G-Shock #43: MTG-120

In 1999 Casio introduced a new G-Shock line which is positioned between the high end MR-G models and the more basic resin models. While the MR-G series were fully made of metal, the MT-G models are usually a mix of metal and resin. The resin parts on MT-G models were often found as links in the bracelet and bumpers on the bezel/case. On today’s model, the MTG-120-1AJF, resin is hard to find. No wonder, it was marketed by Casio as a (full) metal model, although, if you look closely, you find two small rubberish wrist rests and some kind of red resin spacers in the bezel.

The MTG-120 is a full analog model. It has a similar display as the MRG-120 and MRG-121, but if you look closely, you will notice a nice extra. It does not only show the current time, it also shows the date. Instead of a marker at the 4 position, there is a little date window. The date does count until 31, so if the past month has less than 31 days, you have to manually adjust. The case of the MTG-120 is a little bit smaller then the MR-G models.

I think this model would have also have passed for a MR-G. It’s well build and the MRG-120 and the MRG-121, which are pretty much related to this model, have a rubber wrist rest too, although those are located around the screw back. On this MTG it is located at the attachment of the bracelet.

Different form the above mentioned MR-G models are the two crystal guards and the location of the crown. It looks like they put the MRG-121 module rotated 180 degrees in the case, with the light button placed above the crown. The bracelet has full metal links with a brushed 3D arrow like design. The three fold buckle can be used to fine adjust the length of bracelet by 1/4 of a link. The crystal guards and the bracelet give this model a quite sturdy look. It somehow makes me remind to the Revman.

I tried to find the on-line manual, but there is non available for the 2310 module. Not a real problem. There are no sophisticated features on board. The Screw-In crown can be puled out in two phases. At the first click you can adjust the date, at the second click you an adjust time. Like many other (mechanical) analog watches, there is the so called hack feature. When pulled to the second click, the seconds hand stops. This way it possible to set time to the second. I think, like mechanical watches, it’s best to only move the hands forward when adjusting time. Pretty cool is also the backlight, which lights up through the entire mesh dial.

The module (movement) is Antimagnetic according the JIS 1 standard, which is also called Class 1. I’m not sure how a quartz module can be affected by (normal) electromagnetic waves, but after some research (Grand Seiko manual) I learned that Class 1 Antimagnetic means that it is protected for (electro-)magnetic fields that occur with normal equipment in daily life and work. I won’t recommend to test it inside a microwave.

The MTG-120-AJF was released in August 2001. I bought this watch 9 years later in 2010. I checked all my bills around the time I bought this watch, but couldn’t find from who I bought it and how much I paid for it. They do not pop up too often at auctions, but they are also mostly not very expensive. The original retail price was ¥28000 (now around $280.-, €210,-), which was more than double the price of a basic model around that time (and still is). I can’t remember what I paid for it, but I guess it would not have been as much as you pay for a good condition MRG-120. I probably paid around $120.- or so, three years ago. For this price you get a nice heavy full metal G-Shock.

EDIT: The riddle of where I bought this watch is solved. I got a message from my friend/co-author Flexofiel. I bought it from him three years ago. About the price I was spot on. 

G-Shock #36: First Analog MR-G

Subject of today is a lucky find I had on the second day of Christmas 2010. Well, in the Netherlands, we have a 2nd Christmas on December 26. In Japan however, they stick to Christmas Eve. On the 25th it’s just another working day at the end of the year. On the 26th of December 2010 I had, together with my blog friend Kenichi, organized a wristwatch collectors get together. We stayed in Kobuchi at DragonJade's (DJ's)  place. When walking to Kobuchi Station DJ told us we were a little early. He knew another 2nd hand shop. Quite interesting what you can find. All kinds of weird electronics, loads of VHS tapes (who ever use them nowadays) and of course watches. Quite some G-Shocks.

So I saw this nice yellow/navy G-Lide, which looked interesting. Next to it this MRG-120T with leather strap. Wow. We were running out of time, so I asked the shop attendant (with a lot of hand gestures) I wanted these two G-Shocks and would like to pay. So I gave my credit card and I thought we could move to the station real soon. Wrong. The shop attendant comes back and tells me the card was blocked. Impossible. I had paid all my bills and I has used it a few times before. Luckily we had DJ to explain it to the people of the store. A short phone call to my credit card company luckily unlocked my card immediately. What a relief! Certainly not something you want to happen to you. Fortunately we made it to the right train and we got at our meeting point just in time. It didn’t actually stay with these two G-Shocks that day. When we went to Nakano Broadway after dinner, I couldn’t resist to buy a W.C.C.S. Frogman and a DW-6900 style Lovers Collection Codename, like the one Mirai Yamamoto is wearing in Jacky Chan’s “Who am I” .

