CASIO G-Shock MUDMASTER Mens Japan Import GWG-1000-1A3

The media could not be loaded. There isn’t much to say about this watch that hasn’t already been said. If you are considering it you probably have read reviews and maybe watched some video reviews, I know I did before buying it. It is expensive but that pain only lasts a short time and then you have the pleasure of the watch for years. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, “…if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”For those who are concerned about the size of the watch, fear not. Somehow it does not have an unusually large appearance on the wrist. I am somewhat slim boned and do not have large wrists and this watch wears just fine, not a problem at all. I upgraded from a GG 1000 because I wanted the solar power and multi band 6 and there does not feel like any difference in the wearing so if you are already a G Shock initiate, this watch will be familiar and if you are new to it, definitely jump straight into the deep end without reservation.The LCD screen is exactly as everyone has said. It is dim and I included a photo at a typical viewing distance so you could see. If there is a downside to the watch this is it. I held off because of this and when the 2000 came out and also had a negative display I figured they just aren’t going to make this watch with a positive display so I bought the original model which I liked better than the 2000 and I am glad I did.This may be the last watch I buy. It is a beautiful, handsome watch that looks fantastic and is a joy to wear. This watch, if you are getting the Japan import, comes in a box, not a tin. If you get a tin then you did not get the Japan import with the sapphire crystal. Don’t get anything less than the Japanese domestic market version. CA is the Canadian version, ER is the European version, CR is the Chinese version (definitely don’t get that). The JF version is what you want. The watch came set to Tokyo time and straight out of the box, without doing any adjustments to it, I checked it against the internet time and it was bang on to the millisecond.It is solar so I am not dependent on battery replacements (at least not for 10 years). It is as rugged as a watch can be so it is a survivor. It has a compass and other helpful functions crammed into something you wear on your wrist that provides value disproportionate to its size, it is dependable and does it all while looking good!If you understand the appeal of a Swiss Army pocket knife, if you have ever bought 2 of something so you have a backup if one breaks, if you drive a powerful pick up or something like a Jeep Wrangler, then you are likely someone who “gets” this watch. In that case I say go ahead and get it. You will be glad you did and will have a reliable companion for life.

Really an amazing watch. First, let me talk about the aesthetics. It is a very handsome watch and obviously well made. It is a considerable step up in quality. This watch is made in Japan, unlike most lower priced G Shocks which are made in China. Everything about it is crisp in detail and just looks great. The sapphire crystal is very nice and the raised numerals on the face really pop in the deep case. Now, having said all of that, it is a really big watch in every way. As you can see from the pic I attached, it is very thick and large in diameter. In one of the pics I have it next to a Marathon JSAR which is a very large watch and the Mudmaster is larger. I also included a comparison shot with a large G-Shock GD-400 for comparison. The Mudmaster is still larger than the GD-400. The nice thing about this watch is that even though it is big, it hugs the wrist nicely and doesn't hang over the wrist. It sits very flat and the "wings" help it wrap around your wrist. I have very average sized wrists and I can wear this watch with no problems.Now I want to mention the functions/accuracy of this watch:Accuracy:As soon as I opened the box I started checking accuracy. The watch hadn't updated to the atomic clock in a month and the time was only off by two seconds. It updated automatically the first night and was dead on when I woke up the next morning. Also, changing time zones is incredibly easy. When the watch arrived it was on Tokyo time. I was able to switch to Mountain Time very quickly. I travel quite extensively for work and the ease of quickly switching between time zones is a big plus for me.Compass:When you push the compass button, the second hand becomes the compass needle. I compared it to both my Suunto compass and my iPhone compass and it was perfect. I was very pleased with this and feel that I could trust the compass readings.Barometer:I checked the barometer reading against what the current reading was on the weather channel for my area and it was the same. The barometer seems to function well and tracked well over time.Altimeter:I checked the altimeter reading versus the known altitude for my house and it was dead on as well. I have not had time to test it while hiking to show elevation gain, but I am pretty confident that it will work as expected.Lume:As you can see from the attached pic, the lume is very good. Going from light to dark areas it has good initial lume. It won't last through the night, but the LED light does a good job of illuminating the watch as well. The lume was better than I had expected.Overall:While this is an expensive G Shock, you really do get a very rugged yet beautiful watch that is packed with features. If you need a watch that can handle the worst conditions and still keep on working, this is a great choice. Whether you are in an office in America or in a sandstorm on the other side of the world, this watch is a dependable choice. It also works well while wearing gloves. The large knurled buttons work and work well.One last note. It's big, real big. Make sure that you are the kind of person that can wear a big, thick watch. If you are that person, you won't regret this decision.UPDATE:I buy and sell watches all the time. Other than a couple of Rolex watches, I will usually tire of a watch within a year and sell it off. I also will generally wear different watches throughout the week. There is something about this Mudmaster that is special. I can't really put my finger on it, but I find myself drawn to it. I currently have around nine other "nice" watches. Almost every other watch sits in the safe these days. I will switch between this watch and a Rolex Sea Dweller depending on where I'm going, but 90% of the time I'm wearing the Mudmaster.

If you like bigger size durable watches, you'll like this one. Very visible, very readable. Lume on analog and digital display is good. Despite the size, the watch wears very comfortably n its light for its size. The watch came in with Japanese instruction booklet only, but there really isn't need to even read instructions. The navigation is simple n straightforward. The new "smart wheel" makes any adjustments a breeze. The sapphire crystal is a nice touch. I checked the LED backlit in total darkness - analog and the digital display reads just fine...no issues. I read some reviews complaining about d LED backlight, but unless you're blind, you can tell time and date just fine. Based on my experience with previous gshocks, I dont expect any major issues with this watch. Big, readable, comfortable, light, eye-pleasing. The initial price tag of $750 was a little ridiculous. $550 is doable but $400 range would be more appropriate.Update: The lume is excellent. It luminous hands and markers will last all night long. Not super bright, but bright enough, so when you glance at at it in the middle of the night, you can tell the time with ease. The navigation became very easy even without the instructions. Compare to previous casio models or other similar brands, this watch has one of the simplest navigation and operates with clarity and simplicity. One thing, however, needs to be mentioned - the compass has a margin of error several degrees even after re-calibration. It's useful for general direction, but you cannot rely on it for an accurate one-degree reading.

It’s exactly what I ordered. Shipping was excellent!! The instructions manual is all in Japanese. Need to have English version if its coming to U.S.A.