Old directions

Been having a look at my old digital compass watch models and rather impressed at the fact they still work pretty well. In fact accuracy wise they are still holding their own against more modern offerings and they have the advantage of being within a much neater footprint, despite later sensor size reductions.

Take the CPW-100 for example which features an early 1031 module set. This model appeared back in 1993 and one of the first Casio’s to feature a compass sensor. The circular digital display is still rather novel, but it shows what you need to see very well.

I like this model for all sorts of reasons in addition to the neat dimensions as just 40mm case diameter, though if you include the sensor it’s 50mm across. But as the entire model is just 12 mm thick and the lug to lug is very small by today’s standards, so easily fits the smaller wrist.

Note the inner display normally shows running seconds. The compass works as a direct read push button and after a second indicates magnetic North/south with the digital arrow pointer in the centre circular window. The Direction is also indicated at the top of the dial as NW, ENE, etc. (here shown as WSW) in place of the Day of the week.

Compass indication - note the digital arrow pointer - to North - and the Direction of 12 position in place of the Date. — Compass indication – note the digital arrow pointer – to North – and the Direction of 12 position (WSW) in place of the Date.

It is an instant reading which does not change even if you move the watch, so doesn’t, like modern counterparts, take a reading every second. It does however have a “navigation”mode which allows you to store up to 5 sets of measurement data in memory, along with the date and time of the measurement. These can be recalled later to trace your progress on a map for example. To aid navigation the outer bezel can be rotated (N mark to line up with indicated N for example).

Note – the CPW-100 has 2 x batteries – Renata 399 (LR927) held in individual holders. Operating manual – Casio CPW-100

Another model of the same period is the CPW200 which features module 1030.

Casio CPW100 and 200 Digital Compass models. Circa 1993

The dial layout is more familiar to modern Casios, plus it has a running seconds digital track around the circumference of the dial. The module difference is only in regards to the digital display as in this instance the compass indication shows not just the North/south line, but also the other E & W cardinal points, around the seconds track. In fact both models use their respective running Seconds track as the compass indication.

In all other respects function wise the two models are the same – Both have Compass and Navigation modes, 24 hr Stopwatch with split/finish times, Countdown Alarm from 1 m to 24 hours with selectable auto-repeat. Also there is a a daily Alarm mode and Time signal function etc.

In comparison to the more modern Casio Compass watches these both perform really well, though neither have Compass Declination adjustments possible, so very much Magnetic North has to be used in any orienteering. That said as the Declination where I live is just 1.3ºW and would be just 1ºW if entered into a modern Casio, so for general directional compass work, walking etc. both these models perform well enough for me. They are also both water resistant to 50 m and 100 m respectively, though with any of these 20+ year old resin/metal back models, this should be taken lightly. The seals are often dried and shrunken and replacement is tricky, and whilst not impossible – I don’t go out of my way to drown them – or me these days!

In truth the fact these work at all is a bonus and both are in pretty good condition overall. Module wise both are perfect and function as new and they both “wear” well on the wrist and can often attract comment (if noticed as they are both very neat), though at my age folks seem to take it for granted that I’ll have old things!

This from my young grand-daughter just the other day! 🙂

Note – Another Compass model from the same period is the CPW220 ( planned for a later Post) features Module qw1286, which has the exact same functionality as Module qw1030. This is not surprising as within this “novelty”period, Casio whilst introducing individuality in their digital range, inevitably featured similar if not identical modules, to fit the various dial designs.

Best value Casio ABC?

Been looking for something to replace the Casio PRW3000 I had stolen from luggage that went missing on a trip last year in darkest Africa. On the bag’s reappearance my Casio was missing along with other stuff, but the watch was the one thing I missed most of all.

When I returned to the UK, I got myself a Tissot Solar Expert (my first true Swiss ABC model) which I’d always wanted anyway and to this day it’s been my alternative compass watch for my Casio. With its touch screen concept ana/digi system the Tissot is very unlike Casio and whilst really clever operationally, somehow I still miss the dare I say, “older and more conventional” familiarity of the Casio digital set up.

Casio Protrek PRG270B-3 with Textile buckle strap.

