whilst it doesn’t have Solar or Radio Control, it does have great functionality, especially regarding the World Time feature – and I like the fact you can instantly “swap” any digital Time Zone to the analogue hand indication which is perfect for traveling. Whether the 1/1000 sec chronograph is necessary, depends on personal preference. Personally, I don’t really need such accuracy. Any downside– The sharp sided bracelet on my model 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 grey coloured hour and minute hands, in certain light lose some contrast against the background. These would be so much better if coloured white. This is something that I didn’t expect, but noticeable after use for a bit and whilst not a sale breaker, should have been avoidable.
24 mm wide alternative Silicon deployment strap – fitted to 18 mm spring-bars.
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As regards Analogue/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 totally resin cased range, where Casio’s quality is near unsurpassed, the composite build 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 add on bracelet in my case was not so fine. But it varies with each model and perhaps influenced by where 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 so on, are not best value.
The model featured in this Post and more so with it’s pal hybrid Wave-ceptor model both represent really good and affordable value.
Also getting away from the grey resin only cased models, I like the look of the composite resin/steel case structure, which effectively lowers 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.
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.
Sometimes you see a concept in a watch that is a little different from the normal. And even though this idea has been around for along time, this particular model strikes a chord with me I suppose as it has the small button compass, which is far easier to hold in your hand than on your wrist.
Dakota Clip Watch Model 37252
This is the Dakota Watch Men’s Green Angler 11 Ana-Digi Clip watch, which is quite a mouthful to say but actually quite a neat device. The idea here is to “clip” this little item to your belt or pack or whatever is to hand when trekking or hill walking etc.
The watch itself is pretty decent and with a good set of features and a great “not on your wrist” size at 48 mm x 48 mm x 18 mm, which is just about ideal for what essentially is a hand held unit. The speedy carabiner clip is a snap to use – easy off the waist band, hold in left hand horizontally (no twisting of the wrist) use the compass level bubble, take your heading and you’re away. Probably every bit as good as any digital compass watch.
The movement is Japanese Quartz, no details and features Alarm, Date display, Digital display, Dual Time, and a three hand analog dial layout in black orange. Mineral glass crystal and a Water Resistance of 30 m and the case in made from aluminum and stainless steel.
Note the hands are skeletal orange colored and the digital display is well defined in the background and overall looks pretty decent. Four pushers and a Crown and I have to confess I rather like the overall layout as you can see a lot of information at a glance.
Analog Time plus seconds, the Day, Date and the Month plus the time digitally with am/pm indication and or Dual Time. It also features a back light.
The small and separate liquid filled button compass is just below and affixed to the carabiner and there is also a key ring style ring at the side.
Knife and scissors carabiner style Dakota Watch
There are I understand around 5 other variants of this, one of which features a knife blade and scissors – see image inset, though the watch dial is not as good in my opinion and the clip is not the classic carabiner.
However this one is a good idea and a neat watch – I like it and the price even quoted here in the UK isn’t too bad at £56.00
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You can even go digital with this offering from National Geographic – The Altitech 3 Clip Watch
Altitech 3 Clip Watch and Travel Tool
You can apparently get your bearings with this Digital Compass, which also has an Altimeter, Chronograph and Alarms (3) and it even gives you Sunrise and Sunset times – Wow! Must be a backpacker thing – me – I’m too old for all that, but I like it anyway!
Bedside Alarm too
Things like an 80-log memory for total ascent and descent – does this make sense to you folks?
However I particularly like the way it can sit up and be used as a clock, that is really neat. It’s around the same price as the Dakota and as I’ve discovered there are literally dozens of these “clip” watches around – it’s amazing and maybe shows how out of touch I am these days – Ah well . . . .
Anyway interesting items and there seems to be no shortage of them, some good and some not so good. These two I quite like as they show a couple of different approaches tech wise in a small way and at the end of the day – you takes your pick!
Here’s a watch that is a very hand item especially if you play golf on a regular basis, maybe once or twice a week, twice a month even.
Tom Tom GPS Golfer Watch
It’s an interesting concept as this is a model that once you switch it ON, you can’t switch it OFF. Sounds a bit weird at first, but as the watch in it’s default display shows the Time, Date and Month (settable as USA or UK format) which is of course what a watch traditionally does and is able to do this for roughly 60 days before a charge is required, it makes for a sort of sense. Especially if you are indeed a golfer, as after any round of golf you would put it on charge anyway, though it manages apparently around 10 hours playing time.
Slim Profile and note the unusual strap keeper
The watch is also a decent looking affair, flat to the wrist, very light at just 52 gms and has a very comfortable and flexible rubber buckle strap with an unusual but effective keeper. Once on the wrist you don’t even know it’s there.
