On Thursday Nov. 14th, AZ Fine Time hosted our official launch party for JEANRICHARD watches and their new limited edition, the Neroscope chronograph.  The night was a success with a great turn out, tremendous interest in the brand and even a good handful of promotional items gifted throughout the night.  Of course, it wouldn’t have been a great event if we didn’t sell a few JeanRichards, but we had that covered too.  The launch party  coincided with a Davidoff cigar event featuring their Zino Platinum. They brought a mobile cigar lounge for our customers to enjoy, and this certainly added to the luxury experience of the evening.

The new Neroscope limited edition was the highlight of the evening, but all JeanRichard pieces were displayed prominently.  The feedback was tremendous from our customer base, some of which were familiar with the brand, and some who were just introduced.  National Sales Director, Paul Erhardt, was in store conversing with customers about the mechanics, quality, and philosophy behind JeanRichard.

The cigar side of our event featured, as I mentioned, Zino Platinum by Davidoff which included a great promotional pack for customers to try all the different Zino products at an excellent value, but also their incredible mobile lounge you can see above with TV’s, humidors, cigars and some very comfortable seating.

Overall this event proved to be a great time and I think all who attended would be in total agreement.  We would like to thank JeanRichard, Paul Erhardt and everyone who attended for such an awesome time!

A friendly reminder that December 13th from 3-7pm, Arizona Fine Time will be hosting our 4th annual Grand Seiko Roadshow!  For those who have not attended, or seen in the past, Seiko USA brings out one of their master watchmakers from Japan, to actually assemble a Grand Seiko movement here in our retail store.  This year is very special indeed, as Seiko is bringing back one of their top Spring Drive watchmakers, Mr. Junya Kamijo!

Mr. Kamijo was the 1st Grand Seiko watchmaker to visit us for our Roadshow in 2010.  Thanks to the watch he wore on his wrist, the Snowflake SBGA011, everyone discovered the inspiration of this timepiece and it has now become the most popular Grand Seiko model in the collection.  Mr. Kamijo will be autographing watch boxes for those who purchase a Grand Seiko during the event.  If you cannot attend, but wish to make a purchase and get the autographed box, please call us to make arrangements.  We are very proud and excited to have him back and show off his tremendous skill at AZFT once more!

On top of the amazing event we will be hosting for Grand Seiko, we will also be doing demonstrations on the latest and greatest technology from Seiko, known as the Astron GPS Solar.  We will have great presentations, interactive displays, and even be raffling off about 40 free Seiko XNY watches to people who “Test Drive” the Seiko Astron GPS.  We will also be presenting a group of very limited release models, that are typically not sold within the US market.  Another great treat for all in attendance!

Another very special guest who has visited our store many times before as Senior VP of Seiko USA, is coming back in his new role as President of Seiko USA, Mr. Yosh Kawada.  We’ll be looking forward to his visit along with many others from Seiko USA and Japan!

For the event, we will have complimentary food and drink, complimentary cigars by Diamond Crown, and some other great bonuses.  We hope you join us, our other guests, and Seiko enthusiasts from all over the world.  One thing we know for sure, this will be a night to remember for watch collectors!

If you plan on visiting our store in Scottsdale, please feel free to contact us for discounted rates at nearby hotels, suggestions for dining, and any other possible thing we can help with.  Please call 1-800-486-3996 for information.

We will also have live feed of the event, videos, pictures and much more to keep those who couldn’t make it entertained with all the Seiko goodness.

Thank you and hope to see you there!

Today, we review a timepiece that is special in many ways.  First, Arizona Fine Time would like to proudly announce that we are officially the first authorized dealer in the United States for Seiko’s luxury brand that has never been sold on US soil before, Galante!  Galante was created in 2005, with incredibly unique and powerful designs that are fashion forward, as well as beautifully constructed and finished.  The brands name derives from the Italian term galante (or gallant in English) in reference to “a man who pays special attention to women”.  The brand is intended to essentially be a flirtatious conversation piece; sporty, elegant and strong.

The sport concept of Galante is more so in reference to the sport of attracting the opposite sex.  For this Galante, however, the sport is futbol (aka soccer).  Seiko has now been a sponsor of FC Barcelona for about 2 years.  With this partnership, many have seen watches in the Sportura collection celebrating the fame of FCB.  As a very special limited edition, Seiko has made only 150 of this incredibly unique Galante as tribute to their partnership, only 3 of which came to the US market.  All 3 pieces are exclusively sold here at AZ Fine Time,  except for one, which found a new home with the owner of our store.

The bold engraving of “FC BARCELONA” on the bezel symbolizes the power of the team as a whole.  FCB is one of the top 3 most valuable teams in soccer, has one of the largest followings of any sports team in the world, and has had some of the best players in the world, just to name a few things.  The dial replicates the FCB crest with the St. George cross on the upper left, which is cut out to expose the open heart beat of the watch, the Catalan flag on the upper right, FCB in the center, along with the steel soccer ball in the lower half.  The dial is done in a variety of metallic tones as opposed to colors in order to unify the steel look.  This represents the strength and pride of the team, essentially calling them “strong as steel”.  The dial is protected by sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, and the Seiko logo actually attached to the inside of the sapphire, casting its shadow on the dial.

The 45mm wide by 14.4mm thick case design is impressive to say the least.   The case back is slightly curved in order to hug the wrist properly and makes up for its large size with comfort.  One of the most obvious attributes are its four cylinder shaped pillars at each lug.  While this characteristic applies tremendously to the design, it also serves purposes as these four pillars are what support the frame of the case.  You will also notice its faceted case sides.  The 23 square, zaratsu finished sides show a perfect mirror finish, that reflects light like a disco ball.  The significance of the 23 cuts is to symbolize the 23 wards that make up the Tokyo Metropolis, adding another special attribute.

The strap is a black crocodile leather with dual push button 3 fold deployment clasp that has the special Galante crest visible when worn.  On the back of the strap is the quote “més que un club”, which means “more than a club”, describing the commitment of FCB and its fans.

While the case back only exposes the small window of the watches heartbeat, just like on the dial, the case back is incredibly finished and bares the FCB crest.  The movement utilized is Seiko’s in-house manufactured 8L38 with a rate of 28,800 bph, 26 jewels and a power reserve of 50 hours.  The 8L38 is manufactured and hand assembled at the Shizuku-Ishi watch studio in Morioka, Japan.

Even the packaging that comes with this rare Galante is special.  The wood inner box is black with the FCB crest on top.  The inside colors are of the wood box are the home colors of FC Barcelona, while the outer box has their away colors in effect.

The term “more than egoist” is used to describe the Galante brand.  With its bold, unique and intricate design, the sport of attraction is a part of Galante, but ultimately, the choice of watch is for yourself.  The MSRP Seiko Galante FC Barcelona Limited Edition is $5,800.  As always, if you have any questions please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.  Check us out on AZFineTime.com to see more great and unique products from Seiko.

Don’t forget… The Grand Seiko Roadshow is coming back to AZ Fine Time!  See live feed on the homepage of AZFineTime.com the night of the event.  Master Spring Drive watchmaker Junya Kamijo will be back to build a Grand Seiko movement here in our retail store!  Free food, drinks, cigars, and even raffles for free watches that night.  Come on down to the store if in the area or check it out online while it happens!

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

100 years of Seiko making wristwatches has been expressed throughout every series through Grand Seiko, Astron, and even the core Seiko lineup.  Today, we review their top of the line mechanical chronograph, the Ananta Blue Lacquer Chronograph SRQ017, also made to celebrate their 100th year of watchmaking.

For this special limited edition of only 300 pieces for the world, Seiko decided to continue with their successful hand lacquered dials, all done by renowned Makie lacquer artist Isshu Tamura.  For this model however, they decided to venture into new territory, deviating away from the previously used black lacquer, and going for a dark and elegant blue.  This blue lacquer dial was apparently very difficult to achieve, but the final product was well worth it.

The crescent moon found from about 11:00 to 5:00 replicates the symbol found on the helmet of Japanese Daimyo (or a powerful regional lord), Massamune Date.   Date began at an early age of 14 leading his first campaign in the modern Yamagata Prefecture.  By 1584, at the age of 17, he succeeded his father who decided to retire from his position of Daimyo, and Date grew his reputation tremendously.  Leading an army armored in all black with gold headgear, Massamune Date was a greatly feared leader who went through constant power struggles over land, with other Daimyo’s and even his own family.  With many incredible stories in his history, too many to go over today, one of his most recognizable achievements is the founding of the city of Sendai, one of the largest populated cities in Japan.  The golden crescent moon resting along the dark blue sky symbolizes the cultural history of Japan,  and brings back the age of the Samurai.

