Princeton Watches Site News

How to Pick the Right Water Resistance for Your Watch

    Indicating how well a watch is sealed against water, water resistance is an important feature for many of us.  However, the water resistance standards can be confusing.  The water resistance mark on a timepiece doesn’t necessarily indicate how far under the water you can take the watch.  One reason is that your motion under the water, such as swimming motions with your hands can significantly increase the pressure the seals are under.

    The International Organization for Standardization controls water resistance measurement regulations.  There’s no such thing as a “water proof” watch, however watches can have a wide range of water resistancy.  Below is a chart to further explain their water resistant ratings and suitable resistant activities (exposure to water).

Water Resistance Rating
1 ATM 10 Meters 33 Feet	X
3 ATM 30 Meters 100 Feet	X	X
5 ATM 50 Meters 165 Feet	X	X	X
10 ATM 100 Meters 330 Feet	X	X	X	X
20 ATM 200 Meters 660 Feet	X	X	X	X	X
30 ATM 300 Meters 990 Feet	X	X	X	X	X	X
50 ATM 500 Meters 1,650 Feet	X	X	X	X	X	X
100 ATM 1,000 Meters 3,000 Feet	X	X	X	X	X	X

Rain & Splashes	Swimming, Bathing & Snorkeling
Brief Immersion	Skin Recreational Diving
Showering & Shallow Water	Professional Diving

    The ISO requires dive watches to go through a more rigorous test process (ISO 6425) to ensure they will not take on water during your diving excursion. However, it is recommended that you should have regular pressure testing done to maintain its resistance

Please Note: There are several situations which effect water resistance:  Pulling out the crown will cause most watches to lose their water resistance. Regular exposure to chemicals, hot tubs or saunas can also affect the watch's water resistance and are generally not covered by the warranty.

Here's a quick guide to determine the best water resistance for your intended use:

Scuba divers, snorkelers, and anyone who wants to be sure that they can confidently play or work in the water with no worries about their watch "taking on water", usually pick 200 meter and above dive watches, although 100 meter watches can be used confidently for swimming and snorkeling, but not diving.  50 meter watches are great for everyday wear without worry when washing your hands.  30 meter watches are actually best exposed to only occasional splashing.

Casio Solar Triple Sensor Military Pathfinder PAG240-1B Review & Comparison

The new PAG240-1B features a new toned-down military style that we haven't seen before on a Casio Pathfinder. It's designed for military deployment and in fact is being supplied to the US Military.  Below is a comparison of this new military model and the original PAG240-1 to highlight the differences between the two.

One of the first and most apparent differences is the display. The contrast between the numerals and the background on the PAG240-1 (pictured right) is higher, which for some individuals may be easier to read, while the olive green negative display on the PAG240-1B (left) is lower in contrast and brightness but still readable in daylight and office light. The PAG240-1 case detailing is more colorful with red, green, blue and orange accents while the 1B has minimal accents and black buttons which is typically preferred by the military.

Compass Bearing Display

Because the PAG240-1B has an exclusive olive green negative digital display, the compass bearings will display in red as opposed to the standard blue.

Since Casio watches are digital, the display tends to fade the farther the viewing angle moves away from direct.  There is a very subtle difference between the two with the original slightly easier to read when tilted significantly, although the difference is very subtle.

Backlights on the Pathfinder 240 series:

  The new olive display on the PAG240-1B also has a bright green electro-luminescent backlight as opposed to the blue backlight on the PAG240-1 shown below. Even though the green backlight is a bit brighter (which may not be as apparent in the photograph), both are very easy to read in the dark.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to comment below. You can also contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-572-8263 for more information.  You can view more about these models and read the specs for these Casio Pathfinders on our site.  (The PAG240-1B is available only at PrincetonWatches.com during March 2011, not available anywhere else until April.)

New Bulova Precisionist

Blending old-world craftsmanship and new-world innovation, Bulova has been a front-runner in the world of timepieces since 1875.  The newest addition is the Bulova Precisionist, the world’s most accurate watch.

Featuring a continuous-sweep second hand and an accuracy of up to 10 seconds a year, the Bulova Precisionist combines luxury with creativity.  Typically, the accuracy of a standard quartz watch is affected by both changes in temperature and vibration frequency, however, Bulova addressed these issues by adding a third prong to the quartz crystal.  Doing this increases the total vibrations of the watch to eight times the frequency of a standard quartz watch, creating an extremely precise movement.

The Bulova Precisionist is available in four collections:  Champlain, Claremont, Longwood and Tanglewood.  Each collection has its own, unique characteristics to fit an individual’s style.

The Champlain collection merges together strength and complexity with its sculptural and architectural case designs.  Each has a complex, hexagonal column bezel and features a multi-layer carbon fiber dial.

Bold Arabic numerals are applied in relief for additional dimensionality on the Claremont line.  This sport-casual collection is equipped with four-part dials, large dial openings and a curved case design for a remarkable timepiece.

