The Breitling Watch Source Forums

OK guys, after years of resisting the need for a true beater (all my "beaters" have never really been subjected to anything overly tough), I'm in the market for a G-Shock for everything from swimming/snorkeling on holiday, to mountain-biking in all weathers, to use in the gym.

Being completely new to the whole G-Shock thing, I've been scouring the net and the G-Shock website in particular and to be honest, they are confusing things! There seems like a never-ending combination of models with "names" consisting of two letters, followed by four numbers, then a dash, and finally one or two numbers/letters..... or both! (And some people thing Panerai codes are difficult!)

Anyway, I could post links to a number of these models that I quite like, but I think maybe the best thing to do would be to ask for any specific recommendations from you guys here who actually own them.

My specifications are -

1. All black, including black background to the display. The more "stealth" the better.
2. Must be resin. I'm not a fan of the Casio metal or PVD'd cases/straps.
3. Not too tall - OK, so this is fairly unrealistic with any G-Shock, but the less tall the better.
4. Digital display : no analogues please - if I'm going to a G-Shock I want to do it properly!
5. Resistant to as much abuse as possible!

Front runners at the moment are (for all you code freaks!) -

G9000MS-1
GW7900B-1
GD100-1B
DW6900MS-1

Thoughts and recommendations appreciated.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Out of the ones you've selected the hands down winner for me is the GW7900, it's an atomic watch with solar power...I believe the others are all battery powered. There is nothing wrong with a battery powered GShock, I just happen to like the solar/atomic feature. The GW7900 is also the nicest looking of the group in my opinion. I just bought my first GShock last month and I was really surprised with how cool they are and I wear it much more frequently than I thought I would. Mine doesn't meet your criteria due to the analog and digital display but here is a quick shot of the GW3500B-1A. I actually bought 3 GShocks all at once, two being all digital and I much prefered the digital/analog look so I sold the other two (no shock there).

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

I own the G9000MS in both red and black.. Its a great watch, but I think I would have been happier with the GW7900B. My brother is a federal agent and uses his gw7900b on a daily basis and loves it. IT is a little larger but no sweat.

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Breitling Emergency Mission-- Breitling B01--
Chronomatic 24H-- Skyland Blacksteel-- Navitimer World--
Emergency Ti-- Chronomat Evo-- Airwolf-- Skyracer Raven
Bentley GMT-- Motors Speed

Driver,

I'm no expert but I do have two Casio's and they are great!

I have had this one for three years or so, and it has been extremely reliable. I would recommend the tough solar / atomic features. I now pretty much use it for swimming / ATV-ing, tough work etc.

http://www.casio.com/products/Timepiece ... GW530A-1V/

I wanted an upgrade so I purchased this Pathfinder a couple months ago, and it is awesome. I looked at the Suunto Core, but it did not have atomic / solar functions, and I read the battery (although user replaceable) runs out quickly. Plenty of features solar powered, daily atomic updates, altimeter, compass, barometer, thermometer, sunrise / sunset and the list goes on. This has become more and more of a daily watch due to the features. I am ordering a Zulu band for it as I am not a huge fan of the "winglets" under the head of the watch to keep it flat against your wrist. Also, the resin band is OK but I think I will much prefer the Zulu... Now I am just wondering if I should get a 1 piece or 2 piece zulu....

http://www.casio.com/products/Timepiece ... PAW2000-1/

Also, Casio's website prices are much higher than Amazon, walmart etc. Good Luck and welcome to the world of being able to put a watch through complete hell and not worrying about it!

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sco
Breitling Chrono Superocean
Omega Aqua Terra 8500
Rolex Submariner Date Ceramic

Check out the Ga-110c in smoke carbon . I posted a pic below, just bought it 2 days ago at Nordstroms.com 79.99 on sale, Helluva watch ,and the color is nice!!! charcoal smokey black.

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One Watch At A Time.

My buddy just bought that watch today (in white) from Nordstroms and LOVES it! Looks great!

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"

I saw the white , but just had a feeling it would turn yellow after awhile so I chose the black carbon , its a real unusual color. I was gonna tell you about it but I didn't think you liked G-Shocks.

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One Watch At A Time.

all great choices, but for alternatives, what these "black holes" (photos ripped from the interwebs)

Casio PAW 1500 and PRW 1300 respectively - good luck in your hunt

driver the 7900 b1 is pretty awesome. its solar powered and it automatically sets when you leave the country. plus it has a tides and moon feature. the only thing it doesnt do is your taxes

I've got 4 G-Shocks plus a Pathfinder.

The 7900 is by far my favourite of the G-Shocks. Mine is the white non-solar non-atomic model. It's the most comfortable of the lot to wear because the strap is a good shape and there are little curved pieces underneath where the strap meets the lugs. It looks good on the wrist as well - it has a chunky look that my other G-Shocks don't quite have.

I believe there is a black atomic 7900 model with a black display background. Not sure whether it's also solar (I don't really pay any attention to the atomic models because the atomic feature doesn't work in Australia).

You should also look at Pathfinders (or Protreks, which look the same), I love mine. The two that rockmastermike has posted look great.

Thanks for all your responses guys. OK, on the basis of your recommendations and a bit more research on my part, I've just ordered myself a GW7900B-1. I went for the solar, atomic, negative display version : this one in fact - http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... FgQ8wIwAA#

I paid just over $100 USD, which seems like a good deal to me anyway, but given the current exchange rate, it's even better IMO. It sure as hell doesn't qualify as a small watch, but considering it's going to be used for sport, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Just as an aside (and this shouldn't remotely be a surprise to me given that I've been a member here for 4 years now), but it never ceases to amaze me how helpful the membership here is, even on topics that aren't Breitling related. Contrast this to certain other forums and there's a marked difference. I won't give examples as intra-forum bitching does no-one any good, but this place is in a league of it's own.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

G-Shock..................Driver......................Driver.........................G-Shock.

Didn't expect those words to go together.

But you will be surprised, and you will have the true beater you are looking for.

Ian

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Navitimer World, Callistino.
Omega Speedmaster Moon, Hamilton 992B, Steinhart BS LEII #2, B&R 01-92 Heritage

Yeah, you and me both!

No to be honest I feel odd if I don't have a watch on and it's been a long time since I've had anything I'd be happy wearing for mountain biking or in the gym, or for any other "rough stuff". (Basically I've not owned a quartz for a long long time). The G-Shock seems like the perfect solution for that.

I just watched the testing videos on the G-Shock website - wow, pretty amazing stuff to see them actually tested to 200m under the sea instead of just a pressure chamber. Plus the one that's frozen into the middle of a block of ice, and it's still ticking away.

Bizarrely, I'm actually really quite excited about getting one!

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I have the same exact G-Shock..the only difference is the writing on the top and bottom is in red instead of grey like yours. Also the hour makers have a chrome look to them so I can read the analog time a little easier. I absolutely love mine...I wear it every morning to when I exercise, when I go to the pool, and a good portion of the weekend. It is so light that I don't realize it is even on my wrist, and I am never worried about beating it up. If I do then I will just buy another one for what they cost.

Are they still on sell for $79? If so I might go pick up another one.

I gotta ask, why do you guys in UK call it 'holiday' and not vacation?

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"