TRIED AND TESTED
The best motoring products, put through their paces by evo India
It’s raining watches this month, with the robust and energetic Casio G-Shock GA 2000, the sleek and convenient Fitbit Versa Lite and the oh-so-snazzy Luminox XL 1929
CASIO G-SHOCK GA 2000 REVIEW `8,995
www.casioindiashop.com
THE SUB-`10,000 WATCH SEGMENT IS HEATING UP NOW, with a huge variety of watches catering to different types of consumers. Also fuelling the competition are the numerous smartwatch options available at a small premium over these watches. As a result, manufacturers are introducing features that were otherwise only available in much more expensive watches. Not wanting to miss the bus, Casio has launched the GA2000 range of watches and we got our hands on one for a review.
The GA2000 range stands out for its Carbon Core Guard structure that boasts of high strength in a lightweight package while delivering superior shock resistance. It promises greater resilience with interchangeable bands. Each of the watches come in a carbonfibre-reinforced resin case and stainless-steel panel back, that protects the internal module from shock-induced damage and deformation.
During our time with the watch, it came across as sturdy and easily took the numerous bumps that came its way with not even a scratch to show for it. The water resistance was particularly useful as we used it extensively on outdoor shoots during the rain. However, what stood out the most was the way it looked. The yellow on black colourway gave the watch a young, playful appeal that was always the highlight of whatever outfit I was wearing.
The watch gets a ton of additional features, like 200m water resistance, 1/100th sec. stopwatch, a hand retract function, world time (31 time zones/ 48 cities) display, a countdown timer and a full auto calendar with five daily alarms.
The combination of great looks, ruggedness and class-leading features makes the GA2000 a great buy for most people.
FITBIT VERSA LITE `14,500
amazon.in
CAR ENTHUSIASTS SATIATE THEIR HUNGER FOR WATCHES BY opting for motorsport-inspired classics or even heritage-driven chronographs. A motorcyclist, on the other hand, prefers his riding gear over anything else. But having lived with the Fitbit Versa Lite for a month, I can tell you that it’s as essential as your riding gloves. It also comes packed with features, of which many are ideal for riding.
Notifications from almost every popular app are integrated really well, be it WhatsApp, Swiggy or Facebook. You can even play music, change tracks or alter volume levels. It even lets you answer calls so that you can simply leave the phone in your backpack and never stop riding. The Fitbit developer community has developed a plethora of apps including Maps for navigation.
The smart watch is water resistant up to 50m and I can vouch for the claim. It has survived the crazy monsoons we’ve had this year!
The brilliant touchscreen has a capable resolution and is great with haptic feedback too, even with riding gloves. But the best part is that the battery lasts over four days on a single charge. Isn’t that what a lazy biker ideally looks for? I’m in love with the Versa Lite already. Watch this space for more.
Abhishek Wairagade (@abhibhi)
LUMINOX XL 1929 `49,610
www.helioswatchstore.com
FIELD WATCHES WERE ONCE SOLELY MADE FOR those working in adverse working conditions where a watch’s reliability and accuracy had to be retained over extended periods of time. No wonder then that Luminox is the supplier of choice for the US Navy SEALs, stealth jet pilots and other elite forces. Luminox watches glow 100 times brighter than most other luminous watches, giving them superior readability. Tough, powerful and accurate, the Swiss-made Luminox is the ultimate night vision gear for serious athletes as well as rugged outdoorsmen. Luminox has yet again breathed new life into the very traditional Field watch category. The Atacama Field Series, named after the Chilean Atacama region, one of the driest areas in the entire world, was the inspiration for the Luminox’s Field Series.
The Atacama Field Series blends the functionality of a modern Swiss Made timepiece with an updated retro look and rugged styling. The newest pieces, day-date models and chronograph alarm models feature both earthy colours, and the return of the classic Black-on-Black. Originating in the 1880s, the field watch gained popularity during the First World War due to soldiers’ demands for reliable and portable timepieces. The battlefield environment also created a need for exceptionally water- and shock-resistant watches, and the Field watch quickly evolved a distinctive style – rugged and utilitarian with virtually no embellishment.
So, when we at evo India received the Luminox XL 1929, one of the newer field watches in Luminox’ line-up, we were very excited to test it out. Here’s our verdict after using it over the course of two weeks.
The XL 1929 is a Day-Date model with a quartz movement with a case diameter of 45mm. The stainless steel black brushed case works well with the black dial and is quite attractive.
The brown leather strap is rather thick and looks like it could last ages. The golden hands and the numerals on the dial stand out during the day and aided by the night vision tubes has great visibility and readability.
Tipping the scales at 111g, the watch is not as heavy as the rugged construction and heavy-duty strap would suggest. It also gets a water resistance rating of a depth of up to 200 metres. We didn’t test it underwater but the watch did hold up really well even when it got drenched during the torrential downpour that we experienced for a full week. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the leather strap held up. The strap does dry very quickly and over the two weeks or so, it has developed a patina that adds loads of character to the belt – something that you might find endearing over extended usage.
In conclusion, the XL 1929 does command a high price but it offers a ruggedness that others in the price range simply can’t match.
Afzal Rawuther (@Afzal_rawuther)