More Information
 On: 2007-07-22
Bought this watch a week ago from a local dealer and really like it. Here is the summary:
Liked:
1. The blackout face with subtle digital display looks really nice.
2. All metal construction - does not have any plastic parts to break.
3. Has all the features I really wanted: Analog/digital (with 3 different digital readout areas), EL backlight, countdown timer, chronograph, world time, alarms.
4. Not all that thick with all these features - about as thick as 6 quarters or 10 mm.
5. Can switch top digital display to show either time or date. Bottom digital display can be switched between city or day of week. Left digital display shows current mode.
6. Can set the digital and analog portions to different times to keep track of 2 time zones at once.
7. Very easy to use. The current mode is always displayed on the third digital readout so no guessing.
8. Nice looking, thick crystal which barely sticks out.
9. Solid feel without being too heavy.
10. Band does not grab your arm hair at all.
11. Sweep second hand.
12. Five year warranty - 5 times longer than the Casio watch that I am replacing after it failed.
Possible Downsides:
1. Has a big face which not all guys may like.
2. Digital and analog are set separately so they are not exactly synced.
3. Circular slide rule is functional, but has small numbers - cant imagine anyone actually using it instead of a calculator.
4. Backlight only displays digital portion, not the analog hands (which are luminous). If your default digital display shows date, you will need to change mode to see time using the backlight (easy enough to change mode though).
5. Digital display is subtle which I like since it does not detract from the look of the watch but others may want digital portion to have more contrast.
6. No atomic time or solar. I did not consider these to be essential in a watch but would have been nice - of course these features would have increased the price and thickness which I would not like.
7. Crystal is not recessed. It extends beyond the case just a little so I decided to chance it. Last watch I owned had a crystal that bubbled out quite a bit and I was always scratching it.
I spent 3 weeks comparing watches and almost gave up finding what I wanted. Last watch I owned was an $80 Casio which used plastic piece where the metal pins connected. Of course, the plastic piece broke in less than a year and the replacement did the same just after the 1 year warranty ran out. I vowed the next watch would not have any plastic in it. Paying twice as much does not sound as bad if you can actually use the watch for several years.
Bottom line, this watch may not have every feature but it looks great, is not too thick, is well constructed, and based upon all my research is good value for what you get.
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