The roughly 43mm wide by 14mm thick stainless steel case of this Ananta is inspired by the Samuari sword, or katana blade, and also finished in the same technique applied to the swords.  The Zaratsu finish is found across the case sides, where each end of the lug is shaped like the tip of the blade.  The tachymeter bezel is plated in blue, which at certain angles, matches the dial.  It is quite impressive how the play of light can make the bezel match the dial in certain areas, while some portions seem brighter.  The color does not effect the flow of the watch, and actually gives it more character.

The movement utilized is Seiko’s in-house manufactured 8R28, which is hand assembled at Shizuku-Ishi Watch Studio in Morioka Japan.  The chronograph uses a vertical clutch and column wheel system, has 34 jewels, 28,800 bph and a power reserve of 45 hours.  The use of the vertical clutch is to deliver a precision operation, without the jumping start found on other systems.  The column wheel is used to allow for the utmost precision when operating the pusher.  There is also a triple pointed hammer used in order to ensure when the chronograph is reset, that all of the chronographs hands realign perfectly and instantaneously.

The Seiko Ananta 100th Anniversary Blue Lacquer Chronograph SRQ017 has an MSRP of $5,000.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Also, don’t forget…  The Grand Seiko Roadshow is back at AZFT this coming Friday from 3-7pm!  If you can’t attend, you can see live feed on the homepage of our site.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

The Seiko Astron GPS Solar has been a tremendous success.  With a ton of great models to choose from, we were lucky enough to get a little more variety for our line up this holiday season.  Four new models have landed here at AZ Fine Time.  Three of which are typically only sold on the Japanese domestic market, one which is not even sold in Japan.  All of these models are in incredibly small supply and will only be available this one time.

The 1st two models are in titanium with ceramic center links, SAST017 and SAST019.  Both are identical to the SAST015, with different color schemes, and have the same partially engraved case sides.

The SAST017 is a variation with black ceramic bezel, balck ceramic center links and rose gold accents on the dial.  The home time sub dial at the 6:00 has a rose gold accented ring around it, the inner bezel with difference from UTC is in a rose gold type color and the mode indication highlighted in the same tone.  The hands are also rose gold plated, which is hard to see in the picture above.

The SAST019 is identical with blue accents in place around the home time sub dial.  This model does have a blue ceramic bezel with blue center links, but also has blue plating on the crown and pushers.

The next two in our special allotment are in stainless steel cases, with stainless steel bracelets.  This is the 1st time we are seeing any Astron models in steel, with the matching bracelet.  Currently, the US line up is only stainless steel with the silicone strap, so it is nice to see something with a little more heft to it.

The SAST021 is very similar to the SAST003 (which has a titanium case and bracelet), but has the city code engraved black ceramic bezel which we started to see in other models this year.

The final piece in the line up is the SAST023.  This model, is not normally available in the US market, but also not a part of the Japanese market line up.  Not sure which market it is made for, but am guessing it is for the UK or other parts of the Asian market.  This model has the blue engraved bezel, with beautiful electric yellow second hand.

All models have the same functionality as the rest of the Astron GPS series and utilize the 7X52 movement.

The 7×52 is the worlds 1st truly global movement, which recognizes all 39 timezones.

The use of an in house developed low powered GPS receiver, ring shaped antenna (found under the ceramic bezel) and a smart sensor all contribute to making the Astron so special.

The Astron can connect to one single satellite for a quick accuracy update or to multiple satellites to pinpoint your location and update the hands accordingly, all at the push of a button.

The MSRP on the SAST017 and SAST019 is $2,650.  The steel SAST021 and SAST023 both retail at $2,350.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Also, don’t forget… The Grand Seiko Roadshow is this coming Friday from 3-7pm!  If you cannot attend, you will be able to view the event live or recorded on the homepage if AZFineTime.com starting at the same time as the event through the weekend!  Get your watch box autographed by master watchmaker Junya Kamijo for orders placed during the event.  We’ll also be hosting an event for Seiko Astron at the same time.  Purchases made during the event will get autographed boxes by the President of Seiko USA, Mr. Yosh Kawada!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

As a new Limited Edition for the 2013 Grand Seiko line up, the SBGA095 is a part of continuing series adapting part of Japan’s elements of nature to theme the timepieces.  Today we review the SBGA095 which is limited to only 300 pieces for the world.

We 1st found out that the SBGA011 “Snowflake” was a tribute to the snowfall during the Suwa regions winters.  We then saw the Spring Drive GMT SBGE021, with beautiful green dial, symbolizing the luscious plant life found in the area.  Last year, the blue dialed SBGA071 was released with the inspiration of the sea.  This years model features a rich earthy brown dial to symbolize the land of Japan.  With a tremendous amount of detail in a subtle brown dial, you can catch glimpses of the near spider web type guilloche embossed into the dial.  The amount of light exposed to the dial determines the amount of brown and texture seen, almost looking black in low light settings.  Sunlight will bring out the true beauty of the dial, but as with all Grand Seiko’s, subtlety is key.

The stainless steel case on the SBGA095 is the new smaller 39mm wide, by 12.3mm thick design found on both SBGA083 and SBGA085.  The bracelet is also an oyster type, with only a brushed finish, giving a slightly sportier appearance than the 5 piece with polished attributes.  The case, hands and indexes use the incredible zaratsu katana blade polishing technique, giving it the beautiful mirror like finish.

The movement utilized is the 9R65 Spring Drive movement, manufactured in-house, and assembled at Shinshu Watch Studio in Suwa Japan.  As many of you know, Spring Drive is an amazing technology, that took 28 years of development to achieve perfection.  The solely mainspring powered, self-winding winding movement has a 72 hour power reserve (which is displayed on the dial) due to Seiko’s in-house developed alloy, the Spron 510 mainspring.   Replacing the traditional escapement system is Seiko’s Tri-Synchro Regulator, which uses a quartz crystal, integrated circuit and electro-magnetic brake to control the uni-direction glide wheel, which replaces the traditional hairspring and balance wheel.  The smooth gliding motion of the Spring Drive second hand is due to this glide wheels rotation in one direction and The frequency from the quartz crystal allows for incredible accuracy.

The new series of 39mm Grand Seiko Spring Drives all have closed case backs with the Grand Seiko Lion logo on the caseback.  The SBGA095 is no exception, but will be engraved with “LIMITED EDITION” and the individual serial number “XXX/300″.  With such a small supply of this model, not to mention at an incredible price point, these will surely be gone quick.

The MSRP on the Grand Seiko Limited Edition SBGA095 with Earthy Brown dial is only $4,000, which is one of the lowest prices found for any Spring Drive.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Don’t forget!!  This Friday, Dec. 13th is the 4th annual Grand Seiko Roadshow at Arizona Fine Time!  Master watchmaker from Shinshu Watch Studio, Junya Kamijo, will be here assembling a 9R Grand Seiko Spring Drive movement.  He will be autographing watch boxes for customers who make purchases for the event, and we will also have a special promotion with the Astron GPS, where President of Seiko USA, Yosh Kawada, will autograph boxes for purchases of Astron during the event.  If you cannot attend the event, you can call in orders to get the autograph and watch it live on AZFineTime.com‘s homepage from 3-7pm MST.  The live feed will also be able to play back the recorded version, and will be on our site all weekend.  Don’t miss out!

Thanks for reading!

See our video review of the SBGA095 below…

See more pictures below…

See Grand Seiko Spring Drive master watchmaker Junya Kamijo assemble the 416 part 9R86 movement live on our website right now!  The feed is also recorded, so you can play the video at any time throughout this weekend.  Go to the link below to see Mr. Kamijo in action…

WWW.AZFINETIME.COM – GRAND SEIK ROADSHOW 2013

We’ll have a ton of pictures and video of the event coming next week.

Thanks and hope you enjoy!

Ahhh, the wonders of the Grand Seiko Spring Drive.  We have here the 9R65 caliber, produced at Shinshu watch studio in Japan.  This movement, and its variants, are truly special in many ways.  Not only the worlds most accurate movement driven by a mainspring, but completely in-house manufactured and assembled by hand at Shinshu in Suwa, a part of the Nagano prefecture.  The Japanese alps surrounding the studio are expressed in the top plate of the movement, which is one of many subtle attributes to Grand Seiko that collectors admire.  Last Friday, Dec 13th 2013, Arizona Fine Time was fortunate enough to share the tremendous skill it takes to build a Grand Seiko Spring Drive movement during our 4th annual Grand Seiko Roadshow featuring Master Watchmaker Junya Kamijo!