I was pretty lucky to get the original box and leather cylinder with it. It did even come with a (Japanese) manual. I’ve never kept a secret that I very much like my MRG-121, just because it simply displays time. No fancy digital displays for other functions. Of course, this applies for this MR-G too.The full metal watch is very much accented with the black (synthetic) leather bracelet. The size of the bracelet can be change by a clamp system in the clasp. It seems the previous owner had a small wrist, since I had to adjust it quite a bit for my 7” wrists. The attachment of the strap looks upside down. The end of the long strap appears on the front, where with normal straps the long end is usually on the backside (as seen from the wearers point of view). It has not been detached. The stock photo’s of Casio also show the strap keeper (band loop) on the bottom of the case.

A selection of '90s MR-G models

Left: MRG-121, Right MRG-120T

The use of a leather strap in the MR-G line is somewhat unusual, but leather straps were pretty common in the end of the 90s. The leather strap bracelet was probably cheaper to produce, as the a full titanium bracelet version of this model’s had a retail price ¥5000 higher than this model. I think the leather bracelet is a little more comfortable than the titanium, because you can adjust the size very precise on this model. The old MR-G models with the metal bracelet’s however, have with their generally more heavier weight, a very nice and comfortable fit.

The titanium metal case has a darker gray tone than Stainless steel and has a brushed metal finish. Remarkable are the black screws at the front of the case. The dial is very shiny metallic. very nice is the red minute hand, which stands out nice. The 1937 module looks very similar to the 1987 module, found on the later MRG-121 models. They perfectly show analog time. Where most analog minute hands on G-Shocks progress every 20 seconds ⅓ of a minute, you don’t see the second hand move here. It’s just only the seconds hand moving every seconds. The only difference between the 1937 and 1987 module is the EL backlight. Where the later MRG-121 has EL Backlight with afterglow, the EL Backlight on this MRG-120 only lights up when the light button is physically pressed. As soon as you release the button, the light goes out. I see a challenge for taking an EL Backlight shot here. With Afterglow Casio means that if you press the light button, the light stays on for a certain time (usually between 1.5 and 3 seconds).

Although at first glance the MRG-120 looks very much like the MRG-121, the cases are different. The MRG-120 has some edges in he case, while the MRG-121 has rounded looks and a small bulge on the right, giving the case more symmetry. Also the upper part of the case is a little higher. Both models have a thick domed crystal. It looks very nice, but it’s pretty hard to photograph without reflections.

To adjust time, you first have to unscrew the crown, which is ergonomically placed on the left side of the case. It sounds unusual, but also MR-G models were made for use and abuse. The crown on the left side prevents hitting or piercing painfully in your hand during wild movements. The downside is that it’s not easy, you can better say impossible, to adjust time while you wear your watch on your wrist, but frankly, the module of this model is very accurate, so for the rare occasions you have to adjust your watch, it’s not a burden to take it off. It’s possible to adjust time very accurately. As soon as you pull the crown out of the case, the movement stops.

As far as I know the MRG-120 models were released only in Japan in 1997. Although these models were produced in lower numbers than basic G-Shocks, it should not be too hard to find these models. Personally I prefer the lighter toned stainless steel models, but that doesn’t say I dislike this model. In contrary. In June 1997 the retail price for this MRG-120TL-1A was ¥45000, which is as I mentioned already above, a little cheaper than the ¥50000 MRG-120T. If you rather like metal bracelet, I think the 10% higher price is not a big problem, though I pretty much like the leather strap on this model. It gives this watch a kind of instant vintage look. The price I paid for this watch at the Hard•Off store was ¥8400. With the high Yen at that time, which was around €76.- or $102 (rates of December 2010, €1.0 = ¥110 = $1.34). Probably at that time a good price for this model in this state. In the past years the interest in G-Shocks has been increased a lot. I’m afraid seller dare to ask now ¥12000 - ¥15000 for this watch and more if it is in unworn condition. Well, I might have paid that price for this watch, as the MRG-120 and MRG-121 are, in my opinion, such a good looking G-Shock models.