So that said I decided at long last to perhaps consider another Casio and whilst the 3000 series is still ongoing, I’ve instead picked another model with the same and now upgraded sensor set, but at a more affordable price. And not tempted by the Titanium, this time went for the Casio Pro Trek PRG270B-3, in the green and black resin G shock style case. Note that this version has the textile band as opposed to the resin band. The reason for my choice here is important to me because of my wrist size.

Note the textile band close fit to the wrist.

The resin band versions effectively adds to the lug to lug size just enough to cause fitting issues when worn on my average size wrist. Whereas this textile band version reduces this dimension to under 50 mm and it can swing freely 90º from the case and so fits much more snuggly. Being G shock style of course it’s tough enough to withstand almost anything, which I suppose is a definite plus when considering the places I tend to end up in.

Great look in green/black with textile strap. Bright display in any light conditions.

I also selected this Casio model because it’s a middle of the road example of both the genre and price point. It appears to offer decent value and considering my PRW3000 cost twice as much (a Japan domestic model at the time). It also has the internal module 3415, successor to the 3414 of my 3000 model which was already very good. I should also say that the clarity of the green (almost gold) background digital display is really excellent and one of the best I’ve seen from any Casio to date.

Note strap allows small wrist fitting (has no extenders fro case) — Note strap allows small wrist fitting (has no extenders from case)

The 3415 module set means ease of use, logical controls and function switching. Feature wise it’s Solar Powered, World Time, Triple Sensor, (Alti, Baro & Compass), excellent full display back light. Also the overall color scheme is definitely my favorite and looks great. 10Bar Water resistance plus Chrono, Timers, Chime etc. as usual with the Casio set up and all very easy and familiar to set up. Note too the extreme light weight of just 62 gms including strap means this is a very practical wear and forget watch.

The green and black textile strap is a cut above for Casio, being very well made, approximately 23 mm wide with contrasting full stitching and with a black vinyl stitched backing and keeper. Note the keeper stays where it’s put, which is a plus. The buckle holes are fully metal ring edged so will not fray and a delight to wear. The strap fixing to the case is approximately 17 mm and overall the strap appears water resistant.

The ABC feature set is as good as these get at the moment and the ease of use commendable. Compass declination can be set in a matter of a second or two and it can just a quickly be switched off. The compass takes just a second to operate via the direct button @2 and graphically shows magnetic North direction plus the other three cardinals, the heading @12 (where the 12 of the watch face is pointing) as N, NW, S etc. and the bearing indication or direction angle in degrees of the 12 also. It takes reading virtually continuously each second (for 60 seconds) and directional movement of the watch will be shown immediately on the display. It also has bearing retention memory and pretty comprehensive it is too and lining the watch face up with a map (setting the map) is easy, surprisingly clear and effective.

Setting the map with the Casio PRG270B-03

The Barometric function is also very comprehensive as is the Altitude mode, with plenty of Trekking and Climbing features within the programs to suit most folks I would have thought.

Other features are – a 999 hour Stopwatch, 24 hour Timer, 5 Daily Alarms, one with snooze, an Hour Time Signal (2 beeps), Auto Light function when wrist turned 40º towards wearer with OFF/ON darkness sensor, adjustable illumination time – either 1.5 or 3 seconds. I also like the optional main display pattern.

My preferred display, showing Day, Date, Time and running Seconds.

You can have the Calendar display in Normal Time mode indicate the Day and Date OR Month and Date OR instead the Barometric Pressure Trend Graph – this in addition to the Time and running Seconds. I prefer it set to Day and Date.

In fact there is a whole pile of stuff in this module and the instruction booklet or online version is well worth reading – and fortunately the system in use, is as about as intuitive as you can get, making this watch a pleasure to wear and use. And finally I set the time via a Radio Controlled source a week or so ago and it’s still within a second, so accuracy is virtually set and forget in practical terms, the Solar Power means no battery issues ever and it looks as if I’ve found my new Daily Beater.

I’m very pleased!