Mr. Kamijo assembled the 9R86 Spring Drive Chronograph movement here in our retail store, which consists of 416 parts and 50 jewels.  Customers watched in amazement as Mr. Kamijo built the 9R86 right in front of their eyes, making it appear easy.  As one of only 3 watchmakers actually assembling the chronograph GMT movement, you could imagine his qualifications are far above standard.

The party was a tremendous success with customers visiting from all over the country just to see the “behind the scenes” magic that is Grand Seiko.  We couldn’t have asked for a better turn out and sincerely appreciate everyone who attended the event.

Customers who made purchases during the event received autographs from Mr. Kamijo.  I have to say… He gave out a lot of autographs that evening!

Another great aspect of the night was the presentation table, where you get to see Grand Seiko’s parts, literally under a microscope.  Here’s a shot of the integrated circuit that is used to translate the frequency of the quartz oscillator to the electro-magnetic brake, which regulates the glide wheel, providing the supreme accuracy and smooth gliding motion of Spring Drive.  A lot of technology in a tiny little piece.

And a slightly less close up of the IC.

The quartz oscillator itself.

Below is theglassy metal core of the coil which is 18 layers of 25 micron thick amorphous.  The coil wound around the core is perfectly aligned wound around the coil block an amazing 25,00o times.  This along with the difficult to manufacture amorphous core is what makes Spring Drive so efficient when it comes to electrical energy.

The 9R65′s mainspring is made of an in-house developed alloy called Spring 510, giving it an impressive 72 hour power reserve off of only one barrel.

The shots below are of the 9R65 caliber, from many different angles, giving you a slightly better idea on placement of parts as well as quality of finish.

A close up shot of the 9F62 high accuracy quartz movement.  This rarely seen movement boasts a +/- 10 second a year accuracy rating due to thermo-compensation of the quartz crystal (which it checks and corrects 540 times a day), 50 year service life internally due to its “super sealed cabin”, increased toque to drive heavy metal hands and still maintain a 3 year battery life due to its twin pulse motor, has a backlash auto-adjust to ensure the hand stops exactly on the marker with no vibration, and even a “pacing switch” to manually adjust accuracy.  This movement is also made at Shinshu.

Next we get into the insides of the 9S mechanical movements made at Shizuku-Ishi Watch Studio in Morioka Japan. First is the 9S65 Mechanical Automatic with a rate of 28,800 bph.

The mainspring utilized is the same Spring 510 alloy used in Spring Drive.  This ultra resilient alloy also allows for a 72 hour power reserve on the 9S65.

The hairspring used is also labeled as Spron, but the 610 instead of 510.  The alloy is so durable, we actually saw it stretched to its limits at last years Roadshow and it recoiled perfectly flat, where as other hairsprings become completely uncoiled and deformed.

Here is the 9S85 Hi-Beat caliber.  This 36,000 bph movement brings the highest accuracy in a purely mechanical watch, while still maintaing its durability.

The hairspring on this model is the same Spring 610 utilized in the 9S65, but swings much faster.

The escapement system all by its lonesome.  Truly incredible technology has allowed for the immaculate construction of the pallet fork and escapement wheel.  The use of MEMS (Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems) allows the manufacturing of parts that are 10 times the durability of traditionally machined parts.

The mainspring used is the Spron 530 alloy.  This material provides a 55 hour power reserve on the higher torque, higher frequency movement.

Below you will see the case assembly for the SBGH001 9S85 Hi-Beat.  The mirror finished polish is thanks to the very few craftsmen who spend an abundance of time polishing by hand.

The bezel is also finished in the katana blade hand polishing technique called “Zaratsu”.

Seiko also manufactures the sapphire crystal in-house.  A good majority of this ultra clear, distortion free crystal is thanks to Seiko’s optics division Seiko Optical Products Co. LTD.

The case back of the SBGH001 (as well as many others) use sapphire crystal with a very subtle hologram of the Grand Seiko lion logo.

The hands of Grand Seiko’s are also polished by hand and brought to the mirror Zaratsu finish.  The 5 facet diamond cut hands provide greater legibility at night, catching the slightest bit of light, and making it glimmer like a diamond.

a close up of the dial of the SBGH0o1, which uses the same multi-faceted, Zaratsu finish technique to add to legibility on the indexes.  The dial process itself is incredibly elaborate, with 12 steps to complete its unique silvery radial sunburst finish.

Towards the end of the night, Seiko gathered a group of people in the room and Regional Vice President Rick Rowlands started to make a speech.  Much to my surprise, the boys from Seiko awarded me with the new Seiko Astron GPS Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition for “outstanding support”.   The watch was presented to me by Mr. Shunji Tanaka, who from what I understand is in charge of global sale of Astron.  All I can say is that I am still surprised, incredibly honored, and truly grateful!  From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU SEIKO for this wonderful gift!

The picture below is with Mr. Tanaka, Mr. Yosh Kawada (President of Seiko USA), myself, and Mitchel Hirsh (owner of AZ Fine Time).  If you can’t tell, I’m incredibly excited with that huge goofy grin on my face!

We’d sincerely like to thank all of Seiko for putting on such an amazing event.  A very special thank you to all the great guys from Seiko who attended the event (from left to right) Mr. Keith “Don Kiki” Oda, Mr. Rick Rowlands, Mr. Yosh Kawada, Mr. Junya Kamijo, Mr. Shunji Tanaka, Mr. Shu Yoshino, and Mr. Kinya Iwami.  All of your hard work is truly appreciated!

We’d also like to thank our friends Jessica from TimeZone.com and Paul Hubbard from ABlogtoWatch.com for attending the event.  Always a pleasure!

Most importantly… I would sincerely like to thank all of our customers who attended the event, participated in the event online, and who have supported us over the years… Your support and friendship means the world to us!!!

Staying “ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE REST”!!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Please check out our video below of Junya Kamijo working on the 9R86 movement…

With 2013 coming to an end, we are bringing you our final watch review of the year, and probably one of the most anticipated releases collectors have anxiously been awaiting…  The new, hand made, radio controlled and tough solar, Metal Twisted G-Shock MT-G MTGS1000D-1A!

The Metal Twisted G is something that is not necessarily a 1st for Casio, having had the premium range of G-Shock’s (Mr. G) available in Japan for sometime now.  The new MT-G series is similar in traits of quality of construction with a larger, bolder, and with even more advanced technology.  This new, luxury, Metal Twisted G-Shock is crafted at Casio’s Yamagata factory (which also produces the Mr. G, Protrek Manaslu, and Oceanus line), and is manufactured completely in house, which is something shocking (no pun intended) to consumers, but also something Casio should be tremendously proud of.

To start, the MT-G lives up to the durability of the classic G’s, having all the major characteristics that make them so indestructible.  The construction is built to withstand shock, centrifugal gravity, and vibration thanks to its elaborate Core Guard Structure composed of stainless steel on both case front and back with resin sandwiched between.  The case is secured with tension screws and Casio’s proprietary Alpha Gel (an insulator gel composed of silicone and other materials) which ad substantially to the shock and vibration resistance.  The Alpha Gel can be found surrounding the movement, but also near the lugs and bezel.  Another note on durability is that the hands are meticulously calculated to be balanced and stay secure under the harsh conditions G’s are built for.  The MT-G also uses sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, something rarely seen in most G’s.

The bracelet is made to be extremely durable, but is also very well finished.  The combination of brushed and high polish finish give great detail, while the back side of the bracelet is lined with a fine resin, not only giving it a classic G-Shock feel and added shock resistance, but is also soft and cool, due to its low-thermal conductivity.  The connection from the case to bracelet are cylinder shaped lugs rotating the bracelet, which looks impressive from a design stand point but also hug the wrist making for good shape and keeping it comfortable.

The dynamic design of the case is complimented by a deeply recessed, dual layered dial in dark grey with a diamond like texture.  The dial displays centralized 3 hand time, day of the week while in time keeping mode and other mode functions when adjusted to the specific mode.  There is also a 24 hour counter synced with the main clock displayed between 10:00-11:00, and a secondary time zone displayed at 3:00 (word time) with an AM/PM indicator on the lower left side, date below 4:00, and indicators for successful radio control reception around 11:00.  The indexes run very steep from the top of chapter ring to the lower portion of the dial, and give a 3 dimensional look.  The indexes have a vertical brushed finish with Neo-Brite that glows in green at the top, while the hands glow a cool blue adding a nice contrast for night time legibility.

