Hamilton American Classic PSR Digital Quartz Reference H52414130 (similar to H52424130) - A Time When it Became an Industry Disruptor, A Review (plus Video)

I found a tribute watch that represent my birth year (1970). The Hamilton American Classic PSR Digital Quartz Quartz Reference H52414130 (let's call it the PSR from now) is a modern reinterpretation of the famous Hamilton Pulsar. That particular model was Hamilton first digital quartz timepiece.

 

Hamilton PSR on my wrist

The PSR was created to mark the 50th anniversary of Hamilton's key milestone of creating the first digital watch. A short history of the milestone can be found in the next section.  

Casio G-Shock G-SQUAD MOVE GBD-H1000-1A7 - Good First Attempt, A Review (plus Video)

Casio has done it again. The Casio G-Shock G-Squad Move GBD-H1000-1A7 is the next step in intelligent watches. Unlike the ubiquitous smartwatches by Apple, Samsung and many more, the Casio G-Shock G-Squad Move GBD-H1000-1A7 (or the GBD-H1000 for short) remains a watch as it core with additional functionalities to increase its capabilities.

Prior to this model, Casio launched the Casio Pro-Trek WSD-F series in 2016, designed for the great outdoors. This series has in its core the Google Wear OS which makes it a mini-computer for the wrist. Charging the watch was via a magnetic USB charging cable. A load of applications can be downloaded for all kinds of activities such as hiking, fishing and tracking. A touch screen makes it easy to manipulate and control the vast number of applications that can be uploaded. This particular model fits perfectly with the definition of a smartwatch.

In 2018, Casio launched the G-Shock Rangeman GPRB1000 series. This is basically a high-end hardcore G-Shock plus additional sensors such as the Bluetooth and GPS. Casio has taken a different approach on the GPRB1000 series compared to the Protrek WSD series. For the new generation Rangeman, Casio kept the 'watch' as the core instead of creating a 'smart watch'. This factor alone resonates strongly with fans. Casio also introduced a dual power charging system: the traditional solar photovoltaic cell as well as a wireless USB charging cradle.

Casio G-Shock Square Titanium Camouflage GMW-B5000TCM-1JR - The Ultimate Practical G-Shock Square, A Review (plus Video)

I have in my collection two Casio G-Shock squares. The all resin GWM5610BC-1JF and the all stainless steel GMWB5000GD-1ER. You can read a review I wrote on a head-to-head comparison between the two here. It was a long wait for me before I got the metal G-Shock due to the overwhelming demand.

While waiting, in February 2019, Casio announced the ultimate G-Shock Square, the 18 Karat Limited Edition Gold G-Shock 'Pure Gold' G-D5000-9JR. Only 35 pieces will be made and this has an MSRP of YEN7,700,000 or USD70,000. I was definitely interested but the pricing definitely it out of contention.

Around the same time news came out that Casio will also be coming out with a titanium model. What got everyone talking was the expected price point of the new model which has been estimated to be three (3) times more than the standard stainless steel unit. Immediately, a lot of not-so-nice comments were made on social media platforms complaining about this (no one commented much about the price on the Pure Gold version though). Since the pricing is not too exorbitant, I decided to hunt for this as well.

Casio G-Shock Full Metal 5000 GMWB5000GD-1ER Black (Similar to GMWB5000V-1ER, GMWB5000-1ER, GMWB5000G-2ER, GMWB5000G-1ER, GMWB5000D-1ER, GMWB5000D-1ER, GMWB5000GD-9ER and GD5000-9JR) - A Must Have, A Review (plus Video)

Since 1983 or over the last 36 years, G-Shock series by Casio has become a cult classic, a must have piece for any serious collector. Casio was lucky to have an engineer by the name of Kikuo Ibe who wanted to create and make the most durable and reliable watch on Earth.

With the launch of the first G-Shock in 1983, the DW-5000C, a number of key innovations were introduced such as keeping the timekeeping module suspended inside the casing with only a few points of contact to reduce shock transmission, capable of withstanding 200 meters of water pressure and could withstand falls of up to 10 meters onto a concrete floor. Since then, the G-Shock has evolved in terms of design and technology. Solar power, Bluetooth connectivity, various sensors as well as GPS have all made it into at least one of the many G-Shock models released over the years. Different materials such as stainless steel and titanium as well as different display styles such as analogue or a mixture of analog and digital have been used to make the series more functional in any situation. No longer would you just find a plain black rectangle shape G-Shock, the range has expended to all shapes, sizes and colours.

Seiko Yellow Digital Wall/Mantlepiece Clock QHL073Y - Fashionably Quirky, A Review

A few months ago I bought a cute digital desk clock by Seiko in collaboration with Coca-Cola (see the review here). A larger model which you can also hang on the wall is now available and I was able to get one. The QHL073Y is bright yellow and looks very much like the clock at the end of the finishing line at an Olympic athletics sports event.

The rectangle digital clock is larger than the standard you get and put on your bedside table. It is 125 mm tall and 50 mm thick. From left to right it measures 290 mm and weighs in at 510 gm. Half the front surface of the clock is taken up by the LCD screen while the other half is left empty except for the large print of the brand in black. The clock casing is painted yellow and made out of plastic.

The clock comes in two operate pieces. One consists of the clock itself while the other is the metal legs. The metal legs slots into two slits cut into the clock at the back.

The clock is powered by two AA batteries. It also comes with a DC jack input minus the plug and wires (sold separately) . The functionality of the watch is rather simple. Apart for the time and calendar, it has a countdown module which can be turned on or off.