Tom Tom are relatively late into this golf GPS business, though they obviously checked out the “comments” and so on that the competition received before deciding what operational format to use. Whether it would have a touch screen or not was quickly decided as NOT, simply because of many issues with touch screens flagged up on other products. Also the issue of buttons on the watch case. Would they cause problems during the swing (during the wrist cock on the back swing, for all you golfers out there). So no case buttons at all.
Note the case curved extension – this is the charging connector.
Instead they mounted the controls, similar to a flat joystick controller as a curved extension to and below the case, with control part protruding through the strap. Simply pushing with the finger the appropriate control edge, which vibrates as it actions, operates the selected function on the watch display. A rather novel feature is that the entire watch and extension can be popped out of the case frame/strap, allowing it to be used in an optional cradle which you can attach to a golf trolley for example, for those who don’t want a wrist watch as such. Very clever indeed!
I said this was not a touch screen and it’s not, but if you look closely there are 3 tiny dots on the right edge of the glass. This is a small capacitive control, tap it and the back light comes on and after a few seconds goes off again- handy if that round of golf takes a little longer than you thought and the members have lined up their cars/headlamps for you on the last green.
I’ll not go into the golf course icons and course planning here, suffice to say, it should automatically find your course, then show each hole number, it’s par, distance to green center, back or front, indicate a straight or dogleg fairway, show which hole you are playing and progress to the next hole when finished. You can also check other parameters such as layup distances and so on and then there’s a clock, phone Bluetooth, Time, Date, Month and Year adjustments etc. You can also record your scores and upload these to an App on the phone if required.
Note the controls are on the lower side of the case – this is NOT a touch screen
The instruction booklet is very basic, though I guess once out on the course, it’s fairly intuitive and I note that if it doesn’t progress on to the next hole (sometimes happens owing to the last green and next tee position being too close, and which tee is used and so on), you simply push the UP controller and it goes to the next hole.
Flat “joystick” control located on the case extension. The entire watch is also removable.
However what I really like about it is that if you are a golfer, then this is basically the only watch you need, as it’s truly and basically a watch that’s always ready for golf. So next time you’re going to golf you certainly won’t forget it, because you’re wearing it anyway! And that’s very handy as let’s face it, you always forget something and you’ve just eliminated one of them, which must be an aid to your temper when on the first tee!
From a watch wearer point of view I like this model as it fits the wrist neatly and a little different from the usual ones I see around.
Cons –
However I do note that the built in Golf Course list is considerably shorter than Garmin or Golf Buddy, which has to be disappointing to many. It’s also not clear whether Courses can be easily added to the database as the Tom Tom web site is hardly intuitive in this respect. So perhaps some improvement yet is required to fully justify it’s rather high price of £199.00. Surely a fundamental requirement has to be the inclusion of the fullest possible Golf Course database and anything less simply favors their competitors. (see Note 2 below)
Let’s hope improvements are in the pipeline – sooner rather than later.
Note1 – Charging – The supplied Charge cable/unit comprises a specially shaped curved connector unit with integral USB connection plug lead, so for charging has to be connected either to a PC, Laptop or preferably to a USB 3 pin wall socket adapter.
Note 2 – Checking with Tom Tom it appears that courses can be added by request, as can correction of incorrect course data on their Tomtom/support/golfer web site, which sound very positive. Also there is a fully comprehensive set of instructions for the Golf Watch also on their web site available for download, in html or .pdf format, which makes up for their rather poor booklet that comes with the watch. Note 3 – I’m going to check this watch myself soon on the Golf course and see what it can do for me – though my Wife says if I replaced my old Baffie, Niblic, Brassie and Iron Putter and that old leather pencil bag, it would be a start!
With the prospect of the Huawei Android Watch coming soon, to my mind the Smart watch phenomenon is hotting up. So much so that this is the very first model I’ve seen that makes even me slightly excited.
Huawei Smart watch with 40 different dials!
Not excessively excited you understand, but there is definitely a frisson of expectancy about this model and that’s a first time a “smart” watch has affected me at all.
It actually has a lot of potential in my opinion and for starters it is a sensible size – maybe that’s also a first – just 42 mm diameter x 11.3 mm depth – Now that IS a surprise!
Same watch – different clothes!
It has a Sapphire crystal too and 40, yes 40 different optional virtual Watch dial layouts, which must suit just about anyone. A superb AMOLED display means fabulous clarity and all within a Stainless Steel case in Gold or Silver or Black finishes. A stainless steel mesh strap or leather strap choice. Plus it’s got sensors such as Gyroscope, Accelerometer, Barometer, Vibration alert and even a Microphone.
It looks pretty Smart to me. In fact it looks VERY good.
It has the Smart functions that all you aspiring “get fit” folks out there must have, such as Daily Health function, Single activity tracking, Heart Rate tracking, hookup to your phone for Instant Messaging and Call notifications and all that stuff, that’s basically beyond your average 70+ year old (I wonder who he’s talking about!). So this is just what you want isn’t it?
