Timex has a new military model available for sale on their website, and we love the styling as much as the price. The Timex Military Classic is a quartz driven stainless steel watch that Timex designed to be reminiscent of WWII aviation equipment. Regardless of its roots, this piece has a nice military feel and a price that will please most. For $100, you get indigo backlighting, 100m water resistance, and a nylon strap.

Timex

By James Stacey

Bell & Ross has just caught my eye with one of the more interesting aviation watches I've seen in some time: the Instrument BR 01-92 Compass.

As you can see, the design is inspired by a traditional aviation compass. Rather than hands that move around a dial, the movement contains two disks — one for hours and one for minutes — that rotate beneath a stationary vertical line. The time is read through the top window while the other side of the disks are visible through the tinted bottom crystal. Very unique.

Here are the facts:

• Automatic ETA 2892 movement.
• Hours and minutes (no date or seconds).
• Stainless steel 46mm PVD-finished case.
• Screwdown crown.
• Water-resistant to 100 meters (about 330 feet).
• Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating (darkened on the lower portion).
• Leather and rubber strap.
• Limited to 500 pieces.

Nice looking piece, in my opinion. I don't know how long it would take to adjust to telling time using rotating disks rather than hands, but I suspect one would adapt pretty quickly.

No work on pricing or availability as of yet.

By Christian Cantrell

I just got back from Casio's 2010 Shock the World press event in New York, and I have plenty to show. We all had a blast checking out some new G-Shock models, meeting folks from Casio (and Casio's PR team), rubbing elbows with celebrities, and hanging out at what turned out to be a pretty wild concert.

Here are the highlights:

Timex has just launched what appears to be one of the most sophisticated training watches currently available. We have one incoming for a hands-on review so we'll have a lot more to share soon, but here's what we know so far:

• Integrated GPS.
• Calculates pace, speed, and distance in real-time.
• Records up to 100 location waypoints and remembers up to 50 custom routes.
• Customizable display shows up to four data windows.
• 20-workout memory with dated summary records up to 1,000 laps of information.
• Chronograph with interval and countdown timers measures performance.
• Records elapsed time, calories burned, and performance data for each lap.
• Performance pacer helps meet finish-time goals.
• Hands-free option automatically starts and stops data capture functions.
• Performance and route data downloads to online training software powered by TrainingPeaks.
• Advanced desktop software manages users' settings for easy customization.
• Battery recharges when connected to USB port or AC adaptor.
• Compatible with Windows XP or newer, and Mac OS X 10.4 or newer.
• Compatible with Timex heart rate and bike sensors using ANT+.
• Compatible with third-party bike power sensors using ANT+.
• Compatible with Timex digital 2.4 chest sensor heart rate monitor.

In other words, this looks like it comes pretty close to being the ultimate piece of digital training equipment for serious athletes. But what we want to know is how easy is it to use (all this functionality is superfluous if you can't remember how to use it), and how good and robust is the software (we've had trouble with Timex software on Mac in the past). We have one of these instruments on its way from Timex Ironman, so we'll find out soon enough and report back.

Rolex's second announcement this year at BaselWorld 2010 was a redesigned Explorer. I've always loved the Explorer for its unparalleled simplicity and stark elegance, but at only 36 millimeters, it was a tad bit diminutive by today's standards. Not anymore. The size of the new Explorer is much more in line with modern expectations.

Below is a list of everything that's new in the new Rolex Explorer:

• 39 millimeters rather than 36. That's only one millimeter smaller than their other tool watches (like the new Rolex Submariner Date).
• The movement now uses the new Parachrom Blue hairspring which we discussed previously in the context of the Rolex Milgauss.
• The now-standard signed chapter ring   not my favorite new feature, but believe me, I wouldn't let it stop me from wearing one.
• Slightly redesigned dial: the word "EXPLORER" has been moved from the top where it used to be down to the bottom.

Features that haven't changed:

• COCS certified.
• Solid steel case and bracelet.
• Sapphire crystal.
• Screwdown crown.
• Water-resistant to 100 meters or 330 feet.
• No date (part of what it makes it so simple and beautiful).

Not sure yet on pricing or availability. I'll update when I know more.

By Christian Cantrell

Just announced at Basel is an interesting advance from Seiko: a bitmapped grey-scale E-ink display with 80,000 pixels and 300 dots per inch, comparable to a good laser printer. Claimed to be a real product and not just a concept, it has amazing promise for programmable, legible displays. Photo-accurate moonphase? Graphics of twilight? We've liked the E-ink watches we've seen so far, so this is tremendously interesting, and we'll be looking for a release date and price.

