Baselworld 2017 – New Casio MR-G Info

MRG-G2000HT

“KASUMI-TSUCHIME”

Bluetooth^®-EQUIPPED GPS HYBRID WAVE CEPTOR
+ JAPANESE CRAFTSMANSHIP

Japan’s proud advanced technologies and traditional technical skills merge in MR-G.
Its ability to receive standard time radio waves, GPS satellite signals and Bluetooth^® transmissions enables it to acquire accurate time information in any location on Earth under virtually any conditions.
Metal exterior surfaces are finished with a traditional kasumi-tsuchime hammering technique.
And Japan Blue indigo, a representative color in Japanese traditional craftsmanship, is applied with blue DLC coating.
The true staying power of traditional beauty is embodied in this 500-piece numbered limited edition model of MR-G, the flagship series in the G-SHOCK line.

3-way Time Sync

Bluetooth^®-equipped GPS Hybrid Wave Ceptor

Accurate timekeeping is assured by the installation of three advanced time-correction systems: terrestrial radio wave reception (Multi Band 6), GPS satellite signal reception and Bluetooth^® transmission. The most appropriate system is selected automatically depending on the conditions, and the correct time is displayed for the current time zone anywhere in the world.Accurate timekeeping is assured by the installation of three advanced time-correction systems: terrestrial radio wave reception (Multi Band 6), GPS satellite signal reception and Bluetooth^® transmission. The most appropriate system is selected automatically depending on the conditions, and the correct time is displayed for the current time zone anywhere in the world.

Traditional beauty through the
application of KASUMI-TSUCHIME

Kasumi-tsuchime metal hammering applied to the bezel and center band pieces creates a unique patterning effect known as kasumi-tsuchime.
When applied to forge-cast titanium, the pattern changes depending on the angle of the hammer’s edge and the force with which it is struck. Products are completed one by one with great care by craftsmen drawing on their experience and skill in a labor-intensive process that leaves no piece with the same appearance as another.

After hammering, the watch parts undergo deep layer-hardening processing.
A DLC coating is then applied to reinforce the surface’s abrasion resistance, moreover, and to preserve its beauty far into the future.

The external surface of the MRG-G2000HT is patterned by bold but delicate strokes of craftsmen’s hands applying traditional kasumi-tsuchime metal hammering.
This forging technique, in which metal is pounded with a hammer, has long been used to form robust metal products such as armor and copperware. The technique has been passed down to modern times by skilled masters of the craft through a history of over 1,200 years. Bihou Asano is among these distinguished masters. Born into a Kyoto family steeped in this tradition,he continues to create products using the traditional techniques, while also undertaking restoration and reproduction of national treasures of the metalworking arts.
His activities reflect a commitment to taking up new product manufacturing challenges while continuing his family tradition. It was because this conviction resonated with MR-G that the present collaboration was initiated.

KASUMI-TSUCHIME

–Hammer tone–

The bezel and center band links are finished with traditional Japanese kasumi-tsuchime hammering.
A special hammer is used to individualize each indentation.

Blue DLC

A blue DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating is applied to the bezel, case back and metal plate at 10 o’clock.
The difficult-to-reproduce indigo color known as “Japan Blue” is achieved through a laborious process.

 

Dual disk displays

The date and function displays are operated by two independently driven disks.
The city code and function are displayed in a small window at 3 o’clock.

 

All very exciting stuff. Arizona Fine Time is thrilled to have these new MR-G’s coming to us very soon. For more information, feel free to contact us at the shop. Thanks for reading!

Arizona Fine Time

1-800-486-3996

Baselworld 2017 – Brand New Grand Seiko Collection

BASELWORLD 2017 – GRAND SEIKO NEW RELEASES

Grand Seiko is a brand that seldom disappoints. Every year around this time, Grand Seiko enthusiasts swarm blogs and press release links looking for Seiko’s new Baselworld 2017 releases. This year is no exception. It is with great enthusiasm that we here at Arizona Fine Time present to you: Grand Seiko’s 2017 Baselworld Releases, Part One!

