We are starting this roundup with a motley crew of watches, beginning with the super tough G-Shock Mudmaster GWG 1000; and Casio’s very first smartwatch, the WSD-F10. Next, we turn our attention to a perennial favorite of pilot watch lovers, IWC’s Pilot’s Watch Chronograph. And finally, we trudge deep into haute horology territory with Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas watch and HYT’s very precious H1 in full gold.
Switching gears, we take a closer look at the STP 1-11 movement, a movement that was designed to be a replacement for the ETA-2824. Made in Switzerland by STP, a member of the Fossil Group, the STP 1-11 looks set to be a popular alternative for many watch brands once supplies of the ETA-2824 dry up. And finally, let’s talk a bit about value in watches. Phrases like “bang for buck” and “value for money” are thrown around quite freely these days, but what is value really? And how do we judge what is good value for our money? These are some questions that watch buyers should consider.
1. Casio G-Shock GWG 1000-1A3 Mudmaster Watch Review
It was Japanese watch engineer Kikuo Ibe’s desire to create a watch “that won’t break if you drop it” that resulted in the modern marvel that we know today as G-Shock. The Mudmaster is one of the newest collections of G-Shocks and is one of the most durable watches you can buy anywhere today. Designed for rough and tumble use on land, the Mudmaster features a hardy resin case that is water resistant to 200 meters and also, yup, mud. It also has built-in thermometer, altimeter, barometer, and compass functions. Plus, it is solar powered. If the end of days arrives, this is the one watch you want strapped to your wrist.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 3777 Timepieces For 2016 Hands-On
The Pilot collection is easily one of IWC’s most popular lines, and it underwent a major refresh this year. One of the references that got updated is the very popular IWC Pilot Watch Chronograph 3777. Fans of the brand will notice that gone is the controversial “T window” that showed up to three dates at once. Also new this year is a “Le Petit Prince” edition that will be a regular production piece and features a very cool metallic blue dial. The Pilot Watch Chronograph 3777 is one of the more popular entry-level models of IWC’s Pilot collection and I think this model will do very well and will find its way onto the wrists of many watch lovers.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. HYT H1 Full Gold Watch Hands-On
HYT is one of my favorite independent brands because of the unique way their watches tell the time. The use of liquid is truly groundbreaking and really quite whimsical. The H1 was HYT’s first watch and it was released in 2012. Since then, there have been more versions of the H1, and this one comes in a full 18k rose gold case. There’s always a risk that watches with gold cases can end up looking a bit traditional, but I think that the overall look of the full gold H1 has been very well executed. It does look a bit more stately as compared to the regular H1 in titanium, but it’s still a very sporty and avant-garde watch overall.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. Joel McHale Talks Timepieces & Glashütte Original With aBlogtoWatch: One Of Hollywood’s ‘Real’ Watch Guys
Comedian Joel McHale is a bona fide watch nut, and in this article, he talks about his love for watches and Glashütte Original in particular. Glashütte Original is, of course, one of the most prominent watch brands from the tiny German town of Glashütte. It is also, in my opinion, one of the most underrated and overlooked watch brands, and they make some really nice dressy pieces such as their new Sixties Iconic collection and some of their Senator models. Here, we also speak to the CEO of Glashütte Original, Yann Gamard, to find out what the brand is up to these days.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Vacheron Constantin Overseas Watch In Blue Hands-On
To be sure, this isn’t one of the new Overseas watches that Vacheron Constantin released earlier this year. Instead, this watch is a limited edition piece that was released last year in Hong Kong at Watches & Wonder 2015. The newer models are great watches, and I especially like their new interchangeable strap system, but if you are looking for something different and exclusive, then this model – the reference 47040/000A-9008 – is for you. It’s limited to just 350 pieces and the best thing about it is that it’s more affordable than the newer models that were released this year.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Casio WSD-F10 Android Wear Smartwatch Review
In Casio’s opinion, smartwatches aren’t exactly new. According to them, they “have been building smartwatches for years,” and indeed, there’s some truth to that. Equipped with various sensors, many of Casio’s G-Shock and ProTrek models can do more than just tell the time. However, Casio is keen to embrace new technology and the WSD-F10 is their first “modern” smartwatch and it is powered by the Android Wear platform. It’s a handsome-looking watch, not to mention extremely functional.
Source: aBlogtoWatch