New Citizen SST - Part 2 - The Technical Side of the SST

OK, let's get technical. In part one we covered the design aspect of this amazing watch. Today, we are going to look at the features, functions and available options. So, let jump right in and take a look at what this watch can do.

To start I have put together a list outlining the features and functions...

• 1/1000 Split Second Chronograph
  • Chronograph Measures up to 24 Hours
  • Split Lap Time
  • Average Speed Calculation
  • 20 Lap Memory
• World Time in 43 Cities
• 24 Hour Alarm
• 99 Minute Countdown Timer
• LED Back light for Digital Display
• Bidirectional Rotating Slide Rule Bezel
• Eco-Drive Battery Free Technology
  • 240 Day Power Reserve when Fully Charged
  • Requires Only 200 Hours to Fully Charge in Average Lighting
  • 3 Day Low Charge Warning
• Stainless Steel Case and Bracelet with Black Ion Plated Accents
• Non-Reflective Mineral Glass Crystal
• Water Resistant to 200 Meters (660 Feet)
• Bracelet features a Fold Over Clasp with Double Hidden Push Button Release

DIMENSIONS:

• Width 45 millimeters (47.5 millimeters with crown) Large Men's Watch
• Depth (thickness) 13 millimeters

Not to shabby huh? Not only is it chalk full of features but it is also easy to use. Citizen has all but perfected the user interface. The functions are easy to use and intuitive. Within two minutes of playing with the watch, most users will be able to use every function of this watch without the use of the instruction book.

With features like World Time with 43 Cities and a true 24 hour alarm this watch is perfect for the world traveler. Or someone who needs to keep track of several time zones. Perhaps you have a daughter in New York and a loved one deployed in Iraq. You can easily keep track of the times in both locations as well as you own 'home' time zone. Each time zone is automatically set based off of your 'home' time so you don't have to do a thing. Just set the time like you normally do and every other time zone is automatically updated. Viewing them is as easy as scrolling thru them in order. By far the easiest world time feature to use of any that I have tried.

A 24 hour alarm means you can set the alarm for a specific time and the alarm only goes off at that time. Many watches feature a 12 hour alarm which means if you set the alarm for 6:00, it will go off at both 6:00am and 6:00pm. With the SST you can set the alarm for 6:00am and you don't have to worry about it going off later that evening when you don't need it.

This watch also feature a 99 Minute Count-Down Timer. This feature can be set for any 1 minute increments between 1 and 99 minutes. Simply set it for the desired time (say 15 minutes) and start the count down. Once the timer reaches "0" an alarm will sound to let you know the timer has expired. Very handy for timing anything. Say you are multi-tasking, cooking BBQ and prep work. Set the timer and start working. When the alarm sounds you know it's time to check those ribs. There really are 100's of uses for this function. Very handy.

Of course, once again, the Chronograph is the star of the show. This is a true 24 hour Chronograph. Not a 12 hour or 30 minute chrono you find in most watches... 24 hours! There really is almost nothing you can't time. The 24 hour race at Le Mans? No problem! Not only that, but full split time functionality, Average Speed Calculation and a 20 Lap Memory! This means that the last 20 lap time are actually stored in an internal memory that you can pull up and review at a later date. There really isn't any better chronograph on the market.

Couple all that with bright LED backlight and you have one of the best watches available anywhere. Not to mention the Eco-Drive technology. True Quartz accuracy and No Battery to replace ever!

With a beautiful design and features like this, what other watch could compete? This is exactly why we pick the new SST as this holiday's big hit. And to top it all off, this watch is available in three different styles (pictured below). Stainless Steel, Titanium and the Limited Edition all Black Titanium.

The Limited Edition upgrades the Glass Crystal to a Genuine Sapphire Crystal and is the ONLY Black Titanium Citizen watch offered in North America. It really is the Ultimate Version of this watch available. This version is limited to only 1500 pieces so if you want one you need to act quickly. Each Limited Edition comes in a beautiful wooden gift box and is individually numbered and certified. This will likely be sold out for the holiday season.

It is also important to note that the Limited Edition is NOT available from Online Dealers. This watch is only available directly through you favorite Citizen Dealer. For more information call us Toll Free at 1-888-243-6329.

Learn more about the Citizen SST, with more pictures and a close-up view at the Citizen Promaster SST Gemday Website. You can purchase it there, too, at a great price.

New Citizen SST - Part 1

Well here we are again about to head into another Holiday Season. People are starting to think gifts and gift giving, the best values for the best products and are always looking for the hot holiday gift. One of this year's top contenders for that category is the New Citizen Eco-Drive SST.

So, in honor of this watch, we are doing a special 2-Part story on the SST and all of it's features. Today, we are going to look at the overall design and analog functions. In part 2, we are going to get technical: cover the digital functions, model specifics and available options including the Limited Edition version and how to get one! Be sure to check back next week for the continuation. Now on to part 1...