Note – Whilst I said I wanted to get back to the familiarity of the Casio digital display system, I’m not suggesting the Tissot Touch Expert is in some way inferior. Quite the opposite – but it is however quite different and in Compass mode actually works like a “proper” compass. The hands aligning as one to point North and the digital display indicating degrees of the 12 position to North, including the Heading setting ie. N, W, SSE, etc. It also takes continuous readings every second for 60 seconds. It also has an instant Azimuth “beep” system when the watch is aligned with the heading you wish to take – very useful as a trekker and if used to map & compass, then the Tissot is highly practical.

Co-incidentally I checked the Barometer sensors on both watches today and they both read the same, exactly – and that’s a definite improvement over the old days when different models and certainly brands – meant different readings – I’m impressed!

So which ABC do I prefer? Well that’s a difficult one to answer as my practical side says Tissot, yet absolute feature wise I might say Casio . . . . Which is why I love them both!

But best value for money? This Casio without question!

Diesel fashion

I’ve said it before and no doubt I will again, Fashion Houses are definitely into the watch business. Diesel is one Brand that I quite like and whilst many of their dial designs are perhaps over the top and often over-cluttered for me personally, every so often they come out with a model that is really rather smart.

The Diesel Arges DZ1660 disk date watch.

The Diesel DZ1660 featuring a Japanese Quartz movement is one which shows off a practical dial layout and a decent build quality. The red date wheel idea is quite striking and looks great in contrast to the dark look dial, and is complimented by the colored center seconds hand.

Class detail on this stainless gunmetal finish case

Well proportioned hands and markers again give a pleasing balance to the overall dial layout. The case is Stainless Steel in gunmetal tone and measures at 46 mm diameter by just 12 mm depth. The Tan strap is 24 mm wide with gunmetal stainless buckle closing and again in a nice complimentary tone to the case.

Tan & gunmetal Stainless steel complimentary buckle layout

This watch is also Water Resistant to 10 ATM or 330ft.

I’ve seen it here in the UK recently discounted to £94.49 and if I was looking for a gift watch for someone, this would definitely be on my short list and to my mind looks well above it’s price point. Very elegant and yet has that neat and rather subtle fashion edge with the red accented date wheel and the overall dial color combination really works.

For me this is a grown up Diesel model and not before time – I’m hoping for more . . . .

Hippie Chic . . .

Now OK I don’t really know what that means either – but this is the Indie Watch from yes you guessed it Hippie Chic of California. I suppose it’s a sort of fashion accessory watch geared towards those Hippie and chic young folk out there, though “hip” for me has visions of a much needed replacement variety and “chic”? – well maybe once upon a time . . . I do remember Woodstock!

Anyway I can certainly see the attraction of this for the young “hippie” style guy or girl and purely co-incidentally, a friend was here recently and her daughter is I’m reliably informed into Goth? – Well whatever, but she had on her wrist amongst other stuff, a neat watch strappy affair and this was it – the Hippie Chic – and I suppose she was just that!

I have to say it looked great and suited her, so this Watch Company seems to have found a market and good luck to them.
Now the watch part is pretty basic I suppose, though it does have a Seiko quartz PC21S movement and the case is 25 mm x 25 mm x 7 mm and located in amongst the split leather strap, wood/alloy/ceramic beads and metal studs. Only has a Water Resistance to 1 ATM (supposedly 10m) , but throwing yourself into the pool probably not the best idea, but hey it’s a fashion thing, so why should it be in the pool with you anyway. The split strap arrangement seems to be adjustable (with snap studs) from around 19 mm/22 mm, though obviously is worn loose bracelet style.

Not the first of these modern young guy/girl things I’ve seen but it looks OK and I like the fact the little watch has a centre seconds hand – and that’s a bonus as many don’t.

Another bonus is the price at around £18.00 here in the UK and that’s cheap enough to be an attractive proposition to any youngster and is also pretty good value for a little piece of Hippie Chic fashion.

Perhaps not for me of course, even though I could look out my old buckskin outfit, with the wide leather belt (with 12 harmonicas in their respective keyed holsters).

Trouble is whilst the Hippie Chic Indie might fit, the flared tight leather jeans certainly would not!

Those darned hips! 😉

Iconic Nite a clear winner

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 2011 T100 Tritium. — 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. — 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”

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.

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”

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! — 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

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 — 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. — 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 - P'6520 in Titanium — 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 — 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!

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.

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. — 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?

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)

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

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!