Having too many possessions is a problem that a lot of people seem to have these days. While I now I try to avoid collecting unnecessary baggage, I also like to appreciate the things that I do have in my life – big and small. Over this month I’m going to write a few blog posts about these objects that I appreciate. Objects Series.
A couple of years ago I spent months looking around various G-Shock websites looking for the perfect watch. From past experience, I had a number of requirements that had to be met:
- Tough
- Long Lasting
- Analog Display
- Alarm
- World Time
- Solar Powered
- Atomic Timekeeping
- Stop Watch
- Countdown Timer
Though I had to import it from Japan, the Casio GIEZ GS1300B-1 fit all those requirements, and came in an attractive black body. Unlike the majority of G-Shock watches, the labels for the buttons are actually written on the back cover. To me, this is a lovely touch – the information is hidden by default, but easy to learn. This actually makes this model feel significantly more subtle when compared to other models in its G-Shock family.
The front face of the watch may still be seen as complex to some, but it shows only the information required for the function it is performing, and nothing more. The numbers and lettering is bold, clear, and the main hands glow in the dark for hours after being in light.
Under the face there are some invisible features that you’ll never notice. The tough movement ensures that the hands are always pointing in the correct direction – even after a knock, the time is calibrated every day from radio signals, it’s 200 meter water resistant and it saves battery power by turning off the second hand when it is dark.
To me this device shows how a timepiece can be a functional tool, as well as being well designed and attractive. There is a theme behind the design of this watch, to enable to user to know what time it is based on the criteria they are interested in.
Previous watches of mine have tried to do too little or too much, and out of all technological trinkets I own today – this is my favourite piece.