The SST is one of Citizen's newest entries into the ever growing segment of high-end sport watches. And let me tell you, this is one of the best watches Citizen has ever made. One look at the close-up of the dial and you can already tell that Citizen is really producing top quality watches.


One of the first things you'll notice are the unique sub-dials. These sub-dials are very reminiscent of sports car gauges. Attractive, well designed and functional. First (to the far left) you have your second hand counter. This sub-dial is directly tied into the Chronograph and Race Timer functions. It is an analog reading for the chrono/timer when in use. This dial gives you a full 60 second count with markers every 5 seconds and an attractive silver dividing line for the first and last 30 seconds. Just another small detail that adds to the overall pleasing lines of this watch.

On the opposite side (far right) you have the 12/24 hour sub-dial. This is a fairly standard addition to the modern Citizen sport watch. This sub-dial is directly tied to the main Hour hand on the watch. It is effectively an am/pm indicator and tracks around only once in a 24hr period. Once again we see the silver marker across half of the dial. This time, to indicate Daylight hours vs. Night.

Finally, we come to the center piece of the analog dials. This dial sits up front and center and is by far the most fun to play with. This sub-dial is noticeable larger than the others and tracks both 1/10 and 1/100 of a second in real time (for the first minute). Hit the start button on the chrono and watch this dial jump to life at lightning speeds. This sub-dial actually has two hands. One that rotates at a 1/10 of a second speed and the other at 1/100 of a second! This hand moves so fast it actually looks like a red blur. Very Cool!!!

Of course, apart from function, we also have form. This watch is one good looking timepiece. And everything on this watch has the same rich detail. From the sub-dials to the case to the crown to the buttons. Every part of this watch is beautiful! Take a look at the close-up of the crown and buttons. Notice how the buttons are fitted with rubber accents for extra grip and feel. Look at the ribbed crown with the "Promaster" insignia emblazoned on the side. And the Hex-head screws that actually double as both design cues as well as being the actual hinge for the push buttons!


It's the little details like these that really make this watch stand out above the rest. Each part of this watch comes together to make something more than just the sum of it's parts... A truly stunning timepiece. If you have the opportunity to see one of these in person, we highly recommend it. Pictures just don't do it justice.

Be sure to check back with us in a few days for Part 2. If you think what you have seen so far is impressive, you ain't seen nothing yet...

Need more details? Check out our listing at Gem of the Day - http://www.gemday.com/item0221.htm

Citizen Expands the Atomic Time Line of Skyhawks

The 'AT' Collection of Atomic Time Citizen Skyhawks has quickly become a phenomenon, capturing both pilot's and the public's attention. Realizing they have a winner, Citizen Watch Company continues to expand the line and has two new additions for Fall, 2008.

The world famous BLUE ANGELS Flight Chronograph has now been UPGRADED to the 3rd Generation Skyhawk AT movement. That means the Blue Angels now has the most accurate time in the world, set by the Atomic Clock. Radio signals are received automatically and the time is reset every night.

The new Blue Angels AT has a digital display backlight for easy night visibility. It automatically displays the time in 43 cities around the world. It has two world time alarms. Plus it has Eco-Drive technology, so you will never need to replace a battery.

Perhaps even more exciting is the Skyhawk AT is now available in a new ALL BLACK PVD case and bracelet! The new Black AT has the same 3rd Generation Skyhawk movement with time set by the Atomic Clock in Boulder, Colorado. And it has all the great AT features including World Time, 24 Hour Chronograph and 2 World Time Alarms. But it's now dressed up in basic black!

Citizen is using a Physical Vapor Deposition method to plate the stainless steel case and bracelet with a combination of carbon and titanium for a matte finish black coating that promises to be tough and durable.

Still, the most talked about feature of all the new AT's is the LIGHTED DIGITAL DISPLAY for easy night time viewing or viewing in a darkened cockpit.

All Skyhawks feature an EB6 Pilot's slide rule bezel and sundials for the UTC Time (Greenwich Mean Time Display), 24 hour time and an Eco-Drive Power Reserve Indicator.

You can purchase the new Skyhawks any of the three Gem of the Day family of websites. Just click one of the links below to go to the catalog of your choice:

Top Flight Watches Citizen Skyhawks

Time4Tritium Non-Tritium Solutions

Gem of the Day Citizen Promaster Catalog

Major Price Increases from the Swiss

Most of the large Swiss Watch manufacturers have now announced really major price increases to be implemented over the summer, most in the month of June. Price increases are ranging from 13% up to 27% and cover virtually all models in the brand's assortments.

There are two major reasons for the price increases and then there is also the mindset of the Swiss who own the factories.

