admin

Top 10 Casio Baby-Gs for Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is right around the corner! Have you been a good son/daughter? Welcome to our Buyer's Guide, and today, I'll be discussing the top 10 Baby-Gs to get for Mum. Ready? Here we go!

10) BGA-225G-1A – Treat mum to a "Glamping" Vacation! This glamorous camping watch will look right at home on her wrist, whether on the beach, camping in the woods, or just showing off to her friends. It also includes a tide indicator, in case she wants to go surfing.

9) BGA-180BE-7B – Part of the Beach Colour series of Casio Watches, this pastel coloured model can be worn on the beach, or anywhere else your mum goes to. It's also great for taking to the waves, thanks to the tide graph, and tidal trend indicator.

8) BG-169R-4 – Another digital only watch, it so light that you'll barely notice it. It's very easy to read and it's one of the few watches with a telememo function (so mum can put phone numbers straight into the watch, in case her phone dies... something that happens quite often).

7) BG-6903-7C – If mum likes to keep fit, then the BG-6903 series is great. Until recently, this series was considered the go to model for ladies who enjoyed running. It has a dual digital display, with the top part being the perfect size for the stopwatch. The numbers are so large, you can glance down at the screen while continuing to run.

6) BGA-190-1B – A travelling watch, this analogue/digital combo has a world map motif, emphasising the worldwide appeal of this time piece. There's two analogue displays, with the smaller one at 6 o'clock letting you see the time in another part of the world.

5) BGA-195-7A – Diamond studs throughout the display add a bit of elegance to this white analogue/digital combo watch. Like the previous time piece, this model is good for travelling, because it includes an analogue world time view. 100M water resistance means your mum can
swim with the watch on her wrist, without needing to take it off.

4) BGA-240-7A – Another athlete's watch, this model took over from the 6903 series as the go-to watch for runners. Adding an analogue aspect to the series, he digital displays are just as large as the 6903s, so your mum will easily be able to tell the time. It also added a recording function, so you (or mum) can save up to 60 laps to the memory, and try to beat your best times.

3) BA-110PP-8A – This is the female version of the GA-110PP series, which has a (literally) cool feature of having holes throughout the band. This keeps your wrist from getting too sweaty on those hot days, or while you're having a workout.

2) BGA-150EF-4B – A soft pink watch, this will look beautiful on mum's wrist, and the analogue hands, along with the numbers, are extra-large, so mum will be able to see what time it is without any problems. It's also shock resistant, so if she drops it, the watch will still work.

1) BGA-151-7B – The number one on quite a few of our lists, the BGA-151-7B is one of the original Baby-G watches. White, with gold analogue markers, this is an elegant watch that fits on anyone's wrist. The stainless steel bezel also provides ample protection, making sure the watch looks brand new for a long time to come.

There you have it folks. If you're having trouble deciding what to pick for mum, here are our top 10 suggestions.

Until Next Time – Jimmy B

Which Casio G-Shock Has the Most Features?

Welcome back to the FAQ section. Today, I'll be answering a very loaded question - Which Casio G-Shock has the most features? The short answer is that it depends. Casio has a ton of watches, with the most versatile being the Masters of G. Even then though, the features differ, so I'll just discuss the top 3 Masters.

First up is the Gravity Master, which you can find here.

Now, these are watches designed for pilots and navigators. They have a digital compass, a bearing memory and sensor (so you know you're going in the right direction), a thermometer, and if you're flying to a different time zone, you can have the watch show you both the local time in your home city, and the local time of where you're flying.

Another cool feature is the super illuminator, which will let you see the digital display even in the dark. The display itself is protected by a spherical glass to avoid scratches.

Next up in the masters series is the Gufmaster, located here.

Now, the Gulfmasters are the first of their kind to have a Quad Sensor, instead of triple sensor. Along with the previous model's Compass, Thermometer and Barometer, this time piece has a depth sensor, as well as a tide graph and moon data readout.

Made specifically for divers, sailors and marines, the tide graph is an upgraded import from the G-Lide series of watches, and can pretty accurately predict the tide movements for up to 12 hours in advance. The depth sensor can be used to record how long and how far each dive went.