Now we get into the awesome functionality of this timepiece.  Casio’s proprietary Smart Access technology comes into play in the 5369 module, utilizing an electronic crown to control the setting of timezones.  The centralized time or “home time” is set by unlocking the crown, pulling it out two clicks and then turning until the second hand points to the desired timezone’s city code located on the inner portion of the bezel.  There are 29 timezones to choose from.  The secondary timezone (sub dial at 3:00) or your “world time” is adjusted by pulling out the crown one click as opposed to two, and doing the same.  Both of these adjustments will need to be done in timekeeping mode, which can be recognized by the when the mode hand at 7:00-8:00 is pointing at the day of the week.  The home time and world time can easily be swapped between the 2 displays by pushing and holding the upper right button for about 3 seconds.

The lower left hand button is used to change modes.  Pushing it once from standard timekeeping mode will engage the 1/20th of a second chronograph.  The chrono is displayed with the 1/20th of a sec at the “mode” sub dial at 7:00-8:00, and the seconds and minutes at the 3:00 “world time” sub dial.  The upper and lower right button are used to start, stop, and reset as with any other chrono.  Pushing the lower left button again will engage the countdown timer.  The timer can be set anywhere from 1 minute to 120 minutes and an alarm will sound once complete.  The timer is displayed at the 3:00 sub dial, and can be set using the electronic crown out at the 1st click.  The pushing the lower left button again will be for your alarm.  The alarm is also displayed at 3:00, and can also be set via the electronic crown out one click, and can be turned on or off by pushing the upper right button with the crown closed.  The audible alarm will sound ten times once it hits the set time.

The build is quite large at a 53.5mm diameter, but really probably wears more like a 48mm due to the protruding parts on the case sides.  The watch is not incredibly heavy at 188g, but has far more heft than a typical resin G-Shock.  The MT-G is both Tough Solar and Multi-band 6 (atomic) meaning it is powered by light (going up to 5 months in the dark before needing to be recharged) and will connect to radio control towers automatically at night or manually, in order to correct accuracy.  This particular model retails for $900.  There is also a black ion-plated version (MTGS1000BD-1A) available now at $1,000 and a Limited Edition model (MTGS1030DB-1A) slated for delivery sometime in Jan. 2014 at $1,100.

This new series of MT-G is going to be extremely limited to retailers and without a doubt has already been a tremendous success here at AZFineTime.com.  Since G-Shock’s launch in 1983, the brand has maintained its reputation as one of the most durable timepieces in the industry.  It’s amazing to see that 30 years later, they have introduced a piece under the same strict guidelines, that has new a new refinement to appeal to watch collectors of all sorts, and even to the generations who grew up wearing G-Shocks, that are now looking for something more professional.

This MT-G MTGS1000D-1A can be purchased directly on the AZ Fine Time site HERE.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

2013 was a great year.  Some incredible timepieces have come through our doors, we hosted some amazing events, and now we plan for an even better 2014.  To show what was most popular here at AZFT last year, we have composed a list of our top selling items for 2013…

#13.  Szanto 1100 Series Model 1101

Szanto 1100 Series Model 1101

Szanto is a new brand launched by Luminox founder Barry Cohen.  With a vintage military design but in larger size, affordable, and a great price point, the brand has already started to gain momentum while just barely reaching the market only a few months ago.  The 1101, so far, has been our best selling model in the line.  MSRP $225.

#12. Glycine Combat SUB automatic 3863.19AT2 V-MB

Glycine Combat SUB automatic 3863.19AT2 V-MB

Glycine has a ton of great models to choose from and are reasonably priced for a Swiss automatic.  Last year, their Combat Sub Stealth ranked well on our list, but this year was barely beat out by the green bezel Combat Sub.  MSRP $1,450

#11. Orient Bambino Automatic ER24005W

Orient Bambino Automatic ER24005W

The Orient Bambino is definitely a great vintage styled automatic at a killer price point.  The stainless steel with silver dial has been the most popular in the line up, while others were very close, the ER24005W ended up ranking best getting number 11 on our list.  Selling price on this model is $180.95.

#10.  Mido Great Wall M015.631.11.057.00

Mido Great Wall M015.631.11.057.00

Mido’s great wall pays tribute to their continued success in the Chinese market.  It’s design is influenced of course by the Great Wall of China, with a brick like textured dial and similar styled strap.  The kicker is its MSRP of $1,490 for an automatic certified chronometer.  Mido currently ranks 4th in producers of COSC movements.

#9. FORTIS B-42 MARINEMASTER DAY/DATE 670.10.41

FORTIS B-42 MARINEMASTER DAY/DATE 670.10.41

Fortis ranked high on our 2012 list with their Spacematic model.  While it was very close, the Marine Master B-42 ended up just barely ranking out the Spacematic.  MSRP $2,050.

#8. Casio G-Shock Master of G Rangeman GW9400-1

Casio G-Shock Master of G Rangeman GW9400-1

The new G-Shock Rangeman has only been in our store a short period of time and managed to gain quick momentum here in our store.  With only about a month and a half to get on our list, it made it with no problem.  As the 1st G-Shock to have Altimeter, Barometer, and Compass, its popularity is sure to be huge through 2014.  MSRP $300.

#7. Luminox Navy Seal Colormark A.3051.BO

Luminox Navy Seal Colormark A.3051.BO

The Luminox brand has a ton of great selling models.  By far, the most popular is their 3051.BO.  All black with tritium tubes for the indexes and hands, it provides great legibility in the dark, but still retains a stealthy look.  MSRP $350.

#6. Seiko Superior Limited Edition “Monster” SRP455

Seiko Superior Limited Edition “Monster” SRP455

The iconic Seiko “Monster” diver was brought out in a new limited edition form for 2013 celebrating Seiko’s 100th anniversary of watchmaking.  With the upgraded 4R36 movement with hack and manual wind feature, the affordable “Blue Monster” has a selling price of $371.25.

#5.  JeanRichard Aquascope Blue Dial 60400-11B401-11A

JeanRichard Aquascope Blue Dial 60400-11B401-11A

Our newest brand this year JeanRichard has an incredible quality build and very reasonable price point for what you get.  The Aquascope Diver with blue dial made the rank on our list, but actually tied with the Terrascope with the green lacquer dial.  Based on the price differential, the Aquascope made it on the list.  MSRP $3,800.

#4.  Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Altichron BN5030-06E

Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Altichron BN5030-06E

Citizen’s introduction of the new Promaster Altichron made it high on our list, especially considering how little time they have been out.  Without question, this is the best selling Citizen product this year.  With titanium case, a comfortable liquid rubber strap, and analog displays for altitude and compass, it is sure to continue to sell well through 2014.  Selling price $637.50.

#3. Casio G-Shock Aviation Gravity Defier GWA1100-1A3

Casio G-Shock Aviation Gravity Defier GWA1100-1A3

Casio introduced a new variation of their Aviation series that has an upgraded compass and sapphire crystal compared to the previous GWA1000 series model.  With easy functionality, incredible durability, and awesome design the GWA1100 nears the top of our list.  MSRP $650.

#2.  Seiko Astron GPS Solar Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SAST100

Seiko Astron GPS Solar Kintaro Hattori Limited Edition SAST100

Seiko’s Astron GPS Solar has incredible technology and is one of the best selling products here at AZFT in general.  While the whole lineup sells really well, the limited edition SAST100 pays tribute to Seiko’s founder Kintaro Hattori, and made it to #2 on our list.  Last years LE (SAST001) made it to the top of our list last year, but the only thing holding it back was our #1.  MSRP $3,400.

#1. Grand Seiko Spring Drive Power Reserve Titanium (Snowflake) SBGA011

Grand Seiko Spring Drive Power Reserve Titanium (Snowflake) SBGA011

The iconic Grand Seiko Snowflake has become our #1 watch here at AZFT.  With a slightly increased production, 2013 brought forth a record amount we were actually able to receive, which really still isn’t a lot, but enough to put it at the top of our list.  The popularity of this piece has made it difficult to obtain, most having to pre-order and wait for delivery.  Rumor has it, that in 2014, the supply will not be as plentiful, so the waiting game will most likely be necessary to make the purchase.  One thing is for sure, it will be well worth the wait.

