Brand Watches

Casio has taken the step to introduce yet another GPS watch with the GPR-100 which is a radical departure from the very first GPS watch they released some time ago. The new GPR-100 is actually the smallest GPS watch available in the market currently, measuring a diminutive 63.1mm x 49.5mm x 17.1mm.

Since it also looks the part of a watch, airport security won’t be hankering after you as a terrorist suspect. The GPR-100 has its sights set on runners since it will be quite some time to get a general-purpose GPS navigation device slapped around your wrist, but it does come with a decent set of GPS features which we’ll take a look at.

The GPR-100 receives signals from at least three different satellites and will take that data to compute where you are (in case you’re a clueless runner), your current speed, the length which you have covered and have yet to cover, and even your pace, doing away with the need to use your need to measure the route with the car’s odometer.

Some of the other interesting functions of the GPR-100 also includes automatic time zone adjustment, enough storage space for up to 100 points of interest, an automatic electro-luminescent backlight, a stopwatch, pace verification, and a countdown timer.

Unfortunately, the internal rechargeable battery isn’t too hot when it comes to performance. The GPR-100’s battery can only last up to 2 hours in normal mode and double the amount in low power mode. The law of diminishing returns apply here as it requires 3 hours to fully recharge.

The Casio GPR-100 is not heading to the U.S. anytime soon, but it is already available in Japan for $467. There are cheaper alternatives out there in the market, such as the Garmin Forerunner 205, so unless your name is Mr. Bottomless Pocket, the GPR-100 ought to be heavily considered before making a purchase.

Source: Coolest Gadgets

Managing Director at Timex Watches, Kapil Kapoor informs that the company will launch 120 stores based on a franchise model and that they are putting up a multi brand concept with international brands and showcasing international watch experience, which is novel to the Indian market.

Elaborating on the brands that they intend to showcase in their retail exclusive stores, he states, “We hope to build a portfolio of brands and we have currently showcased five of our brands - our flagship brand Timex and others in our portfolio namely Nautica, FCUK and Opex Paris.”

He further adds, “We have got a strategic alliance going with couple of other brands in the Egana Gold Field Group, namely Pierre Cardin and Esprit. So overall, we have got about six brands in our portfolio in the store and we hope to expand that by another 2 or 3 brands in the next few months.”

The company expects to see 20-25% growth in the coming months. He mentions, “We seem to evolve so far on a year-to-date basis around 24-25%. I expect that our sales should continue to evolve at the rate of about 20-25% into the foreseeable future.”

Speaking about the company’s market share, he states, “Looking at the organised market, we have a share of 11%. But in that, we seem to operate in a segment, which is between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 and that is our core business segment and in that segment, our tracks are showing a share of about 22%.”

Timex and Casio are creating technical watches designed for athletes, because sometimes it’s just not convenient to carry a cell phone. Timex’s Ironman line includes watches that measure calories burned, heart rate, speed and distance using GPS technology. The data stored on the watch can even be downloaded onto a computer.

“People are jumping on the bandwagon of technology but baby boomers still love their watches,” said Finhert. Indeed, many people of the older generations are proficient with cell phones but still wear a watch every day. Finhert said his customers still purchase watches as gifts, often as keepsakes to be passed down.

Hayes said there will probably be changes within the watch industry in the next five to 10 years, but he believes the watch will never be obsolete.

“The wristwatch has become ingrained in the identity of time,” he said.

Read the whole article here.

Siemens sued the Japanese Citizen Watch Company for infringing several patents for white-light emitting diodes used for the background of mobile-phone screens, cameras and car parts.

Osram, based in Munich, asked for a jury trial, an order to stop use of the inventions and unspecified damages in a complaint filed yesterday in federal court in Wilmington, Delaware.

“Citizen has continued to show no respect for Osram’s U.S. patent rights” by importing and selling diodes based on patents awarded since 2001, the complaint said.

Citizen Watch’s president, Makoto Umehara, said in August that the Japanese firm is developing products such as LEDs to help boost sales amid price competition. Citizen Watch mostly makes timepieces and industrial machinery.

Citizen Watch officials didn’t immediately return voice and e-mail messages left after business hours.

Shares of Siemens, Europe’s largest engineering company with $107.4 billion in fiscal 2006 sales, rose 24 cents to 72.34 euros today in Germany. They have risen 12 percent in a year.

Both companies have very well established and competing product lines and this lawsuit could offer one an advantage over the other.

The Jewelry Exchange, one of the nation’s leading jewelry manufacturers and retailers, in conjunction with Seiko Watch Corporation of America, announced the winner of the Seiko Consumer Watch Registration Sweepstakes.

Marisa Diamond, a resident of a Southern California suburb, won $5000 in a random drawing held by Seiko Watch. Ms. Diamond purchased her Seiko watch at the Jewelry Exchange, in Tustin, California.

The sweepstakes grand prize had a choice of one of the following gifts:

1. Five thousand dollars, awarded as a check; or

2. A trip for two to Hawaii or a travel voucher in the value of $5000; or

3. A home theatre system, awarded as a gift card for $5000 at a major electronics retailer.

The contest winner elected to receive the check, which was presented to her at the Jewelry Exchange corporate headquarters, in Tustin, California.

The Jewelry Exchange carries a full line of Seiko watches, as well as many other major brands. The company also specializes in the sale of loose diamonds and is the nation’s largest private direct diamond importer.

Additionally, the Jewelry Exchange is a leading jewelry manufacturer, and offers factory-direct pricing to the public, which is up to 80% below regular retail prices. Although the Jewelry Exchange does not manufacturer the watches that they sell, in keeping with their factory-direct business model, they offer them at substantial discounts.