Gang-
Finally, after about 4-5 weeks of flailing around, I picked up the M630-3AJF Ana-digi Field watch. I've had it now about 7-8 days and am very impressed with it. I came over from a couple 42mm Citizen Eco-Drives field/pilot-ish watches but wanted a day/date function. 42mm steel case, rotating around a wrist all day . . . the Citizen watches just seemed increasingly chunky, heavy and in the way. So, I wanted to downsize to a 40mm size or so. I liked the field watch look, the black Casio seemed a little severe to me . . . most of us might admit a Hamilton Field Auto in 38mm is probably the poster child for this type of watch.
However, this watch is really really close to that and in some ways, better. Fit & finish for a $122 watch is impressive. Easily competes with other Japanese and some lower end Swiss up to $300-$400. (You could justify paying another $150 for this watch and not bat an eye). The solar is great with the indicator showing me state of charge. The nightly syncing is amazing. I'm out west about 800 miles from Fort Collins, CO. Every night, about 20-30 seconds after midnight, it does its 3-4 minute cycle, grabs the signal and updates the analog time from the atomic clock. The second hand hits every marker dead-on and (equally important), the minute hand does 6 little advances every minute and points dead nuts at each indicator tick-mark around the watch face. There is amazing and precise technology in these watches. Dial color looks darkish grey in a flat light and a dark chocolate color in bright light.
Delivery from Japan was slightly more than 5 days (I picked a seller in the Tokyo area) and it came via Fed-Ex. No customs issues or additional charges. Quick specs review- 42mm wide at 3 and 9 wings or ears, presents (looks) like a 38-39mm diam, 11mm high, 20mm strap, L to L about 45mm, acrylic crystal and about 93 grams with resin/steel case and strap. 50 meters water resistance. It's easy to download a user manual from the 'net. There are numerous variations and three or four color options if you don't like the numbers.
A bit of the downside- (the strap). Nice looking, decently made and impossible to wear. Like others have said, plan on a replacement. I changed to a Benchmark Basics in grey canvas . . . will need a break-in period but at least this bends and conforms to a human wrist which the original does not. Stock strap removal is tricky because I think there are only two locations to depress the spring bars (one each side) and not four. Much profanity could be involved. Also, be careful on the overall sizing. If your watch needs are in the 37-39mm size, this will work fine. If you're into a bigger diameter watch than that, this won't be your huckleberry (thanks to Val Kilmer/Tombstone). Returning a too small watch to Japan will run you $35+.
So, there it is, maybe a 39-40mm presentation look and a better strap would give this watch a solid A, it's certainly a B+ for all the other cool aspects about it.
Kevin
Finally, after about 4-5 weeks of flailing around, I picked up the M630-3AJF Ana-digi Field watch. I've had it now about 7-8 days and am very impressed with it. I came over from a couple 42mm Citizen Eco-Drives field/pilot-ish watches but wanted a day/date function. 42mm steel case, rotating around a wrist all day . . . the Citizen watches just seemed increasingly chunky, heavy and in the way. So, I wanted to downsize to a 40mm size or so. I liked the field watch look, the black Casio seemed a little severe to me . . . most of us might admit a Hamilton Field Auto in 38mm is probably the poster child for this type of watch.
However, this watch is really really close to that and in some ways, better. Fit & finish for a $122 watch is impressive. Easily competes with other Japanese and some lower end Swiss up to $300-$400. (You could justify paying another $150 for this watch and not bat an eye). The solar is great with the indicator showing me state of charge. The nightly syncing is amazing. I'm out west about 800 miles from Fort Collins, CO. Every night, about 20-30 seconds after midnight, it does its 3-4 minute cycle, grabs the signal and updates the analog time from the atomic clock. The second hand hits every marker dead-on and (equally important), the minute hand does 6 little advances every minute and points dead nuts at each indicator tick-mark around the watch face. There is amazing and precise technology in these watches. Dial color looks darkish grey in a flat light and a dark chocolate color in bright light.
Delivery from Japan was slightly more than 5 days (I picked a seller in the Tokyo area) and it came via Fed-Ex. No customs issues or additional charges. Quick specs review- 42mm wide at 3 and 9 wings or ears, presents (looks) like a 38-39mm diam, 11mm high, 20mm strap, L to L about 45mm, acrylic crystal and about 93 grams with resin/steel case and strap. 50 meters water resistance. It's easy to download a user manual from the 'net. There are numerous variations and three or four color options if you don't like the numbers.
A bit of the downside- (the strap). Nice looking, decently made and impossible to wear. Like others have said, plan on a replacement. I changed to a Benchmark Basics in grey canvas . . . will need a break-in period but at least this bends and conforms to a human wrist which the original does not. Stock strap removal is tricky because I think there are only two locations to depress the spring bars (one each side) and not four. Much profanity could be involved. Also, be careful on the overall sizing. If your watch needs are in the 37-39mm size, this will work fine. If you're into a bigger diameter watch than that, this won't be your huckleberry (thanks to Val Kilmer/Tombstone). Returning a too small watch to Japan will run you $35+.
So, there it is, maybe a 39-40mm presentation look and a better strap would give this watch a solid A, it's certainly a B+ for all the other cool aspects about it.
Kevin