Thanks to all of our great customers for an excellent 2013!

Today marks the 5 year anniversary of US Airways Flight 1549, when Captain Chesley Sully Sullenberger heroically landed the commercial passenger flight on the Hudson River, saving 155 lives, all in 208 seconds.  In honor of this courageous feat, “The Miracle on the Hudson”, JeanRichard has officially launched the new Limited Edition Aeroscope labeled, “208 Seconds” to honor their brand ambassador, Captain Sullenberger.

Captain Sullenberger and JeanRichard’s relationship began officially at the beginning of 2013,  and both felt it was a perfect pairing.  The “Philosophy of Life” they shared and Sullenberger’s fascination by timepieces helped the two come together.  As said from the Capatain’s blog “An ordinary person with passion can accomplish extraordinary challenges. When I heard the timeless stories of JEANRICHARD (the man behind the brand) I was touched how even in the toughest situations he strived to find the funding and the artisans to be able to accomplish his ultimate goal — making a watch.”

The new limited edition Aeroscope will feature a 44mm titanium cushion shaped case with a DLC inner case, and silver toned titanium inserts for the case sides.  The dial will be a vertical satin back with accents for the total of 208 seconds highlighted in red. The first 3 minutes on the chronograph minute counter, and the remaining 28 seconds near the outer edge of the dial.

It is indeed very impressive to see this commemorative LE for such an iconic hero.  Last night at the launch event for the “208 Seconds”, JeanRichard also hosted a tweet chat, allowing people to submit their questions to the Captain using the hatch-tag #208seconds .  A great opportunity to ask questions about the landing itself, or his outlook on life after the event had occurred.

The MSRP on the JeanRichard Aeroscope 208 Seconds Limited Edition is set at $5,400 and is available for order at AZ Fine Time.  Part of the proceeds from the timepiece will go to The American Red Cross and The Rory Staunton Foundation.

Here are quotes from the official press release…
“We are privileged to have worked with Captain Sullenberger on our new “208 Seconds” Aeroscope”, said Bruno Grande, COO of JEANRICHARD. “The watch showcases the importance of time, Sully’s inspirational achievement in seconds of great urgency, and his efforts since then to continue to help change and improve people’s lives and support organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Rory Staunton Foundation. This is very much in line with JEANRICHARD’s values and philosophy of life.”

“In situations such as those on January 15, 2009, one can only rely upon your training, preparedness and the knowledge that you are serving a cause greater than yourself”, said Captain Sullenberger. “The “208 Seconds” Aeroscope I was able to design with JEANRICHARD also symbolizes the values of personal responsibility and I am grateful for their support of my philanthropic work.”

208 seconds made Captain Sullenberger a hero and the watch’s automatic chronograph movement perfectly embodies the spirit and respect that the Captain and JEANRICHARD have for time. The 208 seconds are represented by a subtle marked white and red timeline on the timepiece’s black dial. Available on a black Barenia® calfskin strap, the JEANRICHARD “208 Seconds” Aeroscope is a re-interpretation of the old aviators’ watches, and with its titanium cushion-shaped case shares a man’s most enduring dream with style. Part of the proceeds of the watch will go to The American Red Cross and The Rory Staunton Foundation, two of Captain Sullenberger’s philanthropic endeavors.  

Throughout the event guests also participated in a social media challenge, where they were tasked to take a wrist shot of the new “208 Seconds” Aeroscope and post it to their Instagram account. The “Best Shot” will be re-grammed today, January 15th, through the brand’s Instagram account (@JRwatches). The winner will receive a “208 Seconds” Aeroscope watch.

In addition, guests were able to have a sneak peek at the rest of the JEANRICHARD collections, featured in a special exhibit on display at Tourneau TimeMachine until February 28th. The exhibit showcases the brand’s four core collections, Terrascope, Aquascope, Aeroscope and 1681 and delves into the inspirations behind them through earth, water, air and the brand’s history and fire of passion for watchmaking. An installation of memorable timepieces that have experienced extraordinary adventure and represent the brand’s values and Philosophy of Life can also be viewed during this special JEANRICHARD display. These include the timepiece high-wire artist Nik Wallenda wore while crossing the Grand Canyon, Captain “Sully” Sullenberger’s newly released “208 Seconds” limited edition watch and a Terrascope watch worn to the top of Mt. Everest.”

Thanks for reading!

At the end of 2013, Seiko launched a new variation of their Astron GPS Solar in limited edition form.  With only 1,200 models produced for the world, the new SAST029 features a unique color combo for the series, with white ceramic center links, white ceramic jeweled crown, as well as a blue ceramic bezel.

The SAST029 also has some other traits never before seen in the Astron line up.  The orange accents for the seconds, mode, and the home time sub dials hour hand make for a great “pop” on the dial.  There are also blue metallic highlights on the mode indicators satellite connection section, and around the 6:00 sub dial.  The dial also has the newer, larger hands (which can be seen on the SAST100 LE), making for easier visibility at night than previous models.  In the image above, you can see the radial sunburst pattern on the translucent black dial that lays above the watches solar panel.

This new LE has a titanium case and bracelet, with the collapsed case sides found on models SAST015.  Not quite as elaborate as the SAST100, but still have a greatly detailed aspect to them.  Seiko’s proprietary “Bright” titanium allows the 47mm wide, 16.5mm thick timepiece to weigh in at only 141g, which amazes most everyone when they put the piece on their wrist.

As I mentioned before, the orange accents really make the SAST029 stand out, but what really makes a difference is the home time’s orange hour hand.  This makes its small independent 24 hour hand really easy to read.  Another nice touch is the watches chapter ring with difference from UTC in white with blue numerals and its ceramic bezel in blue, with white text for the city codes.  I can easily say, this is the most legible Astron GPS to date.

This, as well as every Astron GPS, features the 7X52 movement with over 10 years of development and over 100 patents.  The 7X52 is the only movement capable of connecting to multiple GPS satellites, pin point your location, and update the hands all by holding the upper right button for about 6 seconds.  This piece can also connect to 1 satellite to update its second hand accuracy by holding the upper right button for 3 seconds, or will automatically do so with exposure to bright sunlight.  The piece is also solar powered, with a maximum power reserve of 2 years in sleep mode.

Designed with a sporty look, inspired by sailing the sea, the SAST029 can recognize what timezone you are standing in (out of all 39), even if on a boat in the middle of the ocean.  The MSRP on the Seiko Astron GPS Solar Limited Edition SAST029 is $2,900 and can be purchased directly from our website here.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFinetime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

Eberhard & Co. has officially been relaunched here at AZ Fine Time with new distribution, a better supply of inventory, and even more important, new lower retail prices for the consumer.  A personal favorite has always been their 8 Jour Grande Taille, not just for its classic and elegant styling, but for incredible mechanics for a much lower price than most of its competitors.

The term jour is french for day, obviously translating this piece to 8 day, which is in reference to the timepieces power reserve.  The 8 day power reserve is not a completely unique complication, but the system used by Eberhard & Co.  is.  Instead of using multiple barrels to achieve its extended power reserve, the 8 Jour utilizes 2 mainsprings overlapping each other.  One of the springs is a standard length of 30cm, while the other is an impressive 1.25m (totaling over 5 feet of mainspring).  This unique winding system is applied to the manually wound base of a Peseux 7001 (which is a part of ETA) and has a rate of 21,600 bph.  The top layer of mainspring is visible through a sapphire crystal porthole, exposing a perlage coated, blue “8″ shaped bridge and has the mainspring visible underneath.  It is definitely intriguing to see the mainspring tighten as you wind up this piece, but the detail itself is very well done.  All this adds up to create the E&Co. 896 movement.

The 41mm case is in stainless steel (but does also come in 18k gold), and has a classy high polish finish all the way around.  The crown is fairly large, but not obnoxious.  While it does not dig into the wrist when worn, it is still easy to wind which is great because to reach a full 8 day power reserve, does take more than the average amount of winding.  The strap is a 19mm black crocodile leather with white accent stitching that only goes about half way down the strap.  The clasp is a nicely sculpted tang buckle, but deployment is optional.

The dial design is very well executed and has a pocket watch type look.  The roman numerals are painted on a silver embossed ring, while the rest of the dial is a matte white.  The hands are a black feuille shape and contrast the dial very well making for great legibility.  You will find your power reserve indicator at 9:00-10:00, which measures in days opposed to hours, and your small seconds counter at the sub dial at 6:00.

