Casio has revealed its digital Men In Dark Purple (MIDP) GF-1000BP-1DR Frogman that will go on sale in April 2011. As huge as the national debt of the United States, the new device is designed with the kind of people in mind who prefer a Kawasaki Ninja to a Nissan Micra as the main means of transportation.
Sporting the same design as the 2009 G-Shock Frogman GWF1000-1 diver, the new gadget is presented in a different color scheme featuring a controversial combination of black and what the Japanese prefer to call Royal Purple. To my taste, the combination somehow cheapens the watch, making it even more pretentious-looking than the previous model. But, of course, this is a matter of personal preference, I am sure that there will be tens of thousands of customers ready to pay for this otherwise great gadget.
Like it is the case with a number of other G-Shock timekeepers, the new gadget’s main selling point is its “Self-Charging Tough Solar Power Technology” that combines a tiny solar panel on its busy digital display with a large-capacity rechargeable battery.
In two words, it means that you will virtually never run dry on power (of course, if you don’t plan to spend the next 10 years on Pluto or some other distant planet.)
Their signature Self-Adjusting Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping Technology that periodically adjusts the timekeeper’s display time to real-time set by one of many atomic clocks constantly broadcasting their signal across the planet also makes this device significantly more usable. Of course, the signal is not available in some obscure parts of the world, but if you happen to live in an area, which is covered, you are golden.
As usual, the new GF-1000BP-1DR Frogman is literally overstuffed with functions, those including a tide graph, moon age, and phase date, full auto EL backlight, five alarms, GMT, chronograph, and, of course, a dive log (this is a diving tool, after all.)
Its stainless steel case, which is watertight to a depth of 200 meters, is wrapped in black resin and makes the watch both rigid and shock-resistant. It also makes it more difficult to scratch the little bugger.
As far as accuracy is concerned, the GF-1000BP-1DR offers an approximate monthly deviation of +/- 15 seconds, which is a sort of standard for their G-Shock family. If you feel underwhelmed by the gadget’s accuracy (I sort of do,) but still inclined to have a G-Shock on your wrist, then you should probably opt for another member of the mighty family that, besides the listed functions, also happens to be equipped with their famous Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping technology that uses a closest to you atomic clock’s radio signal to periodically adjust the timekeeper’s reading.
The recommended street price of $675 is a bit too high for my taste. Well, I guess that it will soon also appear in online shops with at least a 20 percent discount over the MSRP.
See also: Casio G-Shock X Alife G5500AL-1
Photos: Casio
Casio Men In Dark Purple (MIDP) GF-1000BP-1DR Frogman specification
Price: $675
Movement: Digital, Made in Japan
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph, world time, alarms, dive log, moon phase, tide graph
Case: Stainless steel and resin
Dimensions: 58.30 mm x 52.80 mm
Case height: 18.00 mm
Total weight: 115 g
Dial: LCD, monochromatic, with backlighting
Numerals: Arabic
Water resistance: 200 meters
Strap: Black rubber strap
Crystal: Hardened mineral glass
Back: Solid, screw-lock