I hadn’t really thought about what a poison dart frog looked like until recently, as – thankfully – we don’t have many of them in the wilds of rural Surrey here in the UK, but thanks to the new G-Shock Poison Dart Frog Frogman watch, I have a good idea of what to look out for if ever I come across such a thing.
Why is that? Because the brand did a brilliant job of bringing the bright amphibian colors to life on my wrist. Here’s a closer look.
Just like a poison frog
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Made to mark the 30th anniversary of the G-Shock Frogman range, the GWF-A1000APF-1AER Frogman is a variation of the existing GWF-A1000 analogue Frogman watch, which I reviewed in 2020. The shape and features are the same, but as with most G-Shock special edition watches the design and color scheme are completely different. It’s also a rarity, as special edition Frogmans don’t always come out of Japan, but this one is available worldwide in limited numbers.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
The frame is made of multiple layers of carbon-reinforced glass fiber, randomly laminated to replicate the color of the poison dart frog’s skin and to make each watch different from the others. Unlike the standard GWF-A1000, the solid resin dial guards have been replaced with ones made of clear urethane. This is one of my favorite design elements, as it minimizes the size of the dial and significantly changes the overall look.
I also really like the strap design. The solid black is covered in a splattered color effect, just like the poison dart frog’s arms, which really stand out in the sunlight. The metal buckle is polished blue, and the holder is made of solid rubber. Turn the clock over and you’ll see that the iconic character Frogman has also been remade into a Poison dart frog. This special edition is built to G-Shock’s usual high standards and looks truly special placed next to the standard analogue Frogman.
It’s smart… but not really a smart watch
The GWF-A1000 was the first Frogman model to feature Bluetooth connectivity, but don’t think of it as a smartwatch, or even as a competitor to some of G-Shock’s sportier watches like the GBD-200. Instead, the Bluetooth functionality simplifies everyday features and makes using Frogman’s Dive Log a little easier.
Some time ago, G-Shock introduced the Casio Watches app, which acts as an app-based hub for your collection. Oddly, the Frogman connects to the app, but then takes you to an old Casio app, called G-Shock Connected, to use the feature. In this case, you can just skip the Casio Watches app and just use the G-Shock Connected app unless you really want to have two Casio apps installed on your phone.
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The G-Shock Connected works very well. It guides you through the connection process as well as through all the features. It is reliable, clear, concise and simple. You can set the world time, start a timer, set an alarm and check the battery charge status. The Dive Log logs your dive time and records your location using your phone’s GPS, all done with a few keystrokes in the app. It’s definitely easier than remembering different button combinations on the watch itself, plus the mapping feature looks great.
Like all Frogman analog watches, it runs on solar energy, so there is no need to charge the battery using a cable or wireless charger. In my experience, as long as it sees some daylight on a vaguely regular basis, you won’t need to worry about charging at all. The correct time is set when you sync with the app, but the GWF-A1000 also features Casio Multi-Band 6 technology, where it periodically syncs with radio towers around the world and automatically adjusts to the correct local time.
As tough as it is poisonous
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Is Frogman tough? Do poisonous frogs have poison on their skin? It’s the ultimate G-Shock, which means impact resistance through the Hollow Core Guard structure made of carbon and resin, anti-corrosion coating on all metal components, 200 meters of water resistance with ISO accreditation for professional diving use and sapphire crystal over the dial.
The dial features LED backlighting and light applied to the main hands, the sub-dial hands, the tip of the seconds hand and above each hour marker. It makes the watch face legible in the dark, while the bright LED better illuminates the date window and sub-function dial.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
While the watch face is busy, everything has a function, right down to the markers around the edge that indicate when features like Bluetooth connectivity are enabled. The screw-down crown ensures the watch’s water resistance, and when you unscrew it, the watch automatically activates various adjustment features.
Wearing a poison frog watch
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
G-Shock watches are rarely small, and the Frogman is one of the largest you can get. At its widest point, the GWF-A1000 Frogman is 56mm, plus its 19.7mm thickness, so don’t expect it to disappear under your cuff or naturally fit all wrist sizes. The bright color scheme makes it even more eye-catching than the regular Frogman, so it’s not really a watch for the shy and reserved.
The G-Shock Frogman, poison dart frog version or not, is thicker than the Apple Watch Ultra; at 110 grams it is also heavier. But chances are, if you’re reading this, you already know that the G-Shock dive watch is a beast. This is also why I love it and why I own several different versions. It’s not like you’re wearing a Seiko “tuna” diver’s watch or a Tag Heuer Aquaracer, which are pretty subtle by comparison. It’s a statement piece, especially when the colors are cranked up to the max like they are here.
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
Wearing the strap a little looser is how most G-Shocks should be worn, but here it means it restricts wrist movement due to the size. Wearing it firmly stops this, but it takes some getting used to. However, I’ll live with smiling every time I look down, plus the certainty that I’ll never make a mistake real a poisonous frog for anything else.
The GWF-A1000APF-1AER Poison Dart Frog Frogman is a limited edition watch, made to celebrate the anniversary of the Frogman range, and it may not be here forever. It is expected to launch in the US soon, but is already available in the UK and some other countries. In the UK, it costs 949 British pounds, which is about $1,140. The standard GWF-A1000 costs $800 in the US, so expect to pay slightly more than this when it becomes available.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn