Thoughts on luxury digital watches?

I think it looks incredible! What's the difference with a regular full metal one?

Also, I agree with you on quartz accuracy. I got into the hobby because I was fed up with changing the battery in my watch, so I got interested in mechanical ones. I soon realized that they're too expensive for me, and that I really like accuracy. I now have a Timex mechanical (I still love it), a Pagani Moonwatch meca-quartz, 2 Casios and 2 G-Shocks! The Casios and G-Shocks get the most wrist time for the comfort, functions, accuracy and ease of mind that comes with their toughness. Cheers!

This one has a 25 piece bezel construction instead of the usual 1 piece. They did that to be able to polish every little facet and crevice. And I guess the bezel construction has lead springs in there to actually absorb shock. So that's cool.

And this is made of two titanium alloys from Japan, and also a cobarian (cobalt chromium) bezel.

The DLC coating tops it off. It's really scratch resistant and beautiful in all lighting conditions.

The module is literally the same but with a gold retainer plate instead. Nothing special. The emphasis with this watch was the materials and construction and finishing. But hey, the module is pretty much perfect to me.

Oh and the clasp has a lock button which is nice.

I covered most of it, but lots more details can be found on the watchuseek forums or reddit

Sorry I meant "LEAF" springs. Not lead springs

Wow wow

If you like it , that’s all that matters. Everyone has a preference. I dig digital. Yema had a limited release on a gold w/red digital read out that I still kick myself for not buying it.

That watch is an absolute gem. I have a collection including a Casio Oceanus Manta S6000. As soon as I got it I loved having that quartz movement. But something was missing. A quality digital watch is just as impressive as a automatic. I absolutely count your watch as an impressive grail watch. And that you got it for that price! I tip my hat at you sir.

Yes, no matter what anyone says, I'm always thinking on the inside that this is the watch for me.

Yeah man, I scoured online. Places in the US. Places in Japan. The best price came from my guy at the watch kiosk at the mall. It was sweet buying it in person rather than ordering online. Also, no having to wait for shipping times lol.

But yeah, thank you for the kind words

Thanks! That's already a lot of details and it explains the price difference. You're right about the module, though, it's already a great one!

EDIT: So I wrote all this nonsense, then I looked this watch up. Go ahead and ignore me. If you're going to buy a $4000 G Shock, then I have nothing to say to you. You and I are on completely different wavelengths. Enjoy your watch in good health.

I have a problem with expensive watches that look almost exactly like cheap watches (I'm looking at you Seiko). Expensive alloy, lots of parts, super polishing... it's still a G Shock. It's a G Shock on the inside and looks like a G Shock on the outside. It's a $150 watch tarted up with $100 worth of polishing and $29 worth of materials. So how exactly did we get to $600?

There are many valid complaints about Rolex, but you know what they do well? They don't devalue their expensive watches by making cheaper versions of them. There's no entry-level Daytona. Seiko and Casio should take note and stop making really fancy versions of their very good and affordable watches. To me the $600 G Shock makes no sense because it's only slightly better than the much cheaper version. GS works because the watches don't look like versions of other Seikos. And if a Seiko now costs as much as a GS, why am I not buying a GS? What the hell's the point in it?

It sounds like you know what you want and go for it. Good for you. I didn’t even know this segment existed. My impression is that you are focused on function which is great. Automatics or mechanicals won’t hold a candle to that, but smart watches like an ultra might impact your thoughts, as they are function above all else. Regardless enjoy!

mine is just the regular one. 🥺

Watch mark up is 300%. $129 is parts and labor is $389. The movement, screen, and light is also improved over the 5600. Add it is solar and atomic. That’s your $550 full metal square.

wow ! at 48.00 bucks at walmart my G 5600 was a steal

Im on the fence on this one... with the probable exception of the Rolex Oysterquartz, i dont see quartz watches as anything but daily beaters ... but then, that can change anytime..

That MR-G gotta be a grail watch for many Gshock fans, it looks absolutely gorgeous

Leaving the quartz module out of the picture, the case construction differs a lot in each G-shock metal variant, it is not just about making a simple metal case like a normal watch. The entry-level metal ones around $200 are basically a standard G-shock with a one-piece metal casing and an improved rubber band. With these, there is not much difference from a standard resin G-shock in terms of construction and module.

The $500 ones and above that come on a bracelet are completely different. The case is constructed in a different and more complicated way with multiple pieces to still retain the shock resistance and has a screwed case back, the IP coating on these models is more advanced plus has Casio's proprietary surface treatment on the whole watch for scratch resistance. The digital module gets an upgrade and the analog variants have better-finished dials and indices. And these models are always made in Japan.

