The Casio G-Shock Mudmaster GWG-1000 (price and availability to be announced later) absolutely revels in mud, sand and other harsh conditions. We get down and dirty with the Mudmaster.
TECHNOLOGY
The Mudmaster GWG-1000 is ideal for rescue workers dealing with disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons, says Casio.
The company has incorporated its Triple Sensor technology in the Mudmaster, so that it will read compass bearings, altitude, atmospheric pressure and temperature. This helps rescue workers to monitor their working environment.
The watch, as you might expect from its name, is mud- and vibration-resistant. As a G-Shock watch, it is also shock- and water-resistant to a depth of 200m.
Casio engineers say they adopted a cylindrical guard structure for all of the GWG-1000 buttons. The cylindrical button shafts are fitted with gasket linings to absorb shock and prevent dust from intruding.
The watch comes with Casio's Tough Solar power system that can power it for 23 months on a full charge - a great advantage for users who could be out in the field for months.
The Mudmaster's MultiBand 6 technology can receive radio- wave time-calibration signals for accurate timekeeping. The only current technology it lacks is Global Positioning System technology. If not for this, it might well be the perfect G-Shock watch.
DESIGN
At first glance, the GWG-1000 looks like the G-Shock Gravitymaster GPW-1000. This is especially so when you look at the design of GWG-1000's case, bezel and dial and the placement of its luminous markers and numbers.
Like the Gravitymaster, the Mudmaster features large hour hands and minute hands, with big luminous markers; and the dial has the major cities of the different time zones marked on it.
But look more closely and you will realise the Gravitymaster has two buttons to the Mudmaster's five: two each on the left and right and one below the watch face, with the Triple Sensor on the left.
An LCD screen on the lower half shows the watch modes and temperature and altitude readings.
Scratch-resistant sapphire glass shields the watch face.
FEEL
Despite its chunky, rugged looks, the Mudmaster is comfortable to wear. One reason could be the watch-band design. Close to the watch's lug, the band curves to wrap nicely around the wrist. The watch is light, tipping the scales at about 100g. Its round buttons are large and easy to use. They are designed such that they can be accessed easily even with gloves on.
Unlike the Casio G-Shock Gulfmaster GWN-1000 which requires you to keep hitting a button to toggle through the fields, compass, altitude, temperature and barometric readings all have their own dedicated buttons.
A useful touch is that the hour, minute and second hands automatically move away from the display when you view any of the Triple Sensor readings, so you can have a clear view of these readings.