Smart functions via Bluetooth – messaging, Texts etc.
But importantly for me (of a certain age) this seems to be, virtually at least, a watch first with good traditional design, sensible size plus a one button functionality, so no silly complications and with all these different optional watch faces, I could wear a different one every day of the week. Just what a smart collector needs to reduce the collection!
And above all it looks like a watch, feels like a watch, acts like a watch and can do as much or as little “Smarts” as you want and if you want to know boring things like the Day of the Week, the Date and the Time, then this might just be for you. The Smarter stuff you can gently ease yourself into, or maybe not in my case – but at least I’ll be right up there.
Goodness I might end up fashionable, trendy, technically savvy and SMART too. Wow!
Note – Unsure as to battery life other than to say it 300mAh which I’m told is good and lasts probably longer than others. And it comes with Charging Cradle, PC connections etc etc. Price wise? Not announced just yet, but I’d be surprised if it wasn’t $300 range? But that’s just a guess (hope) maybe, but it’s looking good. . . . . .
Been looking at the latest World Timer range of watches from affordable to the less so and after embroiling myself in what they can do and how tricky or easy it is to do what they do, I realized that maybe I don’t need ‘em at all!
Now this is possibly a surprising admission for me, as I am and always have been a frequent and inveterate traveller.
OK some are easier to use than others and I already have one that is super simple and absolutely meets my requirements (my Citizen Eco-Drive A-T CB0020-09E and pictured at the end) so I don’t need another one – and some of the newer offerings I would advise you to carry an instruction booklet with you at all times – and that’s no good at all.
So that now understood, I will not be buying any World Timer watches in the foreseeable future – no I won’t.
In most cases I’m happy with a digital traveller watch that has perhaps a couple of local times built in (who needs more?) and these might be programmed as T2 and T3 for example (such as the Timex) and set with a simple -“mode, select” – job done!
I don’t think I need to know the time in 40 zones, as frequent flyer that I am, I have never in one trip managed that sort of route – well not unless I’ve mixed up my meds anyway!
In fact this leads on I suppose to the question of just how many complications do we need in a watch on the wrist? The more you have the more you have to remember – which pushers to push or crown to turn, which sequence, how, what and so on and why is this watch so darned big – and where’s the damned booklet?
And during this mental anguish sitting on the plane, your wife has quietly clicked out her watch crown and in 4 seconds has moved Mickey’s arms with the big white gloved hands on them an hour forward to Destination time on her dinky one jewel Disney. I mean it’s downright embarrassing!
I’ll not go into other complications other than to say that I did use my Chronometer the other day while boiling my breakfast eggs – 4 minutes. It was still going the following day as I’d completely forgotten about it. And as to the eggs? Well I happened to glance at the old kitchen clock when I was cooking them and thought that’s about right and that was it. I’d totally forgotten about the watch or even that I’d set it in the first place!
OK so part of that example was maybe old age or brain cells winking out, but really – what relevance does a chronometer model have for me these days?
Not a lot.
Easiest travel watch with world times included. Pull crown, turn – done! As simple as it gets!
There are other features too, of course there are (there are so many today) but suffice to say my tolerance for such functions appears to have affected my watch collection. It’s becoming simpler and I’m slowly finding I have more watch models that are easy to read the Time and tend to have a clear Day and a Date window – so nice and simple and I suppose more or less what I would consider IN the present, as indeed I try to be. In other words, take each day as it comes, one at a time.
What Time is it? It’s 2.45 in the afternoon, it’s Monday and it’s the 20th and looking out the window, it’s sunny!
Way to go . . . . .
Note – My two favorite travel watches can be seen HERE
These days I seem to have more straps, bracelets (bands) and deployment fittings than watch models, possibly fueled by this notion I have to every so often “change” the look of my collection. Despite what the original strap or bracelet looked like, I find it fun to change them every so often.
Retro divers infinity adjustment solid mesh with locking clasp (on a dress watch?) – it looks good.Inclusive twin pushbutton release silicon/steel fold over deployment with lock
In fact it’s true to say that sometimes after a change from an original strap to one of your own choosing with perhaps different metal or color or style, whatever, you realize that for you the original was never a good idea in the first place. How the designer came up with it to start with is sometimes a mystery!
Twin push button butterfly deployment to strap fixing – steel or gold – could be either.Single flip over deployment to strap fitting
Now whilst I do manage to change many of the watch strap/case combinations from time to time, I always retain the original just in case I get fed up with the watch, or maybe never wear it and sell it on to someone else.
Inclusive twin pushbutton silicon steel deployment to Swatch fitting with lock
So there are a few I’ve changed recently and no I’ll not show the originals – but they actually look pretty good to me in their new garb. Until I decide one day to change them again, maybe to the originals or maybe a new color or whatever. And that’s the fun with an eclectic collection, like a little boy you can play with them to your hearts content!
Watch space 
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