The details of the dial are subtle.  The silver rings embossing is something that cannot be determined from many photos, but add a very nice detail to accent the white.  The dial is protected by a slightly curved sapphire crystal and contributes to the 8 Jours soft round design.

The new MSRP of the Eberhard & Co. 8 Jours Grande Taille 21027.2 is $4,950.  This is about 12% lower than its previous MSRP, and still substantially less than most others .  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

Casio’s launch of the G-Shock Rangeman, without question, was an incredible success.  The GW9400 Master of G series is the 1st G-Shock equipped with Casio’s 3rd generation triple sensors (or to use triple sensor in general), in order to display compass bearing, atmospheric pressure/temperature, and altitude.  As compared  to their 1st triple sensor from 1994, the 3rd generation is not only reduced in size by 95%, but also 90% less power consuming and more accurate.  Casio has also used a cylindrical button guard structure for smoother, more precise, and protected button operation and stainless steel button shaft to ensure a more durable performance with frequent use.  This is now G-Shocks ultimate survival watch.

The new Rangeman also has the full on functionality and durability found throughout the G-Shock brand.   Shock resistance is of course a must, but it is also mud resistant, low temperature resistant and water resistant to 200m.  One of the best parts is that the Rangeman is Tough Solar having a maximum power reserve of 23 months in sleep mode from a full charge, plus Multiband 6 for atomic timekeeping.

By pushing the right middle button once you can access the 1st of your 3 different sensors.  The 1st sensor is distinguished by a single audible beep and will display your current altitude.  The sub dial at 10:00 will be your altitude differential graph, to check the difference between current altitude and a reference point.  This gauge will measure the difference in meters.  At the top of the screen, you will see the altitude tendency graph (which can be switched to relative altitude by pushing the upper left button), and is updated every time you take a reading.  Below that is your current time.  On the main portion of the display you will see the altitude read out.  The Rangeman is capable of measuring -2,300 to 32,800 ft.

Pushing the middle right button again will bring you to your compass, which is recognized by a double audible beep.  It is important to have the watch level in order to get an accurate reading.  The sub dial at 10:00 will have a a digital indicator that will point North.  The top of the screen will display your bearing objective, telling you what direction you are facing from the 12:00 area of the watch.  Below that, your current time will be displayed again.  The main portion of the screen will display the bearing angle to the objective.  This compass can run for 60 seconds as opposed to the 2nd generations 20 second length and uses 1/10th the power in comparison.

By pushing the middle right button one more time, you will hear a 3 beep indication which means the watch is now in barometer mode.  The 10:00 sub dial in this mode will display with a single digital line to indicate differential in barometric pressure.  The line in the picture is currently pointing to “0″ meaning no change.  If it were to move towards the “10″ on the red ring, it means an increase in pressure, and towards “-10″ a decrease.  The top of the screen will display a graph that shows a chronological history of pressure readings.  Below that is your current temperature, which is most accurately read when off of your wrist for about 20 minutes, as body temperature will affect it.  The main portion of the screen displays current barometric pressure in inHg (as pictured).  You can adjust all sensor measurements to display in either US or Metric measurements in timekeeping mode by holding down the upper right button for about 3 seconds, using the lower left button to find unit adjustment and use the upper, middle and lower button to change temperature, altitude, and barometer measurements respectfully.

Pushing the lower left button will take you out of your sensors and back to timekeeping mode.  Timekeeping mode displays time, day, date and month as well as AM/PM.  The 10:00 sub dial will act a a second hand unless the stopwatch is in progress or paused.

Pushing the lower left button once from timekeeping mode will put in World Time mode.  This allows for easy changing of timezones by using the upper and lower right buttons.  You will have 48 city codes to choose from to display one of 31 timezones.  The top of the screen displays the city code, below is your display of home time, and your world time’s display is in the main portion of the screen.

Pushing the lower left button again will pull up your stopwatch.   Your stopwatch can be started/paused by using the lower right button and reset by using the upper right.  This can measure anywhere from 1/100th of a second up to 1,000 hours.

Pushing the lower left button again will bring up your countdown timer.  The can be set for as low as 1 minute up to 24 hours.  Pushing the lower right button will start or pause your timer, the upper right button will reset.  Once the timer goes off, 10 audible beeps will sound.

The next mode is your alarm.  There’s actually 5 of them one of which you can snooze.  You can turn the alarms on or off by pushing the upper right button and switch to through your different alarms by pushing the lower right.  Setting the alarms is done by holding down the upper left button for about 3 seconds on the alarm you of your choice and using the lower left and upper and lower right to change hours and minutes.  Once the alarm sounds, 10 double beeps will sound.  You can also set an hourly time signal so the watch will produce 1 double beep, on the hour, every hour.

The next mode is an indicator for sunrise and sunset times, based on the set city code and latitude/longitude.  You can scroll through and see sunrise/sunset from different dates by using the upper and lower right button.

The next mode is your data recall.  Basically, you can record up to 40 logs for date/time, bearing, and barometric pressure/temperature records.  To record the info, you simply hold down the upper right button for 2-3 seconds in the desired mode you want to record.

As I mentioned before, this piece is radio controlled.  The final mode will scroll “R/C RECEIVED” along the top of the screen.  In this mode you can manually attempt to connect to the signal by holding down the lower right button until “R/C HOLD” appears at the top of the screen.  This piece will automatically attempt to receive signal on its own between midnight and 5AM, so the manual receive shouldn’t be necessary.  Pictured above is an example of the watches white LED light, that can be set for a duration time of 1 or 3 seconds.  The light is activated by pushing the button at the 6:00 area.

The Rangeman measures out at 53.5mm wide and 18.2mm thick, which sounds gargantuan, but definitely does not wear that large.  While it is still a big watch, these measurements are from the furthest points out, so it is a little deceiving.  It is a wide design to help with legibility, which it definitely does, and is also very comfortable to wear as it is only 93g in weight.  As always and most important, G-Shock’s impressive designs look awesome on the wrist!

The case back is forged stainless steel with a cool impression of the G-Shock Wild Cat character.  This symbolizes the Rangeman’s unrestricted movement through the wilderness.

The MSRP on the Casio G-Shock Rangeman GW9400-1 is $300 and can be purchased directly on our site HERE.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

At the beginning of Sept. 2013, Seiko Japan had announced a new design for the Seiko Astron GPS series.  The launch of the new “Stratosphere” design was something we could not confirm whether or not would be available to the US market, until now.  The Seiko Astron GPS Stratosphere series is officially coming to the US, in 4 different variations.

The 1st 2 pieces in the series are models SAST031 (left) which is a stainless steel case with Seiko’s extra strength silicone strap retailing for $2,500, and SAST032 (right) which is also stainless steel, but with rose gold plating, also on the extra strength silicone retailing at $2,600.

Both of these models will have a new dial type, featuring a map in the center, lining up each city code in coordination with its location on the map.  This new dial will only be found on the 2 sports models as shown above.

The next 2 styles are going to be a little more dressy in comparison.  SAST037 (left) will have a stainless steel case with black radial dial (as seen on previous Astron models) and crocodile leather strap retailing for $2,550.  The SAST038 (right) will be very similar, but with rose gold plated accents, and slightly lighter gray strap and will retail for $2,600.

All 4 of these new styles will have a 48mm wide by 18mm thick case size.  While larger than the original release Astron’s, part of the thickness is due to the deeply domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating inside.  The new domed crystal requires over 10 hours of polishing in order to achieve its dome.  These new styles now have the city codes and difference in UTC inside of the bezel, eliminating the need for ceramics.

These new models of Astron GPS are scheduled to deliver in the next month or two.  As always, if you have any questions, or wish to pre-order, please call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

They are also available to pre-order directly on our site HERE.

Thanks for reading!

The importance of time is something that can be truly under valued.  On January 15th 2009, US Airways flight 1549 left LaGuardia Airport at 3:25pm headed for Charlotte, NC.  The commercial flight carrying 150 passengers and 5 of the flight crew struck a flock of geese that were too close to avoid within about a minute and a half of take off, causing the loss of both engines power.  The loss of thrust brought forth the realization that the plane could possibly crash in one of the highest populated areas in the world.  At about 3,000 ft above the city, and descending rapidly, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger had to take control of the plane and start looking for places to land.  At first, the thought was to return to LaGuardia, but that option was not possible.  The next thought was landing at Teterboro Airport in NJ.  This was also not an option.  The only level and large enough place to possibly land at that point was the Hudson River.  Captain Sullenberger reacted fast enough to decide to land the plane on the Hudson, and glided the aircraft ensuring the nose was up, and wings were level when landing the plane on the river.  With the help of his Co-Pilot and crew, Captain Sullenberger successfully saved 155 lives.  This feat was truly amazing in many ways, incredibly heroic, and an example of how time is precious.   It was was only a mere 208 seconds from the time of the incident to their landing on the Hudson.