One difference between the Gravitymaster and the Gulfmaster, is the latter also has a sunrise/sunset display, which can be really important for navigation as well. Also, to help ensure that you're not distracted by mundane tasks such as changing the battery, the GWN-Q1000 Gulfmasters are solar powered. Just keep the watch in the sun while you're out and about, and you'll never have to changee the battery again.

The last one we'll be discussing is the Mudmaster, found here. Now, this one does have an economical version, the GG-1000, but since this is a question about the most features, I'll be focusing on the full featured GWG-1000 Mudmaster.

A much thicker watch than the previous two, the Mudmaster does away with the tide graph, and instead works on its durability. It is not only mud resistant, but dust and weather resistant too. It's also vibration resistant, which is quite helpful if you work at a construction site.

The Mudmaster also adds another interesting feature, called multiband 6. Basically, it automatically adjusts the time on your watch, based on the reception of one of 6 time calibration signals, ranging from Europe to Japan.

The sensors in the mudmaster are great for when you're exploring, and if you like mountain climbing, then you'll make good use of the altimeter. The watch also records your altitude, and the date,to help you keep track of your progress.

Well, there you have it. To recap, the G-Shocks that have the most features are the Master of G series, and depending on what you need the watch to do, you'll want the Gravity Master, Mudmaster, or Gulfmaster.

Don't forget to send us more questions for the FAQ. Until Next Time - Jimmy B

Secret Features of the Casio G-Shock Watches

Hello readers, you're in for a real treat today! You know how Mobile Phones, DVRs, Computers and even TVs have secret features? Well, turns out the same goes for Casio watches. After taking some time trying to figure them all out, I have a list right here. Now, before I begin, I should caution you that you need to be very careful. If you damage the watch using these tricks, that will void your warranty. OK, boring disclaimer over with, let's get to the fun stuff!

Now, first up, so you don't have to keep wondering what A, B, C and D are, just look at the below diagram. This way you'll know what to press. And don't worry if your watch doesn't look EXACTLY like the picture. The 4 buttons do not change places.

Right, our first hidden feature is the LCD Display Test. This feature lights up all possible parts of the LCD Display. This is really important, since it'll help you see if there's any flaws, or if the LCD isn't lighting up the way it should be. So, here's the trick to getting in:

On the main screen, the one that shows you the time/date where you are (aka Timekeeping mode),, press A, C, and D at the same time. Right away you'll see that all the parts of the LCD display have lit up (it's actually easier to do it indoors or in a dimly lit area, so you'll be able to tell what's lit up and what isn't. Now, if you press D, it'll go through the different segments, so you can tell if the lights are brighter in one place compared to others. The best thing about it is, you can actually use this diagnostic to check if your Casio is genuine, since the final screen will have your module number (which you can cross reference with your manual and back of the watch). To get back to the main screen, just press any button apart from D.

Cool isn't it? That's not the only trick though. Just to give you some background info, most (not all) Casio watches have a feature called Auto-Light. Basically, when you tilt your wrist back about 45 degrees, the light (if Auto-Light is turned on), will light up either your screen or (if you have an ana-digi combo) the analogue hands and markers. If you know your watch has an auto-light but it's not working, it'll help to go into the diagnostics screen.

This time when you're in timekeeping mode, press A, B, and C at the same time. Right, now looking at the screen you should see the letters TLT, which will mean you're in the Tilt Diagnostic Mode. Now, tilt your wrist back and at the correct angle the numbers will change to 88:88. That means the watch is working properly. If you don't see those numbers after activating TLT, then you may need to go to the person you bought the watch from, in order to get it repaired (remember, if you try it yourself, or go to a local jeweller, you may end up voiding the warranty)!

Next up, this feature is only for those who have a Solar Watch. If you've been out in the sun, but the watch is still not receiving power, or discharging too soon, there may be a problem with your battery or, more likely, the problem lies with the panels themselves. It's easy to diagnose however, so let's get to it.

