#G FORCE WATCH SERIES#

The light button provides a good amount of light which also briefly charges the luminous hands on the watch face. I found the buttons and functions to be intuitive and did not need assistance setting up the watch for use. The compass is slick, activating the button causes the second hand to point to north. The thermometer is accurate, though should be taken off the body to get the truest readings. However, having family in different time zones may apply here. The stopwatch, alarm, and countdown timer are all straightforward, and not being a jet setter, one might dismiss the world time feature. The multiple functions are useful-Stopwatch, Alarm, Countdown Timer, World Time, Thermometer, Compass. I was lucky enough to test this watch for months before writing about it, and during the summer when my outdoor activity levels are at their greatest. This Master of G offers great functions that serve many walks of life. The watch is a functional piece of art-all its dials, gears, and workings, ticking away under the clear glass.

Having used all digital for a few years, I loved looking down through the glass at how deep it seemed. The timepiece evokes a handsome and tactical feel, with a nod to the future via LCD supplementing the overall analog temperament. A quick glance can remind you it is much later in Afghanistan. World Time occupies the second and last analog dial which is a tiny clock in itself.

Time, world time, stop watch, timer, alarm, and compass are all pointed to by a small arrow when the functions are activated. At the very bottom, an analog dial with an arrow indicates what mode you are in, and reminds you of the multitudinous features this watch has. Bottom right, the seconds digitally tick by to an unknowable future.

Top right, the digital display references date for me since my weeks tend to run together. The primary hands for hour, minute, and second still dominate the surface with a large, white ‘12’ being the only referencing number at the top, hash marks delineate the rest. Laid out in a semi-chronograph, the watch face features two analog dials, and two LCD displays (black background with silver numbers/letters). I do not call in helicopters anymore so I don’t find myself frequently needing to know altitudes to estimate a landing zone. The sensors themselves are a compass and thermometer, both still highly relevant to my current work. This watch is a beautiful blend of liquid crystal display (LCD) and analog watch hands.

#G FORCE WATCH SERIES#

(PoliceOne Image)Ĭasio sent me a dual-sensor watch in the Master of G series (an expansion of the G-Shock line), designated the GA1100-1A3. There are literally hundreds of models with different features to choose from. The line was introduced in 1983 and has served ever since, selling as many as 19,000,000 by 1998. Being hardy and affordable, it makes sense first responders would gravitate to this quality gear. Standing for Gravitational Shock, the line was designed to withstand abuse. A casual glance at many EMTs, firefighters, and police will confirm this. Right now, serving across America, an untold number of emergency personnel have G-Shock watches strapped to their wrists. I recently learned the line was expanded and set out to learn more. The Casio G-Shock line of watches is popular among first responders for that very reason. Whether rappelling down mountains, quenching a lightning strike, or fighting behind a bar, my Casio watch never failed me. As an impressionable young man I had a sergeant give me a Casio Triple Sensor Watch. Being a cop, firefighter, EMT, and SAR coordinator, I learned some powerful lessons get all the training you can, and carry good gear. Over the years I served in so many roles I really had to prepare for anything. Next, at 2300 hours you’ll roll around on the ground in an alley fighting a drunk who doesn’t want to go to jail. It would have looked something like this-at 1600 you’ll respond to a river rescue and get soaking wet, but bring a family safely to shore, then after a uniform change, at 1930 you’ll help EMS haul a gurney down a flight of stairs. I wish I would have had a schedule over the years, one that would tell me what to expect for each shift.

G force watch