On the 5th anniversary of the  ”Miracle on the Hudson”, JEANRICHARD and Captain Sullenberger launched a limited edition timepiece commemorating Flight 1549 and the fact it landed on the Hudson, with no loss of life.  The “Philosophies of Life” that Captain Sullenberger and JEANRICHARD share are what brought them together.  Striving for excellence and staying vigilant are two of these traits that especially reflect these philosophies of life, but also modesty and precision.  Captain Sullenberger was a part of the US Air Force, an aviation expert and accident investigator.  That as well as nearly 40 years of flying experience contributed to the heroic act.  The calm minded reaction of Captain Sully and his crew were also a big part of this and one of his incredibly modest quotes “We were simply doing the jobs we were trained to do”, makes you appreciate it even more.  Not an athlete, not a celebrity, but an average guy who did something unbelievably extraordinary.  A true hero.

The new 208 Seconds Limited Edition JEANRICHARD Aeroscope has highlighted the 208 seconds it took to save 155 live with red accents on both the chronograph minute’s counter and the inner dial track.  There are 3 white tracks on the inner dial that do a full 60 second lap around the dial, and a red track for the last 28 seconds displayed on the dial.  This totals up to the 208 seconds without even having to look at the sub dial.

The chronographs minute counter is highlighted in red for the first 3 minutes and with the red track showing 28 seconds, totals back up to 208 seconds.  These obviously pay tribute to the flight, but also add for great detail on its beautiful black vertical satin finished dial.  The silver embossed chronograph and seconds counter sub dials also contribute a nice contrast, and easy legibility.

The 44mm cushion shaped titanium case is also exquisitely finished using a combination of vertical satin finish as well as an elegant high polish.  This truly gives a great feel for the quality and craftsmanship that goes into the JR brand.  The other intriguing attribute on this piece is its inner cushion shaped case with DLC finish.  The case side inserts that surround the DLC portion are in titanium silver finish contributing an awesome look for the timepiece.

The sticker crown is branded with the JR logo and has a colosseum type design on the sides.  The chronographs titanium pushers are surrounded by carbon fiber composite, giving a unique and firm feel when operating.  All Aeroscope’s are 100m water resistant, and this piece is no exception.

The movement utilized is the JR66 self-winding chronograph.  The movement starts as a base Sellita SW300-1 for time keeping, which is then modified by JEANRICHARD, and a Dubois Depraz chrongraph module piggy backing the base.  This caliber has 43 jewels, 28,800bph, and a minimal of 42 hour power reserve.  The display is quite simple and easy to read with centralized luminescent skeleton hands for hours and minutes, red with luminescent tipped centralized chronograph seconds, sub dial at 3:00 for actual seconds, chronograph hours displayed at 6:00, and chronograph minutes at 9:00.  All of the sub dials hands are black and skeletonized.

With closed case back, the 208 Seconds Limited Edition is engraved with individual serial number out of 208 pieces made.  The strap is a black Barenia calfskin strap, with white contrast stitching and dual push button deployment clasp.

The luminova is not only on the centralized hands as mentioned previously, but also each index has a small square of lume found on the chapter ring.

The JEANRICHARD Aeroscope 208 Seconds Limited Edition 60650-21O601-HD60 retails for $5,400.  Part of the proceeds of the watch will go to The American Red Cross and The Rory Staunton Foundation, two of Captain Sullenberger’s philanthropic endeavors.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

The Mido Commander is one of the most iconic Mido models ever produced, but originally, wasn’t even called the Commander.  The launch of the Ocean Star line in 1959 introduced a solid single piece case where the movement was actually accessed through the crystal as opposed through the case back.  This along with their Aquadura cork type crown sealing system made for great water resistance in the line.  In more recent years, the design from the original Ocean Star became known as the Commander.  For the end of 2013, Mido introduced their first Chronograph in the series, know as the Commander II Chronograph.  Today we review the M016.414.36.031.59.

The M016.414.36.031.59 features a 42.5mm stainless steel case with rose gold PVD coating.  The finish is mostly brushed, with a nice polish around the pieces thin bezel.  The watch is just under 15mm thickness, but a contributing factor to that is its anti-reflective coated, domed sapphire crystal.  In all, this piece weighs in at just over 1o5g.

The dial on this model is incredibly attractive, using circular embossed anthracite colored over lapping sub dials.  The chronograph’s hour counter is located at the 6:00, small continuously running seconds at 9:00, and chronograph minutes counter at 12:00.  The dial itself is silver with a beautiful sunburst pattern and an anthracite track running around the outer edge of the dial.  The baton shaped hands are rose gold and anthracite, with a nice blue luminova on the inside.

The movement utilized in this Commander II is labeled as Mido Caliber 1320.  This is a base of a Valjoux 7750 that displays day/date and chronograph features (as listed above), which was modified by Mido.  The movement has 25 jewels, 28,800 bph, 165 parts and over a 42 hour power reserve.  The movement is extravagantly finished with perlage, blue screws and Geneva striping on the Mido branded rotor.  Obviously, due the the transparent case back, this does not have the same exact case as the old Ocean Stars.

The  balance wheel used is a glucydur, that also uses a Nivarox I hairspring.  Nivarox is one of only a couple hairspring manufactures in the watch industry and is owned by Swatch Group, who also owns Mido, ETA and many, many other brands/manufactures.  Mido definitely has an advantage being a part of Swatch Group as they have proven to be one of the highest values in the industry for a highly decorated, very well built ETA/Valjoux base movement.

The new Mido Commander II Chronograph M016.414.36.031.59 retails for $2,000.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

Grand Seiko has slowly been increasing their quantities of available models for the US market.  Originally expected as a Japanese Market only models, a new 39mm wide Spring Drive appeared on the availability list, making not only for the smallest case size for Spring Drive in GS, but also one of the best price points.  Today, we review the SBGA083 with beautiful champagne colored dial.

The champagne dial is the most elaborate to manufacture in the GS line up.  The subtle characteristics of this dial take 12 steps to manufacture, starting with the base metal plate.   The plate is then cut, smoothed, and mirror polished.  After those steps are complete, a thick silver plating is applied.  The special sun ray finish labeled as “F-17″ is then executed, followed by a light color gold plating and clear coating.  After the clear coat, the dial is then polished again, then cut for the date, and finally another mirror polish is applied.  From there, the print is done for text, seconds and power reserve display in both black and clue colors, followed by applying the indexes.  As you can see, a lot of work goes into the dial, it has a beautiful spectrum of color ranging from silver to gold, and its beauty can only be justified in person.

Hands and indexes are a vital part of what make Grand Seiko ultimately legible.  The Zaratsu Katana blade finish is applied to all of the hour indexes, as well as the hands.  The indexes are diamond cut on multiple surfaces in order to reflect light, even in low light conditions. The hands are brought to razor sharp edges, meticulously diamond cut at 5 angles to also guarantee legibility in low light.  A dual curved anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal is manufactured in-house, to show no distortion, even when looking at low levels.

Another outstanding trait of GS is the finishing on the case and bracelet.  The Zaratsu finish is trusted in only a very few craftsmen, and brings each Grand Seiko case to a gorgeous mirror finish that shows no distortion.  The curved surface of the case goes through this hand polishing technique and is extended to the lug of the case smoothly, again, showing no distortion.  The case dimensions on the stainless steel SBGA083 is 39mm wide, 12.3mm thick and weighs in at 148g.  The bracelet is actually their 3 piece satin finished oyster type bracelet, with screw caps on each side of the links, and a free floating pin in between.

The movement used is the immaculate 9R65 self-winding Spring Drive caliber.  Hand made and manufactured in-house at Shinshu watch studios in Japan, the 9R65 has the amazing accuracy rating of +/- 15 seconds a month.  Spring Drive is solely powered by a mainspring, but unlike most mechanical watches, uses a unique Tri-Synchro Regulator system as opposed to a tradition escapement.  The mainsprings power is converted to electricity powering a quartz oscillator, integrated circuit, and electro-magnetic brake in order to control the unwinding of the mainspring with quartz like accuracy and a smooth gliding second hand unlike any other in the industry.  All components for this movement are made in-house including the IC, electro-magnetic brake, alloys for the mainspring.  Even the quartz crystals are grown in-house!