In timekeeping, this time you need to hold A, B and D. All the numbers will disappear off the screen, and you'll see SLR. Put the watch into a sunny place and watch the screen. If 88:88 does not appear, that means there's an issue with the solar panels. If the battery is fully charged though, then the solar panels, to avoid overheating the watch, just won't accept more sunlight. So, your best bet is to do it at medium charge.

The last trick I'll show you is something that surprised even me. You see, I've reviewed lots of Solar Powered watches before, and I know they come with a power saving mode, but apparently, regular Quartz Battery watches also have this hidden. The power saver mode will turn off your display after about 6-7 hours when you're not doing anything on it. Don't worry though, if you set an alarm or if you have a fancy Radio-Control watch, the alarm and signals will still be active. Those functions will stop after 6-7 days of inactivity (so if you're going on holiday and don't decide to take your watch with you, that's pretty useful.

Now, doing this trick actually reminded me of playing a video game, because you have to enter a “secret code” to enter this function. First, hold A until the city code starts to flash. You there? Now, try not to lose count, because you need to press C NINE times. You'll know you've done it right once you see the power setting screen (marked as PS on your display). After that, press D to adjust whether it's on or off, and press a again to set it. That's all there is to it.

And speaking of, that's actually all there is to this article. Hope this was helpful to some of you. Let me know in the comments, and if any of those tricks don't work, tell us that as well, and we'll update this page.

Until Next Time

Jimmy B

Coming Soon – Casio's GG-1000TLC-1A!

Hardcore collectors and casual watch buyers alike, BuyWatchesOnline will soon have a watch ready and able to suit your needs. The one I'm talking about is the GG-1000TLC-1A. A rare collaboration between Toyota Auto Body, and the Casio Mudmaster team, this watch has a lot going for it under the hood.

Let's get the looks out of the way first. The GG-1000TLC is a combination of black, blue and red, with just a bit of white thrown in. These represent the Toyota team's colours.

It's an analogue/digital watch, and is based on the popular, budget GG-1000 Series, which trims away a bit of the fat, in order to keep the watch light on your wrist, and in your wallet.

The band is a resin blue, but with a pattern that looks more like a tire tread. The digital display uses a negative motif, with light numbers on a dark screen. The analogue part is extra-large, with both the hour markers and the numbers being extremely easy to see.

Finally, as mentioned this is a Limited Edition watch, and the packaging sure proves it! You have the Black and Blue Tin, with Team Toyota written on top, and a Blue and white car pictured on both the tin and the box itself. You can see it for yourself below.

Now let's talk features. As I mentioned, this is based on the GG-1000 Series. It has a twin sensor, that will give you directions and temperature readings. One feature of the twin sensor is the digital compass. Turning it on will give you up to 20 seconds of continuous measurement.

This direction recorder can also be used later on, by giving you the bearing memory, letting you know if you're still heading in the right direction.

As mentioned, the watch is an economy Mudmaster. While some features have been taken away (such as Solar Power), the Mudmaster is still easily one of the most protected watches available. It's completely weather resistant, and the buttons are inlaid in such a way that even if you press them while you're covered in dirt or mud, it won't affect the watch functions at all.

Some of you may not like the negative display I mentioned earlier. G-Shock and Toyota though, are way ahead of you there. They've included a Super LED backlight, which will light up both the analogue and digital display, making it a lot easier to see the time at night!

The GG-1000TLC is a limited edition watch, and it's coming soon to BuyWatchesOnline! Don't miss out!

Until Next Time – Jimmy B

Coming soon, the Casio Master of G Mudmaster, the GWG-1000-1A1

The Mudmaster series has always been a popular model, mostly because of how tough it is. A watch cannot be called the master of G, without being undeniably the best in its field. This week, we'll be focusing on the latest Mudmaster, the GWG-1000-1A1. I'll also be contrasting it with the more economical GG-1000 series, for those who are interested.

This model is one that's extremely popular with the military. That's because it is pitch black. The band is matte black, so it doesn't reflect the light, and it is also extra-thick. The analogue numbers 3, 6, 9 and 12 are extra-large and the markers themselves are treated with the neobrite solution, making them glow long after your backlight switches off.