First are the actual cost increases in the manufacturing process. Raw materials, labor and production costs have all risen significantly. And the cost of shipping, as you all probably know, has skyrocketed.

Second, and much more important, is the exchange rate between the US Dollar and the Swiss Franc. The dollar is at an all time low. Because most (but not all) Swiss Watchmakers have held off on price increases, they are now caught in a terrible bind. At today's exchange rate they are simply losing money. Watches sold in the United States at the current exchange rates are below the actual costs, after the exchange rates are considered.

Finally, the price increases are often rather strange because of the mentality of the Swiss owners. They are extremely concerned about the possibility of their customers transshipping watches from country to country. So they are attempting to balance all the exchange rates around the world. This leads to some really bizarre retails like $406.00 or $842.00 rather than the conventional price points like $399.00 or $799.00.

When all factors are considered, I believe this will cause huge sales decreases in Swiss Watches. When I see a really popular watch like the Swiss Made Luminox Ultimate Navy Seals Chronograph (model 8351) going from an affordable $650.00 up to $825.00, a 27% increase, I'm not certain the consumer won't turn to much more affordable products from the far east and Japan.

The Japanese and American are holding prices or limiting them to very small increases of 2% to 5%. The gap in pricing will become huge.

The bottom line is that if you're considering a Swiss Watch, purchase it quickly before the prices go up. You could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

A $300,000.00 Watch That Doesn't Tell Time

I just knew all our clients and readers would just love to read this story, from The Wall Street Journal:

A $300,000 watch? Luxury. A $300,000 watch that doesn’t tell time — and that
sells out? Pure genius.

According to several news reports flagged by my friends at Luxist, Swiss watchmaker Romain Jerome just launched the “Day&Night” watch. The watch won’t tell you what time it is. That’s so yesterday. But it does tell you whether it’s day or night — helpful, I guess, for billionaire types who can’t afford windows.

As the company’s Web site boasts: “With no display for the hours, minutes or seconds, the Day&Night offers a new way of measuring time, splitting the universe of time into two fundamentally opposing sections: day versus night.”

What’s most impressive about the Day&Night is its complexity, given its absolute uselessness. The watch features two tourbillons — devices that overcome the ill
effects of earth’s gravity on a watch’s accuracy — connected by a differential mechanism. Instead of hands, the watch has a “contemplative tourbillon operation
whereby the ‘Day’ tourbillon operates for 12 hours to symbolize working life, while the ‘Night’ tourbillon takes over afterward to represent an individual’s private time.”

Like other Romain Jerome watches, the watch is made in part with steel salvaged from the sunken Titanic, along with material from the shipyard where it was built. That sounds creepy to me, but maybe today’s buyers prefer morbid metals.

The company’s chief executive, Yvan Arpa, cited statistical studies to explain how the watch better reflects the time-philosophy of today’s wealthy.

“When you ask people what is the ultimate luxury, 80 percent answer ‘time’. Then when you look at other studies, 67 percent don’t look at their watch to tell what time it is,” he told Reuters.

He added that anyone can buy a watch that tells time — only a truly discerning customer can buy one that doesn’t.

And here’s the best part: The watch sold out within 48 hours of its launch.

I'm sorry to have to tell you that we don't offer this watch for sale on any of our websites. But here is a link to Romain Jerome's Website.

Gold Continues to Soar

From the Financial Times (UK Edition), March 1, 2008:

The soaring cost of gold and platinum is causing pandemonium in the UK's jewellery market as retailers and private owners rush to reappraise the value of necklaces, brooches and rings.

Jewellers in London's Hatton Garden - the capital's jewellery quarter - are raising the price of wedding bands on a weekly basis, with less-expensive palladium rings now coming into vogue. And insurers are urging clients to get
another assessment of the value of their jewellery collections in response to the rapid rise in the price of precious metals, sparked by investors seeking refuge from volatile stocks.

"The price of platinum has been going up so fast, we're quoting people prices for platinum wedding bands on a Saturday and saying we can't guarantee the same price on Monday.

Scores of jewellers and private investors have also had expensive articles reappraised to be sure they are not caught out in case of loss or theft.

The price of gold hit a record $975.90 yesterday, ending European trading at $970.40 a troy ounce, while platinum hit a record $2,158 a troy ounce last week.

It is an excellent idea to have your better and heavier gold jewelry reappraised for insurance purposes. You'll find that over the last three years prices have at least doubled. In the case of some Swiss Made gold watches, the price for a replacement watch has tripled.

Have your diamond jewelry reappraised, too. Diamonds continue to increase in price, although not as rapidly as gold. Still, the effect on replacement costs can be staggering.

Bargain hunters should shop local jewelry and on the Internet for dealers who have been slow to adjust prices. There are many items on-line at prices well below the new dealer cost.

There has literally never been a better time to go treasure hunting.