Seiko Coca-Cola Desk Clock QHL901R - A Cute Novelty Timepiece, A Review

While browsing in one of my favorite watch shop, I happened to stumble upon a desk clock from Seiko made in collaboration with Coca-Cola. On further investigation, I found that that Seiko and Coca-Cola teamed up together in 2017 to create a series of timepieces to celebrate to two great brands. It would seem that the two companies had a similar history. At exactly the same time as Kintaro Hattori was planning to open his Seikosha factory and to create his first ever wall clock, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Georgia created a drink that would soon sweep the world.

Celebrating the history of the two parties, the clock series comprised of wall and alarm clocks, which all display a distinct retro styling. Coke’s iconic glass bottle and classic red, white and black color scheme serve as the visual elements while Seiko’s precision timing module serve as the engine of the clocks.

SEIKO Prospex Fieldmaster LOWERCASE SBEP001 "Digi Tuna" (similar to SBEP003, SBEP005, SBEP007 & SBEP009) - A Good Start by Seiko to Make a New Niche for Itself, A Review (plus Video)

Seiko is synonymous with the tuna-styled dive watches. It has become a genre on itself and a lot of people (especially professional divers) can vouch for their reliability and effectiveness to handle the extreme of situations. There have never been a fully digital Tuna before but this year, Seiko decided to spring five models under the new SBEP nomenclature.

Made in collaboration with the Japanese design consultants LOWERCASE, Seiko is able to bring something fresh and exciting to an otherwise  bland tuna styling that have not gone through much changes for decades. Lead by Mr. Yuki Kajiwara, creative director of LOWERCASE, the SBEP series amalgamate two important considerations by professional users - damage proof construction (the Tuna casing) and clear visual (digital display). This is not a breakthrough in concept though. There are other brands that already fulfilled this market space, for example Casio Protrek Frogman, but for Seikonstas, this is the first for Seiko.

The SBEP001 is also classified as a Fieldmaster. This nomenclature signifies the watch has been geared specifically for land explorers and adventurers. The ability to withstand 200 meters of water pressure also points to its flexibility to be used for recreational diving as well.

Since this is the first of the SBEP series, I decided to get the SBEP001 to grace the collection.

Seiko Prospex Alpinist Solar Titanium Multi-Sensor SBEB013 (Similar to SBEB015, SBEB017, SBEB019, SBEB035 & SBEB037) – A Good Start Against Established Competitors, A Review (plus Video)

The Seiko Prospex Alpinist SBEB013 is my first solar, digital display and ABC (Altimeter, Barometer & Compass) watch from the Seiko family. It is also the third ABC (Altimeter, Barometer & Compass) multi-sensor watch in my collection. I already have the Casio Protrek as well as the Tissot T-Touch. It would be interesting to note the differences in functionality as well as capabilities of the various makes. I will make such a comparison in a special box section later in this review.

It is difficult to get an example of this watch in Kuala Lumpur as Seiko does not officially offer this model here in Malaysia. Through the internet, via Amazon, I was able to source one from a merchant operating out of Japan. Within a week, the package was on my table.

The Packaging

The SBEB013 comes with a quality double cardboard box package. The outer box uses a thinner cardboard material painted in black with the brand logo as well as the Prospex logo on the top of the box in silver. The dimension of the outer box is 12 cm by 9 cm by 8 cm. Inside this box contains the main watch box as well as the manual, warranty and a special instruction booklet on how to resize the bracelet. Included also is a tool for the bracelet resizing. This is a first time I’ve seen Seiko give a resizing tool as part of the presentation package.

Casio PROTREK Adventure Titanium Triple Sensor Ver. 3 PRW 3000 T7, A Continuation of the Super Tough DNA of a Casio Protrek, yet Capable of Doing More by Virtue of its Smaller Electronics and More Contemporary Design, A Review

It has been a long time since I bought myself a digital watch. The last time it happened was back in August 2009 when I got my Suunto Heart Rate Monitor watch. If I recall, my purpose of buying that watch was to fulfill a need - to track my heart rate as I prepare myself for my first marathon.

In reality, I am not an anti-digital watch-hater that only appreciate mechanical watches. Far from the contrary, I love gadgets and the Casio Protrek series have been on my "must-have" list for a long time. The ability of a watch to locate accurately North has been one of my theme for my watch collection. Currently. I have six watches that could do that (using time and sun). The collage of the collection is provided below.

You will note that all are Seikos. Although I would like to have a watch that could do the same from another brand, the various Casio Protrek models that weree on offer were too big and garish for my liking.

Casio G-Shock G5600-1DR - A Day-To-Day Soldier, A Review

I recently bought for my son a Casio G-Shock G5600-1DR for his day-to-day use. This is the 4th generation basic G-Shock, produced 30 years after the first G-Shock came out of the production line back in 1983.

This model has, like all newer Tough Solar models, has a Power Save function. This function goes to sleep mode when the watch isn't used for some time during daytime. In Power Save mode, the watch can work in the background for about 11 to 12 months.

Like all G-Shock, the watch has the following functions:

• Shock resistant
• Solar powered
• Water resistant 20 ATM
• Dual time
• 1/100-second stopwatch
• Countdown timer (Countdown range: 100 Hour)
• Daily alarms 5 independent daily alarms
• Hourly time signal
• Battery power indicator
• Power Saving
• Auto-calendar
• 12/24-hour format
• Electro-luminescent backlight
• Module: 2597
• 48.9 X 43.0 X 13.7 mm
• Weight: 52.0 g

I tried it and I actually quite like it. It has a nice size that is universal. Not too big and not too small. As I am getting a bit old and starting to have problems focusing on small stuff (need bifocals!), the large digits on the LCD is large enough to not give me problems.