For many years, the Grand Seiko Diver’s watches have been in great demand from recreational diver models. Today, the meticulous standards of Grand Seiko are expressed in a professional diver’s watch for the first time. With a titanium case, an exclusive 9S Hi-Beat caliber and exceptional anti-magnetism ability, this new creation, with the Grand Seiko Logo at the twelve o’clock position, pushes back the boundaries and takes Grand Seiko into an entirely new realm.

A Professional Diver’s Watch, Made the Grand Seiko Way

All the characteristics of Grand Seiko are here. Outstanding precision of -3 to +5 seconds a day, superb legibility, high durability, thanks to the high-intensity titanium case and bracelet and the distinctive clean edges that only Zaratsu polishing can achieve. This is unmistakably a Grand Seiko and yet no compromise is made in satisfying the needs of the professional diver. The case is designed for saturation diving, with the valve-free helium resistance that results from Seiko’s innovative technologies, including the heavy duty construction and the L-shaped gasket. The grooves on the rotating bezel are extended for secure use, even with thick gloves. The bracelet has a sliding extension setting to accommodate pressure changes. Even the dial is purpose built for this specific use. It is made of iron to protect the movement from the harmful effects of magnetism and delivers magnetic resistance of 16,000A/m (anti-magnetic protection). The whole watch and all of its components are built for long-term use; the case, stem and crown are designed for secure servicing and even the bezel has a four-part design that makes for easy disassembly and re-assembly.

A Limited Edition Leads the Way Forward.

The Grand Seiko Hi-Beat 36000 Professional 600m Diver is offered in two variations. The first is a limited edition that is offered with an extra-strength silicone strap alongside the high-intensity titanium bracelet. The strap is in the deep Grand Seiko blue to match the dial. Just five hundred of this limited edition will be made. The second version has a black dial and will be a permanent part of the Grand Seiko Collection. Both versions will be available August 2017 or earlier. Call Arizona Fine Time now to put your pre-order down for this brand new release. Spots are limited!

 

The Black Ceramic Collection.

Titanium and Ceramic in Perfect Harmony.

In 2016, Grand Seiko expanded into the sports realm by presenting a limited edition of four Spring Drive watches executed in a dramatic combination of high-intensity titanium and zirconia ceramic with crocodile straps. This series was widely admired. For 2017, Grand Seiko will further widen its appeal of the brand and enrich the variation in the sports arena. Three new creations are added, all with the same sports design and a remarkable new hybrid titanium-ceramic bracelet construction. The new series also features a more powerful dial design with the Grand Seiko logo under the eleven o’clock position. This new collection will be available worldwide June 2017.

A sports watch of enduring beauty

The essential characteristics of Grand Seiko, precision, legibility, comfort and durability are nowhere more prominently expressed than in these new creations. The Spring Drive Chronograph may well be the most accurate luxury chronograph in the world, offering a precision of one second a day or, in the case of the limited edition model, ten seconds a month. The dial is supremely easy to read, thanks to the diamond-cut hands and markers, extended GMT and minute hands and the Lumibrite inserts on the hands as well as the markers. The watch is also delight to wear, primarily because of the light-weight hybrid titanium-ceramic case and bracelet. As the zirconia ceramic¹ parts are raised slightly above the level of the titanium, the bracelet is virtually impervious to scratches and will retain its pristine appearance just as long as the watch case itself. Remarkably, given the technical difficulty of polishing ceramics, the ceramic parts in the center of the bracelet are polished to a mirror finish and the signature Grand Seiko sharpness of the angles on each component has been achieved.

¹Zirconia ceramic is stronger and tougher than any other fine ceramic and seven times harder on the Vickers scale than stainless steel.

The collection comprises three versions, of which the undoubted star is the limited edition, created to mark the tenth anniversary of the Spring Drive Chronograph GMT caliber. It is different in both function and design. The bezel has a tachymeter and, as noted above, the caliber, 9R96, is specially adjusted for enhanced accuracy. The Grand Seiko blue is matched for the first time with the rose gold tone of the hands and markers and the oscillating weight carries an 18k rose gold Grand Seiko lion to mark the enhanced precision. The 18k rose gold Grand Seiko logo also graces the buckle.