So, what exactly makes this watch more powerful than the economical GG-1000? Well, for one thing, it's solar powered. This means that you never have to worry about changing the batteries. Simply make sure the watch gets some light every day, and use it to your heart's content! There's even a low battery alert to remind you to keep your watch under some lights. No more nasty surprises with the time piece suddenly going blank! It also has w

Now, both the GG1000 and the GWG-1000 are among the toughest that you'll find, but here's wehre the GWG shines just that little bit more – it has vibration resistance and a spherical glass. The spherical glass protects your screen from scratches even more than the normal mineral glass, and the vibration resist means even if you're working with heavy duty equipment, the vibrations won't interfere with the watch!

The GWG-1000-1A1 also has satellite time calibration. Whenever you're overseas, as long as the radio control is turned on, the watch will auto receive signals from up to 6 satellites from Europe, China and Japan. This ensures that the watch will always run on time, and is especially helpful during Daylight Savings.

The GG-1000 had a dual sensor in order to save a bit on finances. The GWG-1000 however has a triple sensor, that has a compass, thermometer/barometer, and an altimeter, so you'll know exactly where you are at all times (extremely useful when doing the dangerous Kokoda trails, as well as other hikes where you can easily get lost.

The GWG-1000-1A1 is coming soon to BuyWatchesOnline. The GG-1000 can be found here.

Until Next Time – Jimmy B

How do I set up my G-Steel Casio Watch?

So, you went out (hopefully to our site) and bought yourself a G-Steel? Congratulations, you've got yourself one of the toughest watches in Casio's range. Now, how do you set it up? That, dear readers, is a really common question, and one that I'm devoting this entire article to. Ready to get started? Here we go!

First up, I will be using the GST-S110D-1A as my example, but pretty much all the G-Steels can be set up the exact same way. To save time, instead of saying top right button, bottom left, etc, I'll be calling them A, B, C and D. A is the top left (also known as the adjust button), B is top right, C is bottom left, and D is bottom right.

The watch is an analogue/digital combo which will allow you to read the time off the digital display, if you're having trouble reading the hands.

So, first things first, let's open this baby up. If you live in VIC or NSW, congrats, you literally don't need to do anything else, since it's already set to Sydney time. But that's being a bit unfair to customers in other cities, so let's carry on.

Take a look at the bottom of the screen. Do you see the Letter H, or M? If so, that means your watch is charged up and ready to go, otherwise you'll want to leave it near a light source for a while (depending on if it's natural light or artificial light, it could take anywhere from just over 24 hours, to over 100 hours. Don't worry though, it doesn't have to be all at once. As long as the watch is seeing some light, you're getting enough power to run its functions.

Next up, wed're going to check your home city, mainly because if the wrong home city is set, the rest of the world time will also be wrong. So when you're ready, hold down A for two seconds, until you see ADJ appear in the right digital dial. Let go right away, you don't want to hold on to A too long (more on that later in the article).

So, when you've let go, you'll see the city code replace ADJ, while the left dial reads SET. Use the B and D buttons to set the correct city code. To help you out I've put the table below as a handy guide.

Now then, we've fixed your city code, and we need to press C and you'll see the DST (Daylight Savings Time) indicator flashing in the left dial, while the right one will have either on or off. Press D to change it if you need to. 

If that's all you need to do, great. But if you want to change the time, press C aagain. That'll ask you if you want the watch to show the time in a 12 or 24 hour format. Press it again to adjust the seconds (though not many people bother adjusting the seconds). Again will finally let you adjust part of what you need (the hours), and then Pressing C one more time will adjust the minutes. To adjust said parts, simply press B or D. Word of advice though, if you're in the 12 hour mode function, and it's evening, make sure the digital time has P or PM next to it. You don't want to know how many people have come to us saying their alarms aren't working, when it's only because they set the time to AM instead of PM.

You're almost done, bear with me for a few more minutes (and be thankful I'm not the manual, which repeats the same steps over and over till you're sick of looking at it)! Once you've set up the time, you need to set the date. Basically the same instructions, press C (assuming you just finished adjusting the minutes) and press B or D to change Year, repeat for Month and repeat again for Day.

