I believe that smartwatches, or some form of smart wearables, are the future. It is only a matter of time. They won’t replace our good old mechanical watches, but I think they will become more relevant and useful as technology improves. So in this round-up, you will find an overview of the smartwatch market today and also highlights of some of the most popular smartwatches on sale.
Next, we have a smattering of watches from the Land of the Rising Sun, beginning with the humble G-Shock GWX5600C-7. This watch is special because it is said to be similar to only one of two G-Shock watches that G-Shock inventor, Kikuo Ibe, owns. Next, we have the return of the Seiko Samurai, specifically the Prospex Blue Lagoon Samurai limited edition watch. And finally, we have the absolutely sublime Grand Seiko SBGA011, a watch with one of the most remarkable dials in all of watchmaking.
1. Casio G-Shock GWX5600C-7 ‘Kikuo Ibe’ Watch Review
There are an unfathomable number of G-Shock watches, but the humble GWX5600C-7 is one of the more special ones simply because it is a model similar to one of only two watches that Kikuo Ibe owns. Who’s Kikuo Ibe? He is the inventor of the G-Shock. Actually, it is not hard to see why. The GWX5600C-7 is simple, quite understated (apart from its rather bright white case), and embodies all of the qualities and traits that we have come to love from a G-Shock watch. It is hardy, tough, and comes packed with all the features and functions that just about anyone could want – chronograph, world-timer, alarm, it is all there. G-Shock fans should definitely consider adding the GWX5600C-7 to their collection.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
2. Seiko Prospex Blue Lagoon Samurai SRPB09 Limited Edition Watch Review
If you are a big Seiko fan, then you probably know that one of the hottest and most sought-after watches of the past couple of months is the limited edition Propsex SRPB009 watch, or more affectionately and simply known as the Blue Lagoon Samurai. Why is this watch so popular? One of the reasons is because the new Blue Lagoon Samurai is based on the original Samurai (SBDA003), which was produced from 2004 and then suddenly discontinued in 2008. It was a good-looking watch and had always been popular among Seiko fans, so its discontinuation left fans puzzled. The other reason is quite simply because it’s a good-looking watch that offers lots of bang for the buck.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
3. A Look At Smartwatches In 2017 So Far
Lovers of mechanical watches, I come with bad news – smartwatches are here to stay. But more importantly, I think it is only a matter of when, and not if, it becomes truly mainstream. This year, TAG Heuer reaffirmed its commitment to smartwatches when it announced its second-generation smartwatch – the Connected Modular 45 – while Montblanc also signaled its smartwatch ambitions with its new Summit watch. Here is an overview of the smartwatch scene this year so far and what you can expect in the world of smartwatches.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
4. How The High-End Watch Industry Is Robbing Itself Of Relevancy & What To Do About It
If you live in a watch-crazy city like I do, chances are that you will see a couple of watch advertisements every day. But of all the watch advertisements that you see each day, how many actually make sense? That’s a big problem that the watch industry is facing today. Business is bad, but generally speaking, a lot of watch brands do a bad job when it comes to marketing and selling themselves. Of course, there are a couple of brands who do well, but that’s mostly because they have the luxury of a strong heritage and high desirability, but even they will soon find themselves in trouble if they do not appeal to a wider and younger audience. In this article, we discuss some of the problems that watch brands are facing, the mistakes they are making, and also offer some insights and possible solutions.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
5. Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days PAM 700 Watch Hands-On
For me, the most innovative watch to come out of SIHH 2017 was the Panerai LAB-ID Luminor 1950 Carbotech 3 Days, or more simply known as the PAM 700. Why? Because it is an amalgamation of high-tech materials that actually has real-world, practical benefits. The case, for example, is made out of Carbotech, which is extremely light and yet strong. This makes it comfortable to wear and also ultra-resistant to scratches. But most of all, the movement is made of tantalum-based ceramic and the silicon escapement is DLC-coated, which means the watch does not need any kind of lubrication. As a result, Panerai was able to provide a 50-year-long warranty on this watch. 50 years! If that doesn’t impress you, I don’t know what will.
Source: aBlogtoWatch
6. Hublot Big Bang Sang Bleu Watch Hands-On
Hublot has a lot of limited edition watches, but most of them are simply tweaks and variations of existing references – new dial colors, new case materials, new straps, that kind of stuff. But as you can see from the photo above, the Big Bang Sang Bleu is an entirely new take on the Big Bang. The case has been dramatically reworked, and the dial is completely unrecognizable from your typical Big Bang watch. Find out what the inspiration is behind this radical Big Bang watch in this article.
Source: aBlogtoWatch