It’s been a long time coming, but it is finally here. Well, almost – it will actually go on sale only next year. Just days ago, Apple finally lifted the veil off its new smart watch, which is simply called the Apple Watch. Now, and even before it was unveiled, many are calling it the game changer, believing that it will have a profound and massive impact on the wearable technology industry. They are probably right; the watch is well made, looks relatively stylish, and has some good functionality. But what does it mean for the rest of the watch industry? Well, our Editor-in-Chief and founder Ariel weighs in with his thoughts.
Apart from the Apple Watch, we also check out another “smart” watch, albeit a more traditional one, in the form of Casio’s MRG-G1000. Find out why it is called the ultimate G-Shock in our hands-on article. Other new watches we checked out recently include Zenith’s very vintage-looking Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 GMT 1903, Cartier’s new Calibre Diver, and a personal favorite of mine, the Audemars Piguet “Jumbo” Ref. 15202. We also take a look at three interesting watches from independent brands Sarpaneva, Speake-Marin, and Habring2. Finally, we end off by looking at how American watch buyers’ tastes and buying habits have changed over the past two decades
1. Casio G-Shock MR-G Comes To America With Titanium Case & GPS, Is $3,000
If Switzerland is home to the most complicated mechanical watches, Japan could arguably be said to be home to the most complicated digital or quartz watches. The new G-Shock MRG-G1000 from Casio is possibly the ultimate G-Shock. Like all G-Shocks, it is extremely shock resistant, hardy and tough, featuring Tough Solar power regeneration and also Tough Movement. What’s more, it features a GPS atomic function, which means that it can detect your location via GPS and then sync the time accordingly – not unlike the new Seiko Astron. If you appreciate high-end quartz watches, few come with as many features and gizmos as the new MRG-G1000.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 GMT 1903 Watch Hands-On
I have always been fascinated by Zenith’s Pilot Type 20 watches. What started as a limited edition 57.5mm watch in 2012 slowly grew into something of a sub-collection within Zenith’s Pilot collection of watches. And one of the new Pilot Type 20 watches this year that is based on that original limited edition watch from two years ago is the Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 GMT 1903 – a mouthful, I know. This watch, which commemorates the Wright Brothers’ first flight, is more reasonably sized at 48mm, but what is unique about it is its aged look. From the specially selected bund strap down to the aged lume, this watch looks as if it was really from 1903.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. 10 Interesting Facts About Marc Newson’s Watch Design Work At Ikepod
If you need any more proof that Apple is serious about wearables, the company has just hired another luminary from the fashion and luxury business, Marc Newson. Of course, Newson’s work is not just limited exclusively to fashion – he has designed furniture as well – but he is arguably (at least among horological circles like ours) most famous for his work on the watch brand Ikepod. Needless to say, it is very likely that the design of future Apple wearables will be heavily influenced by Newson. Here are 10 interesting facts about Newson’s design work at Ikepod.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. Cartier Calibre Diver Watch Review
Cartier has been making some really impressively complicated watches lately, but one of its stars this year is actually a relatively simple watch that tells only the time and date. I’m talking about the Cartier Calibre Diver watch. Despite its simple looks, it is actually an ISO 6425-certified dive watch. I’m not going to go into specifics, but it takes a lot more than just a diver’s bezel and 300 meter of water resistance to be ISO 6425 certified. And apart from being durable, Cartier also wanted its dive watch to be slim and classy enough for owners to take it from the beach to boardroom. All in all, I hope you can appreciate the strict criteria that the Calibre Diver watch has to meet.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Your Feedback Is Requested In Regard To The Future Of Watch Media
As Ariel puts it, managing a media business like ours that thrives on providing content to well-educated readers can be tricky. One of the tricky aspects is balancing growth while maintaining editorial integrity. And to do that we are seeking your opinion. Please, if you love reading our articles and care for the future of this site, I urge you to spend a few minutes to read what Ariel has to say and leave some comments below in the article. All opinions are welcomed.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. How Screwed Is The Watch Industry Thanks To The Apple Watch?
Just a few days ago, Apple announced its smart watch. Called simply the Apple Watch, it is capable of displaying notifications from your iPhone and it also has some built-in functions such as a fitness and health tracker and a heart rate monitor. Prior to the launch, many have been hyping and raving about the watch, with some people even claiming that it will herald the end of the Swiss watch industry. But now that we know more, just how “screwed” is the rest of the watch industry? Ariel shares his thoughts.
Source: aBlogtoWatch