The analogue display on all three dials of Casio’s new G Shock Gravity Master (GPW-1000) wrist watch is deceptive. What lies beneath State-of-the-art digital time keeping technology backed by solar cells, a GPS receiver and a radio frequency time calibration receiver. While the solar cells backs up the battery that is good for 10 years, the radio receiver gets signals from six time-keeping stations worldwide. If this channel of information doesn’t work, the GPS receiver checks with a minimum of three satellites to determine its exact position on earth and uses this to automatically display the local time — even making allowance for adjustments like daylight saving time.
A dial at 8 o’clock displays the time in any other part of the world, after the user selects any of the world’s 40 time zones displayed along the rim, as abbreviated city names. Another dial at 4 o’clock, if pressed, interrogates the GPS satellites within 7-20 seconds and displays the exact latitude and longitude, even as it sets the local time on the main dial.
At Rs 49,995, this is a chronometer that goes as far as one can go. The GPW-1000 works up to 200 metres below water and has a diamond-hard carbon coating. City slackers are also OK to wear it for that macho feeling.