The masterfully intricate Longwood collection has subtle dress appeal with its stylish tone-on-tone swirl pattern dials.  Featuring a continuous interplay of heights and tones, Bulova blends five-piece case construction with intricate eight-piece dials.

Individually hand-set diamonds frame the detailed, five-part mother-of-pearl dial on the Tanglewood collection.  Featuring an elegant shawl design, this timepiece has a domed crystal with metalized rims to create a smooth flow from case to dial.  The Tanglewood models have either a classic, seven-link bracelet or a luxurious satin strap.

You can shop online at Princeton Watches for Bulova Precisionist or for more information or to place a phone order for a Bulova Precisionist, please contact us at 1-800-572-8263.
  

How to Set the Start Position of a Chronograph

It is common to receive a new chronograph and the second counter is not set to the 12 o'clock position. However, this does not mean that the watch is defective or of poor quality. In most cases, you can easily re-set the second counter to the 12 position, or any other position on the watch you would like it to start at.

The second counter on a chronograph is normally where the second hand would be on a watch, centered, with the hour and minute hands. On most chronographs the actual second hand is one of the subdials.

Below is a video and a few easy steps explaining how to re-align the second counter on your chronograph. If you are unable to re-set the hand using this method, we highly recommend that you check your watch manual or contact the manufacturer of the watch for further assistance.

1. Pull out the crown to stop all watch functions (un-screw if necessary)
2. Press the top pusher until the second counter is in the position you would like it to start at (typically this is the 12 o'clock position, however you can choose to start it at any position on the watch)
3. Make sure the time is set correctly
4. Push (or screw) the crown back into position and test the chronograph. It should now start at and return to the position you chose.

If you happen to be shopping for a new chronograph, Princeton Watches has hundreds of chronographs available in all price ranges, in many styles for men and women and with various features.

Squale Watches - Put a Shark on Your Wrist

Squale Watches have developed quite a following lately with dive watch afficionados.  Designed by an Italian company, the name is the plural of the Italian word for shark, "squalo".  So the name Squale (pronounced SKWAH-lay in Italian) means "sharks", those denizens of the deep that inspire awe and fear at the same time.  Maybe you'd rather not see a shark on your next dive unless it's quite a distance away, but you can now wear one on your wrist.

The movements in our new line of Squale Watches are Swiss ETA automatic movements and the watches are made in Switzerland, but the style has Italian flair, and kind of a retro look invoking dive watches from the 1970's, a look we've always liked.

One of the neat features sported by some Squale models is the push-button to release and then lock the rotating bezel.  This handy feature allows you to turn the bezel in either direction, which makes it easy to set, but once you release the button, the bezel can't be turned, so you can't accidentally change it.

The rotating bezel is used, as watch gurus and divers know, to measure elapsed time, such as a dive, or anything you want to time, on land or sea.  The push-button locking bezel feature was originally developed and marketed in the early 70s by Omega and those watches are now quite collectible.  Omega has recently re-introduced this feature in some of their Omega Seamaster Professionals, but you can get it in a Squale at less than one tenth the price and it is definitely a handy and hard to find feature in a dive watch.

Squale doesn't currently have a US distributor, but we've purchased and imported these watches directly from Squale in Italy due to numerous requesta by our dive watch customers.  So these are authorized watches, and the one year Squale warranty is handled directly through us.  So check out our Squale Watches and let us know what you think.

 

 

 

KE$HA is the New CASIO BABY-G WATCH Spokesperson

Casio recently announced that the popular performer Ke$ha will serve as a brand ambassador and watch designer for the Casio Baby-G line of women's watches. In addition to being a Baby-G spokesperson, she will help design two Baby-G watches, which will hit the scene in summer of 2011.  In the meantime, Kesha will be featured in ads for other colorful Baby-Gs being released this fall.

“I think the Baby-G brand is amazing it's stylish, innovative, durable and affordable. The bright colors and metallic finishes really compliment my moods and personality,” said Ke$ha. “I have some fun ideas for my watches and I am so thrilled that I am the first worldwide female artist to be given the opportunity to design my very own Baby-G!”

Ke$ha made the announcement at Casio's annual "Shock the World" event in New York and also performed for the crowd of G-Shock fans and the press in attendance, singing  her hit "Tik Tok" a natural tie-in for a watch brand.

“We are very excited to have the colorful and creative Ke$ha as a collaborator for the Casio Baby-G brand,” said Shigenori Itoh, Vice President of Casio’s Timepiece Division. “As soon as we heard her hit single, ‘Tik Tok’, we knew we had to have Ke$ha as a Casio Brand Ambassador. It was a natural fit!”

The Baby-G brand was developed as the women’s counterpart to the brand’s highly-successfully G-Shock brand. Baby G watches are an affordable and fun way to add color to your look, with suggested retail $79 to $99.

Other celibrities currently representing Casio watches include actor Bryan Greenberg and  Formula One racecar driver Sebastian Vettlel for Casio’s new luxury men’s line EDFICE Black Label.

Princeton Watches carries the full line of both Baby-G and G-Shock Watches