CasioMen's G-Shock MTGM900DA-8CR Tough Solar Atomic Stainless Steel Sport Watch

Casio’s G-Shock is noted for toughness and durability, and the MT-G line is something more. The MT stands for “metal twisted” - the entire line has a unique feature I’ve never seen elsewhere.Much of the metal used on the case of a G-Shock MT-G watch is just an outer shell, filled inside with the same hard resin used to make cases in most other G-Shock watches. You get the strength and appearance of a classy, metal watch, but the lighter weight of a plastic resin watch. When you pick this watch up, it weighs much less than you expect it to, but it’s still a G-Shock and every bit as durable.In addition to the usual features found in most modern G-Shock watches (world time for 48 cities, alarms, countdown timer, stopwatch, 12/24 hour time display, DST function), this watch has two more, less-common features: Tough Solar and Multi-Band 6.Tough Solar means that the watch uses solar cells in the face to recharge a capacitor - no more replacing batteries. With my Tough Solar watches, I find that an hour or two of bright, direct sunlight a month is enough to keep the capacitor at high charge (the display has a power reserve indicator on the top left).When you don’t wear the watch for a while, darkness will trigger power save mode, shutting down most of the display to extend the battery charge duration; only the power save indicator stays on. You can press a button or expose the watch to light to wake it from power save mode. (You can disable power save mode in the settings, but this is only recommended if you wear it frequently and it gets some direct sunlight now and then - such as if it’s the only watch you wear and you spend some time outdoors regularly, or you often leave it on a bright window sill.) With power save on at full charge, the watch will go for nine months before the capacitor is drained - never let a capacitor get to zero charge; it will likely need to be replaced.Multi-Band 6 means that when you’re in most of North America, Europe and Asia, your watch will use a built-in receiver to pick up a time sync signal from one of six radio stations worldwide that are linked to atomic clocks - this happens daily, is automatic (it usually tries in the early morning hours when most people are sleeping), and means that your watch is as accurate as you can get without spending a fortune.Radio signals from these stations can be difficult to receive under certain conditions - such as inside a steel-and-concrete building away from windows that face the right direction, or on the side of a large hill or mountain that faces away from the station. In these cases, you can manually trigger a time sync when you are in conditions more conducive to longwave radio reception. If that fails, you still have the option to manually adjust the time as needed. (For reference, the US signal is from an NIST facility broadcasting just outside of Fort Collins, Colorado, so for most people in the US, anything obstructing radio signals north and/or west may prevent a time sync; the closer to the signal you live, the stronger it should be.)I left out the best for last. This watch is the absolute least expensive MT-G model on the market today. Granted, it isn’t as fancy or classy-looking as the other MT-G watches, but most of them start at $950 (for a model with a titanium case and resin bands) and go up to as high as $1450 at the time I’m writing this. Many models are limited editions and frequently sell out fast. This is because most of the MT-G line, with the exception of this watch, are completely analog but have most of the same, exact functions as this watch - they’re considered high-end, fashionable collectibles. They’re also hand-crafted in Japan; this one isn’t. (Most Casios are made in either China or the Philippines.)Even if you “step down” to a “Full Metal” G-Shock (all-steel case and bracelet), they typically run between $500-$600, and the G-Steel line (steel cases, resin or rubber straps) are a few hundred dollars - even on sale, they cost more than this one! At the time I’m writing this, Casio sells this model direct to consumers for $170, and Amazon (not a third party seller) sells it here for some pennies under $100.If this was too long, here’s the summary: you get an excellent feature set for a bargain price with all the toughness of a G-Shock, and a look that wouldn’t be out of place with a suit and tie. Never needs a battery, always has the right time within a second or so.

Bought almost this same exact model (MTG-900) over 14 years ago in Hawaii when my previous G-Shock with the black plastic/rubber watch band was lost to the Pacific ocean. I have to be wearing a watch. Have since I was a 10 or 12 year old. So I went to Costco to see what they had and that was the closest I could get to what I had. Was not happy about the stainless band. Had never had a metal band before but it was only $70 and was a G-Shock.Would probably never go back to any other band. Slip it on and close the clasp and ready to go. It has never worn out/broken like the black plastic ones do. The watch itself is awesome. The only reason I bought this as a replacment was that the luminescent back light was not staying on when the button was pushed. It would blink on and off really quickly. Thought maybe it was dying and then got the idea to replace the battery, which I had never had to do up to that point. After all, it is solar powered. Anyways, all it was was a dead battery (which is a rechargable CTL1616 watch battery). The solar power is what recharges/keeps it charged. After 14 years it could no longer keep a charge or fully charge (there is a little 3 segment display on the watch indicating level of charge which I had never even noticed or payed attention to). Replaced the battery and did a lot of cleaning of all the rubber and chrome pieces and it is almost like new. Now I have a spare watch for when this thing actually does die permanently.I have never had to worry about keeping it charged or anything like that (never even noticed that there was a gauge), although I have always worn short sleeve shirts and I am in the Sonoran desert after all, which probably helps. Love the atomic time keeping function which works great in my locale. Place the watch on the window sill each night and I have 100% accurate time all the time. The LCD is highly visible at all angles unlike some watches that have matrixed LCD displays. 14 years and barely any visible scratches on the crystal. Has all the features I need. Some reviews complained that the LCD characters are too small but I am 61 years old and use reading glasses and I can see the characters without those so they are big enough for me.This will probably be the watch I will be wearing when I die and there is a good chance I'll never need this spare. The fact that they are making this exact same watch (essentially) for at least more than 14 years tells you all you need to know.

This is my second G-Shock watch, I’ve been looking at the tough solar with the automatic time update model and this stood out to me. I was able to remove 3 links myself to make it fit my wrist. It sits comfortably, it’s not as heavy as it looks. I work in construction so this will be tested. Overall I am very happy with it.

I had to remove 6 links from the strap to fit my 6 inch wrist. It’s a L/U pin if you wanted to know.In comparison to my Timex Ironman classic 30, it’s a nice upgrade. Being entirely metal, except the 2 resin links connect to the watch itself, although this means it’s heavier. After the initial setup, the atomic time keeping makes this watch maintenance free on adjusting the time, especially for daylight savings.The visibility is good on both watches, but the Ironman is less cluttered and the day and date are on the same spot, plus this Casio is also solar powered so there’s that battery gauge added to the face.