WAIT! Don't press A just yet. If you want, you can now press C again to adjust whether the buttons make a tone, and then how long the backlight will stay lit for. Adjust those if you'd like, or just press A to finalise the time.

Now, let's talk fun features. These are modes designed to make life easy for both novices and pros.

First up, the G-Steels come with a REALLY cool feature, called Hand Shift. Use this if you want to read the digital time, and you find the hands are getting in the way. Just keep in mind, if the battery power is low, the hands won't move. Alright, if you're in the timekeeping mode (the default mode), press and hold C for a few seconds until you see the word HAND appear in the digital dial. Let go of C and the hands will move away from the digital screen, settling at 11:55.

Not to worry though. All you need to do to bring the hands back is press the C button again for two seconds (Until Hands appears). Otherwise, they'll go back on their own after an hour.

Here's the thing though, in rare cases, either a bump, or magneic interference, can cause the analogue hands to lag a little bit, and unsync from the digital display. There's a really easy fix to it though. Remember at the start I told you to only hold A for 2 seconds and not too much longer? Well, if you hold it for 5-7 Seconds, you'll see a different menu come up, with the heading H.Set in the right digital dial. So don't release the button when you see ADJ, wait till H.Set

What you'll want to do, is release the button, and press D or B to move the hands to 12 o'clock (that's their home position). Now press A and the hands will automatically sync back up with the digital display. It's that easy!

Now, one last tip before I end this mammoth article (which I'm hoping is easier to understand than the tiny manual). Alright, so this will probably only be relevant to people who like to go travelling overseas. You can actually swap the home time around with the international time! So as long as your home time was correct, all you need to do is press a button, and it'll show you the time where you're staying, until you swap the times around again.

OK, so what you'll need to do is press C once. Don't hold, just press. See the city that keeps flashing? Press D to cycle through until you get the one that you want as your new home city. Now, hold A and B together for a few seconds, until the watch beeps, and there you have it! You're now living in New York Time, or Tokyo, or whichever city you chose.

Well, that's enough of me yammering on. I hope this was helpful to you, and don't forget to send us your suggestions for more helpful article topics!

Until Next Time - Jimmy B

Introducing the Casio GBA-800 Bluetooth Fitness Series!

Casio is known for its innovations, and specialisations. They've got diving watches, pilot watches, even the previous iteration of the GBA series (the GBA-400) specialised in music, by letting you control your playlist from your watch! With the GBA-800, they've moved on to fitness, and we had a chance to try these watches out. Ready to hear my thoughts? Let's get to it!

Firstly, you're absolutely spoiled for choice. The GBA-800 has 6 different colours to choose from. All 6 of them are analogue/digital combos, with an extra-large case and screen. The coloured models all have a negative display (which is light numbers on a black background), while the white model as the regular display. The hour markers, as well as the hands are extra-large and thick, so you'll always be able to tell the time.

The bands themselves have a new band ring to prevent sliding, as well as more holes so you can adjust the band even better. The GBA-800's will fit pretty much anybody, and they're comfortable to wear.

Now let's get to the features. First up, if you've bought a combo watch before, you might be a bit cautious. Especially when you see “negative display.” Unlike the old combos though, both the analogue and digital displays have a dedicated super LED Light, making it easy to see both times at the press of a button. The hands and hour markers in the analogue display are also treated with a Neobrite solution, so even when the backlight switches off, the hands keep glowing.

As I mentioned at the start, this is a fitness watch, and a cool feature here is the step tracker. There's a 3-axis acceleration sensor, so you won't be able to cheat the system by just moving your arms and legs back and forward. It also lets you set a step goal, and keeps track of your progress. Finally, it gives you your step-counts in graph, so you can see whether you're ahead of your goal, or you need to get stepping.

Most fitness watches come with a lap counter, with a maximum of 100 laps. Like the GA-800 that inspired this series, the GBA-800 doubles that, and gives you 200 laps. So if you're an athlete, or just want to keep track of your running progress, this is a great feature.

Now, this is a Bluetooth watch, which means it has some tricjks up its sleeve that the original GA-800 didn't. First up, when you connect it to your phone, you can get it to automatically set the right time, so you never need to worry about changing the times again.