 

Grand Seiko Black Ceramic Collection: SBGC219, 221, 223

Spring Drive Chronograph GMT 9R96 (SBGC219), 9R86 (SBGC221, 223)

Driving system: Automatic
Power reserve: 72 hours
Accuracy: 9R96 ±0.5 seconds per day (±10 seconds per month)
9R86 ±1 seconds per day (±15 seconds per month)
GMT hand
Chronograph up to 12 hours
Number of jewels: 50

Specifications

High-intensity titanium and ceramic case
High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Screw see-through case back, Screw-down crown
Water resistance: 10 bar
Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 46.4mm, Thickness: 16.2mm
High-intensity titanium and ceramic bracelet with three-fold clasp with push button release

Limited edition of 500 pcs (SBGC219)

 

The First Grand Seiko, Re-Created in Platinum, Gold, and Steel.

The majority of the first Grand Seiko models were produced in a 80 micron gold-filled case but some were also made in platinum. The new re-creations are therefore offered in both these metals and also in stainless steel. The case is virtually identical to the original, but its diameter has been increased to 38mm in line with contemporary taste. The dual-curved sapphire crystal is also loyal to the original shape and gives the re-creation the same pleasingly gentle profile.

The platinum version uses Platinum 999 and has 18k gold hour markers, just as on the original. The base of the dial is also in gold, which allows the Grand Seiko logo to be particularly sharp in its outline and detail. The gold version uses 18k gold for the entire case and all the hour markers, while the stainless steel version also has a gold accent in the form of the Grand Seiko lion emblem embedded in the case back. All three versions incorporate the 9S64 manual winding caliber, but the platinum version has been adjusted to an even higher level of precision, -1 to +5 seconds per day. All of them are offered as limited editions, each with a special “Inspection Certificate” and are available from March 2017.

 

 

A New Case Material and a New Caliber

Honoring Its Predecessor

The modern re-interpretation of the 1960 Grand Seiko is true to the pioneering spirit of the original Grand Seiko design team. It incorporates a new automatic caliber, 9S68, which makes possible a larger date window and the case is made of Brilliant Hard Titanium, a new material that is exclusive to Grand Seiko and that is as light as pure titanium but twice as hard as stainless steel, which increases still further its scratch resistance. The case design is a remarkable fusion of the ethos of the 1960 watch with the design character of today’s Grand Seiko. The hands are long and their edges are highly polished in the Grand Seiko style, the lugs are narrow and the case sides are recessed to give the same slim profile as the original. Many surfaces have the distinctive sharpness and unique brightness that only the Zaratsu polishing of the new titanium could achieve. One striking difference is that the new creation has an exhibition case-back, through which the 9S68 movement and its high quality finish can be enjoyed, proving perhaps that it is possible to both respect and re-invent even the finest of traditions. This watch will be available from July 2017.

The re-creation of the first Grand Seiko: SBGW251, 252, 253

Caliber 9S64

Driving system: Manual winding
Vibrations: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Accuracy: -3 to +5 seconds (when static),
-1 to +5 seconds for SBGW251 (when static)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Number of jewels: 24

Specifications

Platinum 999 case (SBGW251), 18k yellow gold (SBGW252), stainless steel (SBGW253)
High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Water resistance: 3 Bar. Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 38.0mm, Thickness: 10.7mm (SBGW251, 252) 11.2mm (SBGW253)
Crocodile strap with platinum 999 buckle (SBGW251), 18k yellow gold (SBGW252), stainless steel
(SBGW253)

Limited edition of 136 pcs (SBGW251), 353 pcs (SBGW252), 1,960 pcs (SBGW253)

The modern re-interpretation: SBGR305

Caliber 9S68

Driving system: Automatic
Vibrations: 28,800 vibrations per hour (8 beats per second)
Accuracy: -3 to +5 seconds (when static)
Power reserve: 72 hours
Number of jewels: 35

Specifications

Brilliant Hard Titanium case
High definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Screw see-through case back
Water resistance: 10 Bar. Magnetic resistance: 4,800 A/m
Diameter: 40.5mm, Thickness: 13.6mm
Crocodile strap with three-fold clasp with push button release in stainless steel

Limited edition of 968 pcs

 

Stay tuned! We’ll have much more coming in the following days!