Here is an announcement we can really get excited about. Canada’s Momentum Watches has announced a very cool looking titanium aviator that features both GMT and alarm complications. This new model is called the Vortech GMT and, given its feature set, should make for a very practical and easy-to-wear watch. This new model will be available soon and sports a 44mm titanium case with a lug to lug distance of 53mm and is powered by a Swiss ISA8176/1990 quartz movement.
We love the Vortech GMT’s simple aviator style, the subdued case design, and the additional contrast provided by the red and yellow hands for the Alarm and GMT settings, respectively. Momentum is claiming the alarm is quite loud and that pricing will start at a very reasonable $285 with a yet-to-be-priced option for a sapphire crystal (the base model uses mineral glass). Even among other quartz competition, that is a strong feature set, clean styling and a wearable size, all for under $300! We are going to do the right thing and kindly beg to get one in for review, because after all, if you’re going to go quartz, it should have an alarm (and a GMT).
Check out our past Momentum reviews here.
Archimede Watches is a small German brand which has been producing mechanical sport watches since 2003. Archmiede is part of the German company Ickler which also produces Limes Watches, Autran & Viala, and Defacto. In 1924, Karl Ickler founded this case manufacturing business in Pforzheim (Germany) and, after being relaunched by his sons in 1947, Ickler has been manufacturing cases ever since. This interesting company is still controlled by the Ickler family, now three generations older, with one Thomas Ickler currently managing operations.
Being a house brand for a case manufacturer is a good recipe for quality and individuality as it means Archimede watches are not fitted with catalog cases but rather custom designed options that can be made without relying on external manufacturers. Archimede has a loyal following in the watch enthusiast community thanks to many strong designs, competitive pricing, and a wide range of options.
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I like analog-digital watches, and Casio makes some of the best. Today we review the GW-3500B-1A, a new entrant from their Aviation series of G-Shocks. Designed for flying and high acceleration, this reverse-LCD model is on the high end of the line:
- Case is 49.1mm by 16.4mm, 75g, rubber and plastic with stainless steel caseback.
- Domed mineral crystal
- Radio set, six bands ‘atomic timekeeping’, rated to 15 seconds per month in the absence of signal
- Tough solar power and tough movement, where the hands sense and correct their positions as required. Six month power reserve.
- World time, with 48 cities in 29 timezones
- Water resistant to 200m (660ft)
- Four daily alarms and a fifth with snooze function
- 1/100th of a second stopwatch, up to 24 hours
- 1 hour countdown timer
- Lumed hands, indices and bezel section plus auto-activating LED backlight.
- Rated for up to 12G of acceleration.
- List price: $260USD.
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Big, bold and analog: this is the GW-3000, from the G-Shock Aviation line. Today we review the GW-3000B, the version with an orange dial and metal bracelet. Let’s get started with the basic features and measurements:
- Available in blue or orange with a PVD case, and orange/white with a unplated steel case.
- Tough solar power, 5 month power reserve
- 6-band atomic timekeeping, accurate to within 15 seconds per month if no signal.
- Tough movement (this means the hands check and realign themselves if knocked out of place)
- Rated for up to 12G of centrifugal force, in case you fly extreme acrobatics.
- 1/100th of second stopwatch, measures up to 24 minutes.
- 29-zone world time
- Daily alarm
- Second time display on 3 o’clock subdial
- PVD-coated case and bracelet
- Domed mineral crystal
- Water resistant to 200m (660ft)
- Superluminova on hands and indices
- 16.2mm thick by 49mm, 135g
- Bracelet is 4mm thick, springbar pins, PVD plated, tapering from 26mm to 16.5mm. Double pushbutton signed clasp.
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Bell & Ross has just caught my eye with one of the more interesting aviation watches I've seen in some time: the Instrument BR 01-92 Compass.
As you can see, the design is inspired by a traditional aviation compass. Rather than hands that move around a dial, the movement contains two disks — one for hours and one for minutes — that rotate beneath a stationary vertical line. The time is read through the top window while the other side of the disks are visible through the tinted bottom crystal. Very unique.
Here are the facts:
- Automatic ETA 2892 movement.
- Hours and minutes (no date or seconds).
- Stainless steel 46mm PVD-finished case.
- Screwdown crown.
- Water-resistant to 100 meters (about 330 feet).
- Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating (darkened on the lower portion).
- Leather and rubber strap.
- Limited to 500 pieces.
Nice looking piece, in my opinion. I don't know how long it would take to adjust to telling time using rotating disks rather than hands, but I suspect one would adapt pretty quickly.
No work on pricing or availability as of yet.
By Christian Cantrell
Casio G-Shocks play many roles: fashion icons, hardcore tool watches, respectable divers, etc. Today, we look at something of a new phase for the G-Shock line in the form of a “multi role fighter.” The Casio G-Shock GW-2000 sports aviation styling while retaining the GMT features of many of its older siblings. The GW-2000 combines the radio controlled technology which Casio is now famous for with a refreshed style more reminiscent of the MR-G series.