The MR-G variants are just Casio showing off its engineering capability with the different metals and exotic alloys. The high-end alloys used in MR-G models don't come cheap and especially the higher-end titanium alloys and Cobarion in their most expensive models are not easy to work with when making tiny machined parts and that reflects in the price of these models. Machining tiny parts out of a metal that is 5 times harder than titanium is not going to come cheap. The photo below shows the number of parts just for the bezel assembly in the model OP has.

In terms of engineering, these models are basically constructed with materials that are superior to most alloys found in luxury watches 3-4 times the price (Precious metals are a different story).

I appreciate you taking the time to explain, and I have to admit that sounds a lot more complicated than I thought. But to me (and I understand this doesn't go for everybody), I can't appreciate the idea of paying that much for something that still looks like the cheap version. I'm sure others see the difference and value here, but I just don't. For that much money, I want something that's it's own thing with it's own design and not something that at first glance appears to be a much cheaper watch. Some will say I'm only concerned with what others think, but that's not so. Watches are about how we feel, and this concept does nothing for me.

I guess I love the rugged concept of the G Shock watches, and I think this is getting away from that. I'm sure it's still rugged, but it's not 10x more rugged. It looks different but not 10x more different. If that's a thing.

If u see it in person, you'll see that it doesn't look cheap at all. Yes, it's the same look, but damn, it's done well

I guess I really am a sucker for the cool engineering stuff that went behind this whole thing. The titanium alloys used are both developed in Japan. And also the bezel. That's so cool. I'm the kind of person that loves all those little details lol

Thank you for the perspective! Im happy that everyone can at least understand my point of view and what I prefer in a watch

Can you do a review after a bit of wrist time?

This was a great post for me as I had no knowledge in this area and now I feel the need to do some digging!

Sadly the only casios I have are a dual sensor, a mission impossible and a Duro so I'm a novice in this field!

Very interesting though!

It’s not that I think they look cheap, it’s that I can’t see how they look like they’re worth that much while also looking like a watch worth so much less.

Yes, let me get another month or so of wear then I will follow up!

You raise great @thekris ! But I'll give a different point of view that might align with @AdamV69

It simply comes down to: we like and value different stuff

I think my Seiko Prospex LX would equally be subject to the criticism your raise - so I'll use it as an example

The thing retails for $8k Canadian! Yes, I got it second hand... and that way also managed to dodge tax, both of which saved me a bundle. But still - ' $5k CAD for a simple boring black Seiko diver!??'... is what I think a lot of the watch community thinks, certainly the average Rolex owner who isn't that into watches that aren't Rolexes.

Q: which one below retails for 8k CAD and which 2 are 400 bucks?

Average person answer: "they are the same thing"😉

In my case, as crazy as it may be to some, I value this watch more than a Seamaster 300 or even the most boring watch ever, a Rolex Submariner (sorry my Rolex friends, just my opinion of course!).

Those watches are steel not titanium, have more delicate balance wheels than my spring drive, keep worse time than my spring drive, don't have cermet bezels (ceramic metal -hard as ceramic, reflects light like polished metal) and aren't limited to 1/200.

I personally think Seiko at the highest levels (this watch and others like it are made by GS and Credor watchmakers) are better watches than Omega and Rolex. Nobody who sees this on my wrist knows this stuff, but I do, and that's enough.

A bonus for me with this watch: the Seiko marketing theme

' bezel, case and second hand evoke the moonlit ocean' .

That statement will make some people vomit, but I sometimes camp on the beach in middle of nowhere and look at the moonlight on the ocean - and so love it!

Some more glamourous pix 🕺

Last point (I promise since this is getting too long!), if nobody ever gives me excited compliments on it, that's cool. I expect I might get a compliments for the SM300 or Sub? For me, it's still not worth the trade off for all the features I get!

Anyway, it's an interesting subject to explore and I don't discount your views. @Deeperblue this thread may be an interesting subject to explore in an issue of #bites ?

I agree. I like all the secret little details that only the owner of the watch is aware of. I like it low key. I haven't gotten one comment on my MRG since I've had it, which is cool. And I'm not afraid of getting robbed in Los Angeles where I work everyday

I think you are spot on with your view. Knowing the stuff you know about your particular seiko is ultimately all that matters. The fact it would fly under almost everyone's radar just makes it more interesting!

Nobody who sees this on my wrist knows this stuff, but I do, and that's enough.

That’s a great point. While I stand by what I’ve said, in the end it’s for each of us to d vide what makes us happy.

I’ll add that I think these high-end Seikos are good looking watches. And while I don’t try to impress others with my watches, I also enjoy that they don’t look like fancier versions of other watches. At some point I hope to own a spring drive watch, but I’d like it to look like a Grand Seiko.

I'll say this...I'd drop 5k on this instead of a glitzy Swiss mechanical.

I agree with this 100%. I just find it crazy that such a small % of watch enthusiasts would agree with us