Also of note is the fact that each pixel can display four levels of grey — that's new on watches, though the Kindle and its ilk have had it for a while.

Without giving numbers, Seiko claims it uses 1% of the power previously required, so hopefully the battery life will be at least a year. I'm not fond of watches I have to recharge every week.

By Paul Hubbard

Rolex has finally introduced the long-awaited redesigned Rolex Submariner Date at BaselWorld 2010. It looks like the community is still digesting the changes and hasn't really come down on one side or the other yet, but I'm happy to go on record and admit to loving it. The Submariner has always been one of my favorite watches, and I think Rolex has actually managed to improve it significantly.

Here are the specs:

• 40mm case (no change in size, but the design is updated).
• New ceramic bezel with platinum graduations. (Ceramic is much more scratch- and UV-resistant than the old anodized aluminum, however it's also much more expensive to replace.)
• "Maxi dial" (meaning larger markers than the previous design as foreshadowed in the 50th Anniversary Edition).
• Sapphire crystal with AR-coated cyclops magnifier over the date (no change).
• Water-resistant to 300 meters or 1,000 feet (no change).
• New Oyster bracelet with a Glidelock clasp similar to what's on the Sea-Dweller DEEPSEA. This is a significant improvement over the older Oysterlock bracelet.
• Same 3135 calibre movement, but with the addition of the Parachrom Blue hairspring which we've discussed before on the Rolex Milgauss.
• Signed chapter ring (the ROLEX ROLEX ROLEX.... you see between the bezel and the dial).

The new Submariner Date will also be available in green as pictured here. The reports I'm seeing on price are somewhere in the neighborhood of $7,500, but that's just an early estimate (and seems a tad bit high to me — I'll post an update when I can get some confirmation).

By Christian Cantrell

Announced today is the new Casio Pathfinder, model PAG-110C-3. Emphasis on this one is "Go Green," showcasing the environmentally friendly features of solar power, recycled packaging, and of course the vivid green color, introduced in conjunction with Earth Day.

Feature set is typical Pathfinder:

• Compass.
• Barometer/altimeter.
• Thermometer.
• Five alarms, stopwatch, 30-city world time.
• Water resistant to 100m (330ft).
• Tough solar power.
• Low temperature resistant.

List price is $250, exclusively available via Amazon. Keep an eye here for a full review.

By Paul Hubbard

As big Pathfinder fans here at WatchReport, we're happy to report that the new PAW-5000-1 will ship this April for $450. Departing somewhat from the dominant style of "mostly digital face", the new model sports a reduced-size digital screen and more dive-watch-style face. Somehow, it works for us. Casio PR has promised to try and get us a review unit, so keep an eye out for a full review. Here's a list of specifications to pique your interest in the meantime:

• Tough solar power.
• Six-band radio set timekeeping.
• Water resistant to 100m (330ft).
• Plastic case, urethane band.
• Triple sensor (temperature, altimeter/barometer, compass).
• Resistant to low temperatures.
• New tough movement, as seen in the GS-1200 and the MTG-1500, where it can check and correct the position of the hands. A very cool piece of engineering.
• The second hand doubles as a compass needle. Clever, huh?

The watch hasn't been officially announced in the USA yet, but keep an eye on Casio's website for the announcement.

By Paul Hubbard

Breitling has announced a new model in the Avenger line: the Blacksteel Chrono. This new chronograph brings some interesting new technology -- as well as a great new look -- to the dive-chronograph market.

The Blacksteel Chrono's pushers use a magnetic system to active the chronograph features rather than relying on a physical connection between the pusher and the chronograph system inside the watch. This magnetic magic allows the chronograph to be functional to a maximum depth of 1000m -- a considerable innovation as very few chronographs can be used while submerged, let alone at 1000m (a record now held by Breitling).

Breitling is powering the the Blacksteel Chrono with its SuperQuartz movement (Breitling 73 - COSC certified) which is ten times as accurate as traditional quartz moments. The blackened steel and red on black dial design is a refreshing change of pace compared to the somewhat flashy styles Breitling normally produces. This 45.5mm Breitling comes fitted with a sapphire crystal and a rubber strap, and is limited to 2,000 pieces.

By James Stacey