The MSRP on the Grand Seiko Spring Drive SBGA083 is $4,750, which is currently the least expensive option in GS for a Spring Drive model in their current production.  This model (along with its black dial counter part SBGA085) also have a closed case back, which is something not before seen in the US line up.

  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 with any questions or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

Arizona Fine Time is extremely proud to announce the epic return of the incredibly rare, unbelievably unique, and one of the most collectible timepieces in Seiko’s history, the Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk Limited Edition!  After nearly 2 years of waiting, asking and hoping, Seiko USA was finally able to track down, and bring back the monumental Spacewalk back to AZ Fine Time.  This is one of our all time favorite pieces and allow me explain why…

The Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk was the 1st watch in the world to be custom made from scratch, specifically for space travel.  There, of course, are many watches made and modified for space travel, but this is where the Spacewalk differs.  Starting in 2002, Seiko started researching how to make a mechanical timepiece work flawlessly in space.  The emphasis was solely on functionality, and testing of prototypes began at NASA with microgravity and vibration tests.  All of which were successful.  The next step followed at the Aerospace Lab at USC, where they tested the prototypes in radiation, lack of atmosphere, rapid changes in temperature, and in vacuum chambers.  After all of this testing, all the prototypes stayed in perfect sync, showed no signs of deviation, and the test was considered to be a huge success.

A man named Richard Garriott was a big part of the Seiko Spacewalks existence.  Richard’s father, Owen Garriott, was an astronaut (who actually brought Seiko watches with him to space) which lead Richard on his pursuit to become an astronaut himself.  Not only that, but he lived in a neighborhood surrounded by NASA employees.  Naturally, Richard wanted to follow in his fathers foot steps, but due to issues with his vision, was not qualified to become an astronaut.  While attending college, Richard designed video games, as what seemed to be a hobby, but ended up making a fortune in the process.  With the success of his games, Richard was able to pay off college and even start his earliest investments, one of which was Spacehab.  Through the rest of his life, Richard was an adventurer, going canoeing in the Amazon, meteor hunting in the Arctic, reaching the bottom of the Atlantic to see the Titanic and even gorilla tracking in Rwanda.  This, however, did not satisfy his dreams of going to space.

His later investment was one that would actually bring him to space.  Space Adventures is the company that helped him accomplish his dream.  After being politely turned down by NASA when asked if he could purchase a seat on the shuttle at any cost, Richard turned to the Russian Federal Space Agency where he was politely told “”no” , but that it would require a lot of time and money to even see if he could go.  From there, Richard spent incredible amounts of money to reach his ultimate goal.  In total, he paid over $30 million to go to space.  This would make Richard the 1st second generation space traveler in the USA.

Once Garriott went to Russia for his near year long training, the production Spacewalk watch went with him.  Accompanying him through all his tests including rotating chairs, tilt tables, hyperbaric chambers, vacuums, and centrifuge training  (simulating 9g re-entery), the Spacewalk proved its perfection.  The entire design was made to withstand all the extreme rigors of space, be perfectly functional and keep perfect time.  You will see the Spaewalks bullhead design putting the extra large crown and pushers at the top of the case.  This allows for ease of use while wearing the gloves of your space suit, and still be comfortable on your wrist while wearing without.

The 48.7mm wide, proprietary, High-Intensity Titanium case is very strong, but 40% lighter than steel weighing only 92.5g.  In order to develop this case, Seiko had to 1st create a new CNC machine in order to manufacture it, and they did so completely in-house.  This allowed for the hollowed out case design that eliminated weight, but also allowed for a large legible dial.  The case is completely air-tight, which is essential because of the vacuum of free space.  In order to achieve this air tightness in extreme temperatures ranging from -4°F to +158°F, Seiko had to develop a new rubberized material for its gasket.

The dial arrangement was very well thought out for easy legibility.  Your continuous running seconds are located at 6:00, with chronograph counter minute and hour sub dials on the upper half of the dial.  The power reserve indicator is located right next to the date at 3:00, using a fuel like indicator reading from full to empty.  The colors for the dial and bezel were to simulate the view of Earth from space, using the bronze colored bezel to symbolize the land, blue accents to symbolize water, and the white to symbolize the clouds.

The strap attachment for the Spacewalk is a Ballistic nylon strap with titanium buckle and velcro fastening.  The piece comes with 2 straps, one for normal wear, and one for outside of a spacesuit that can adapt to normal wrist size.  The use of this material is for its strength and also for ease of use.  The strap used by Garriott (the one for the spacesuit) worked perfectly, and was very easy to take off, put on, and adjust.

Seiko’s Lumibrite material was used for the darkness of space, giving greater legibility in the dark than ever before.  This natural lume applied to the specifically designed hands and indexes are applied in additional layers, which makes it about 3 times brighter than normal.  There is even a luminescent ring around the second hand sub dial allowing you to see its position in complete dark.

In Oct. of 2008, Garriott finally went on his private space mission.  For the movement on his custom watch, the 5R86 Spring Drive movement was utilized.  Quartz was not considered safe, and mechanical is not as reliable, so ultimately, the hybrid known as Spring Drive was chosen for its supreme accuracy, durability, and consistency on Garriott’s mission.  The features include chronograph, GMT hand, 72 hour power reserve indicator and date.  With 416 components, 50 jewels, and and an unbelievable accuracy rating of +/- 15 seconds a month, it is an impressive movement.  Even more impressive, is that the Spacewalk not only functioned perfectly on the 4.5g entry, kept full 72 hour power reserve with the lack of gravity, functioned perfectly (both in time keeping and chronograph function) for 5 hours and 38 minutes outside of the spacecraft  while on the wrist of a Russian cosmonaut, and also withstood the potential 17,500mph re-entry.

As you can see, the Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk SPS005 required an abundance of research and development from the ground up, which is one of the things that makes it so unique.  The Spacewalk was awarded Sports Watch of the Year at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève  in 2010 and one of the pieces that actually went to space, No. 6 of 6 actually in space, sold at Antiquorum auction for $45,600 with proceeds from the lot going to the two charities Richard Garriott supports, the Nature Conservancy and the Challenger Center.

The Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk commemorative edition is limited to only 100 pieces (thought to have been completely sold out) and retails for $28,000, making it still the most expensive Seiko product to ever hit the US market.  Once again, the legendary Spacewalk is available at AZFT.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 or submit an inquiry through AZFineTime.com.

Thanks for reading!

See our video review below…

See more pictures below…

AZ Fine Time became the 1st authorized dealer in the USA for Seiko’s luxury brand Galante late in 2013.  The 1st and only model we had received at that point was the FC Barcelona Limited Edition SBLL021 which you can see HERE.  The brand as a whole is intended to be bold, unique, fashionable, and still maintain the high quality movements and especially finish the premium line of Seiko is well known for.  Today, we introduce the new, extremely limited, Seiko Galante Blue Rose SBLA079.

The Blue Rose is a limited version of the brands “rose” series.  With a white and black rose in the JDM line up for Galante, the new limited edition blue will have only 50 pieces produced for the entire world (near all of which will stay in Japan).  Only 2-3 pieces will be coming stateside, and will be exclusively available at AZ Fine Time.

The story behind the Blue Rose model starts with the fact that blue roses did not come into true existence until 2004.  Roses do not contain blue pigment, so through biotechnology, blue roses brought possibility to something that seemed impossible. Today, blue roses symbolize “a blessing of Heaven” and “dreams come true”.

The engraving on the bezel states “Aut inveniam viam aut faciam”, the popular quote by Hannibal Barca the Punic Carthaginian military commander, meaning “I shall either find a way or make one”.  There are also ten sapphire stones set into the 1st quarter of the bezel that are infused with the meaning ”If you want to be a step ahead of the rest, there is no time”.

This model will feature the 5R66 Spring Drive movement with GMT and power reserve indicator.  The dial is a blue mother of pearl with blue rose design implemented through the indexes.  The case is stainless steel at 45mm width, with “V” shaped grooves cut out of the sides.  The bracelet is incredibly impressive, with 9 piece link and tremendous amounts of Zaratsu polishing throughout the entire watch.

The US MSRP is set at $8,900. Stand by for our hands on review of this model when it arrives exclusively in the US at AZ Fine Time in late April.  Please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996 if you have any questions or wish to pre-order this ultra rare Seiko Galante!

Thanks for reading!