Let's take a look at the details:
- Mineral glass crystal.
- 47mm at the widest point (wears more like 43mm).
- 15m thick.
- Radio controlled atomic calibrated module.
- Solar powered.
- Stopwatch with a resolution of 1/20th of a second.
- 24-hour countdown timer.
- Alarm.
- Multiple timezones.
- Perpetual calendar (with day and date).
- Water-resistant to 200 meters (about 650 feet).
- Neobright luminous paint.
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If you like analog-digital watches, today's review might just make your day. This is the limited-edition Luminox SR-71 Blackbird, model #9052. Limited to 999 pieces, this seems to be their version of the Omega X-33. Let's start out with the specifications:
- 44mm across, 50mm at the widest point, 15mm thick.
- PVD-finished stainless steel case and bracelet.
- Bracelet is three-link, solid, with solid end links, fliplock, and 23mm lugs.
- Domed sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating.
- Inner dive bezel, operated by a screw-down crown at ten o'clock.
- Tritium tubes on hours, bezel, and hands.
- Reverse LCD display.
- In an interesting twist: it also has an electronic compass.
- Like the X-33, the caseback is a soundboard to increase the volume of the alarm.
- Also like the X-33, the crown is actually a push button; rotating it has no effect.
- 45 month battery.
- ISA quartz movement.
- Water resistant to 100m (330ft).
- Three time zones, countdown timer, alarm, stopwatch, and my favorite: seconds-only mode.
Please read on for the full review.
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Up for review today is the second watch from Prometheus, and it's quite a bit different from the Ocean Diver. The Recon 5 is an handwinding aviator, with the characteristic re-think we've come to expect from Prometheus. Let's get started with some specifications:
- Stainless steel case: 44mm by 10.5mm.
- Sapphire crystal and caseback.
- SuperLuminova hands and indicies.
- Brown leather strap with thorn buckle.
- 22mm lugs.
- Non-screwdown large crown for easy winding and setting.
- Unitas 6497-1 movement: non-hacking, handwinding, 42 hour power reserve, decorated with Geneva stripes, blued screws, and a bit of perlage.
- Water resistant to 50m (165ft).
- List price 269 Euros, or about $366 as of this writing.
Please read on for the full review.
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We've reviewed several Luminox watches and clocks here at Watch Report, and today we're happy to review another: the new F-22 Raptor, model 9282. The brand is clearly moving into more upscale models, and this is a nice example of what they can do.
Let's start with the specs:
- Titanium case, bracelet, and bezel; ion-plated buttons and crown.
- Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
- Ronda 5050 quartz movement with big date, day, 12-hour chronograph, and subseconds.
- 60-click titanium bezel with acrylic inset.
- Water resistant to 200m (660ft).
- Tritium lights on the hour and minute hand, hour markers, and bezel pip (with a contrasting orange tube at 12 o'clock).
- Five-link titanium bracelet (non-tapered) with solid links, solid end links, signed fliplock, and 3 micro-adjustments.
- Signed screw-down crown in ion-plated metal.
- Ion-plated chronograph buttons using a neat pivot design.
- Screwn-down caseback with F-22 engraving.
- 47.8mm across (including the crown) by 15mm thick; 24mm lugs; 140g with all links in the bracelet.
- List price: $1,200.
Please read on for the full review.
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It's very rare to come across a
watch designed with a singular style and aesthetic, but the example we have
in today reflects a tradition of Swiss aviation watches. The AirNautic
AN-24 Pilot is an automatic pilots watch that features a time-proven design
and the backing of a familiar brand.
The AirNautic brand was founded by
Mitch Feig of OCEAN7 Watch Co in order to preserve the aesthetic created by
Yantar watches. Their distinctive 24-hour dial and bright contrasting
colors have carried over under Mitch's guidance, and has allowed a new audience to enjoy a very cool design. We jumped at the opportunity to review the AN-24 Pilot, and here's why:
- ETA 2893-2 24-hour timekeeping. (The dial is based on 24-hours rather than 12.)
- 41.5mm wide and 11.75 mm tall.
- Flat sapphire crystal with internal AR coating.
- Screw down crown.
- 100m (330ft) water resistance.
- 20mm lugs.
- Black leather strap with
signed buckle.
- Date window at 4 o'clock position.
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Here is an announcement we can really get excited about. Canada’s Momentum Watches has announced a very cool looking titanium aviator that features both GMT and alarm complications. This new model is called the Vortech GMT and, given its feature set, should make for a very practical and easy-to-wear watch. This new model will be available soon and sports a 44mm titanium case with a lug to lug distance of 53mm and is powered by a Swiss ISA8176/1990 quartz movement.