The step count graph that I talked about earlier, can also be imported straight to your phone, so after a few days you'll have a progress chart, and it can tell you which days you're slacking off (let's face it, sometimes we all slack off). You can also send the 200 lap records you've saved up straight to your phone.

Finally, the world time feature is upgraded by a huge margin. With other G-Shocks you get 30-50 cities at most, whereas here, you can see the time in over 300 cities. You can also easily swap times so if you travel, the default time will be whichever city you're in now.

Now, believe it or not, but there are quite a few other features I didn't get a chance to discuss, but if I did, this would be more like a book than a blog piece! Not to worry though, the GBA-800 series is coming out shortly, and you'll be able to familiarise yourselves with all of its cool features.

Until Next Time – Jimmy B.

What is a G-Shock Auto-Light?

Hello and welcome to the frequently asked questions column, where we answer the questions we get asked the most. In this article, I'll be explaining the auto light feature, what it does, how to turn it on, etc.

Now, this is a very simple, but essential function in all G-Shocks, as well as all Baby-G-Shock watches. If you've ever been in a dark room, with no clue where any of the buttons are, chances are, you'd need an auto light. 

What it does, is pretty self explanaory. without the need to fumble around for buttons, the backlight turns itself on, letting you read the time, no matter the light conditions. All you need to do is turn your wrist 45 degrees, and the watch automatically does the rest.

Now, to turn it on all you have to do is press and hold the light button for a few seconds. Depending on your model, the light button will be either on the top right, or just below the display. To turn it off, just repeat the process.

Now, while the best results are achieved with digital watches (since the whole screen lights up), a combo analogue/digital watch with the auto light function can also be very handy. The hands and hour markers glow to show you the time, and with the neobrite treated watches, they'll continue glowing long after the auto light turns off.

Well, hope you found this helpful. Feel free to comment below with more frequently asked questions. Until Next Time - Jimmy B

Layers of Colour Add Some Fun to the GA-110LN Series!

The GA-110 series has grown by leaps and bounds since being introduced to the world. There are a lot of different styles, and now I have the pleasure of introducing one more. I am, of course, talking about the GA-110 Layer Series.

These watches were designed not just to look good, but to make sure they’re hard to lose (let’s face it, the darker watches, if you drop them, they may be impossible to find). With how bright the inside of the bands are, that mission has definitely been accomplished. So let’s have a look at the GA110LN series.

First up we’ve got the GA-110LN-1A. It’s black with a neon blue wristband. The mesh of colours stand out on your wrist, so you’re bound to attract attention. An interesting addition is the digital numbers are also blue.

Our next watch in the series is the GA-110LN-2A. A dark blue band on the outside can almost be mistaken for black, with the inside a bright, sunny yellow. The  hands and digital display are also fluorescent Yellow, making it really easy to tell both the analogue and digital time in pretty much any light condition.

Lastly, we have the GA110LN-3A. At first glance, it looks like something you could take into the woods (or basic training) as it’s an olive green. Don’t worry about losing the watch though, as inside the band it’s bright orange, again just like the hands. The digital display is also a dark orange on a black background.

As with the GA-110 Series, the 110LNs have an extra large analogue/digital display, with the digital part being split into two (day at the top, time at the bottom). This makes it easier to read the display, and allows the numbers to be a lot larger. The above mentioned colour coded hands attract attention and help people with eye problems read the time. Speaking of the hands, they actually glow when you turn on the backlight, so even if you’re out at night, you’ll still be able to easily tell the analogue time.

Another great feature that’s been a favourite in the GA-110 Series, is the 1/1000-sec Stop Watch. Considered one of the most accurate in the world, it not only lets you time yourself to the 1/1000th of a second, it also gives you an estimated speed, which is an amazing training tool.

If you’re around electronics, you should know that magnetic waves can affect the accuracy of most watches. However, the GA110LN has its predecessor’s magnetic resistant features, so unless you’re around industrial strength magnets, your watch will function with no issues.

The GA110LN series is out now. For more in the GA-110 Range, click here.

 For a cool video regarding these watches, go here.

Until Next Time - Jimmy B.