Watch Wish List for 2016

 

Comments

[Angelo]

I think therapy would probably cost more than watches----so why not just skip the counseling and just buy more watches? As far as 2016 goes----2015 was by far my biggest watch buying year. I spent more, bought more, basically went on a rampage beginning in very early January and continuing through to as recently as Thanksgiving (waiting for that one). So I believe that 2016 will be "The Big Slowdown" when I will sit back and enjoy my current collection----really take the time to smell the roses----and save thousands of dollars by NOT BUYING IN 2016. My plan is just as realistic as yours!

[herculodge]

I'm with you; avoid therapy and save that money for watches.

[Lee_K]

On October 15 of this year, in the blog posting entitled "Join Me in Celebrating My Completed Watch Collection", I predicted the over/under on Jeff acquiring a new watch would be January 2016. Angelo picked Christmas. Jeff usurped us all by announcing his latest Seiko acquisition and in the Youtube channel comments he let slip out that the SRP655 is gone.

Jeeze Louise, Jeff, are you some kinda Watch Obsessive or something? :)

Me? I'm waiting to see what Santa Claus is bringing and trying very very hard not to succumb to a strong desire to get a square G-Shock GW-5600, a style I have absolutely detested for decades and now suddenly for some strange reason find compelling. I guess that's another part of being a WIS: violent mood swings.

[Gary]

Lee_K,

You might consider a GW-M5610, if radio-controlled time setting is important to you.

If you've got more money to spend, the GW-5000 (JDM screwback) is considered the ultimate square.

Here are a bunch of JDM options:

http://www.g-central.com/japan-only-g-shock-5000-series-watches-to-consider/

[Lee_K]

Thanks for the link, Gary -- that was very informative. I was aware of the GW-5000 and GW-M5610, but the other variants are intriguing. I agree that the 5000 is indeed the ultimate square but wrestle with its price at nearly three times the cost of the 5610. But that's what makes this hobby fun: endlessly debating a purchase with oneself.

[Angelo]

Lee: My recollection is that in the past, Jeff has shunned square face watches----not specifically the G-Shocks, but just square watches in general. As a "collector" I actually like them a lot. I think it's fun to try different case shapes---round, square and everything in between. That Casio is a departure from what I'm used to seeing in a G-Shock and that alone is a plus.

[Lee_K]

Angelo, one of the major reasons that I don't like the Apple Watch at all is due to the square face. I too have never been interested in that form factor. Yet there is something compelling about the G-Shock's heritage beginning with the square that I inexplicably find interesting. Also because of the arrival of winter I find it harder to wear my bulkier Seiko divers and traditional G-Shocks under the layers of long sleeves, sweaters, and jackets so a thinner watch would be appreciated, I think.

[Angelo]

Lee: Honestly, the Apple watch is unappealing to me for a whole host of reasons----and yes, it's grossly unattractive, but I don't think the square face is being replaced with something else would save it for me! I don't favor square watches, but am open to them. I have big Tauchmeister that's thick----a mechanical with a square face and sort of a convex body---just unique and cool looking. I wear it maybe once a month or so, just for a change of pace.

[Gary]

More G-Shock square options:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f17/what-square-2638617.html

[Lee_K]

Thanks again for the link, Gary. I've been haunting WUS's G-Shock forum for a week and this is very timely (ar, ar) thread. I've narrowed it down to two choices for a square form G-Shock: the sensible atomic/solar GW-M5610 with positive display (I'm always tempted by the coolness of negative displays, but then a sobering dose of reality sets in when I see them in real life), and the watch-nerdy atomic/solar GW-5000J with stainless steel frame, and screw-down case back. Which one will I choose? Only time will tell...

[Gary]

Lee - Yes, negative displays look very cool, but I find them much harder to read. My only current watch with a negative display is the ana-digi G-Shock AWG-M100A, but I mostly just use it as an analog watch, so the negative LCD "sub dials" are not that much of an issue.

[Gary]

Lee - I really like the GW-M5610R shown here:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f17/my-three-new-squares-joining-square-family-2643777.html

The orange highlights and orange-tinted display are pretty cool.

[Lee_K]

Yep, that one is neat too. Amazon dropped the price by $20 on the plain GW-M5610-1 and I couldn't resist. It's on its way. I figure I'll decide if my sudden fascination with squares has any longevity and if so I will flip it and go for the GW-5000 sometime in the future. Thanks again for all your help -- it is much appreciated.

[Gary]

Lee - Enjoy your new square. Be sure to check that the tilt sensor works. That seems to be a problem on some GW-M5610 samples.

[Gary]

Lee - With your new square on the way, I thought you might find this info on G-Shock test modes useful. Since your GW-M5610-1 is solar, atomic and has a tilt sensor, all four of these test modes should work. On a basic G-Shock with no solar, atomic or tilt sensor, only the display test works.

G-SHOCK TEST MODES

Note: Tested on G-Shock GW-2310-1 and GW-M850-1

Press and hold the following simultaneously:

Top Left, Top Right & Bottom Left - Tilt sensor test (shows TLT)
Time display area shows blank when not tilted, 8888 when tilted
Press Bottom Right to escape

Top Left, Top Right & Bottom Right- Solar cell test (shows SLR)
Time display area shows blank when exposed to light, 8888 when there is insufficient light
Press Bottom Right to escape

Bottom Left, Bottom Right & Top Left - Display test (and module version)
Press Bottom Right to scroll through various screens and escape

Bottom Left, Bottom Right & Top Right - Time sync hardware test
Shows radio-controlled transmitter countries & frequencies, etc.
Press Bottom Right to scroll through various screens
Press Bottom Left to escape