Swatch recently introduced a line of inexpensive mechanical chronographs. Previously, any Swiss watch with the ubiquitous ETA/Valjoux 7750 was typically $700 or more. The new line (pictured at right) starts at $360!

Movement is the ETA C01.211, about which information is a bit scarce. It seems to only be available to the Swatch group, which is a bummer. As with the movement in the Irony skeleton, they've cut costs by using some plastic parts, but the result is inexpensive and still durable.

Swatch has several color and case schemes available, as you'd expect. Kudos for bringing chronographs out at mass-market prices.

By Paul Hubbard

If you like feature-rich digital watches, and have a Blackberry, the upcoming inPulse will probably make you very, very happy. It's a watch, but closely integrated with the RIM Blackberry via Bluetooth. Time, alarms, and more, all set via the Blackberry and displayed on the watch. It has a vibrate mode to alert you to new emails, SMS, alarms, or calls -- basically a discreet remote display for your smartphone.

Specs:

• 1.3" OLED display.
• Communicates via custom app (via Bluetooth v2.0+EDR), so Blackberry is required.
• Does not require a phone data plan.
• Mineral glass crystal and steel body.
• 51mm by 38mm by 12mm -- reasonable, actually.
• Micro-USB charging port; 150mAh lithium-ion battery.
• Pre-order for $149, shipping "by February 2010."

We like it, and are in line to get a review unit once they're shipping.

By Paul Hubbard

Here's an interesting take on the venerable ETA 2824; new brand Feldo uses ultra-thin carbon fiber plates attached to the hands, yielding a moving window around the hour and minute hand. Kind of a cross between a jump hour and a date window, and not a design we've seen before.

Shown here is the 1-1 B/B model, in PVD and gold. List price is €2775. Might be worth a look if you want a dressy watch of unusual design and construction.

By Paul Hubbard

Today's review is Casio's latest in their Frogman line of G-Shock dive watches. These are the first in that line to have atomic timekeeping and solar power. Let's take a look and see what you get for a list price of $725!

Specifications:

• Water resistant to 200m (660ft).
• Dedicated dive timer with surface interval measurement and logbook.
• Tide graph and moon phase (based on UTC offset and lunitidal interval).
• DLC-coated stainless steel case, integral rubber strap with double-tang buckle.
• World time in 48 cities (31 time zones).
• Automatic and manual EL backlight.
• Six-band radio reception (Japan, US, China, UK, Germany).
• Machined aluminum bezel with stainless steel screws on the face.
• 24 hour countdown timer.
• Five alarms.
• 26 month power reserve with H/M/L display of charge.
• 58.3mm by 53mm by 18mm, 115g.

Please read on for the full review and pictures.

One thing you can always count on is for Casio to introduce new and interesting features and products in the G-Shock line. Today let's look at the G-Rescue G7900A-7, introduced in May of 2009:

• Inspired by search and rescue teams (thus the name).
• Bigger buttons for gloved use -- largest ever on a g-shock.
• Back case shock absorbers (pictured below).
• Low temperature rated display (-4°F/-20°C).

And of course the long list of normal g-shock features:

• Water resistant to 200m (660ft).
• Auto and manual electroluminescent backlight.
• Flash alert (backlight flashes with the alarm).
• World time.
• Five alarms.
• Two stopwatches.
• Moon and tide graph.

Please read on for the full review.

Presenting the new dive watch company Helson Watches and their first model, the Shark Diver. Powered by the trusty Miyota 8215 (as seen in the Halios Holotype and others), it's very attractive new entry.

Specifications:

• Water resistant to a over-engineered 2,000m (6,600ft or so). You'll not survive nearly long as your watch. (By the way, we like "over-engineered.")
• Unidirectional bezel.
• Luminova lume on hands, indices, and bezel.
• 316L stainless steel case.
• Unusually magnetism-resistant at 70,000 A/m.
• Very cool looking mesh bracelet.
• Available in six color combinations: PVD, blue, and brown. (The yellow-on-black is particularly striking, in our humble opinion.)
• Thick 4mm sapphire crystal, with inner antireflective coating.

List price is $499 -- a very good deal -- and is due to ship November 10th, 2009. We've contacted Helson and are hoping to get one for review.

One more picture after the break to whet your interest!

The Seiko SBCM023 is a deceptive watch. At first glance, if you look at the bezel, case, bracelet and dial, it appears to hail from their line of SKX mechanical divers. The guarded crown at four o'clock position, the SKX hands, and thick lume all conspire to deceive. A closer look at the dial with its "perpetual calendar" text tells the informed observer that this is, in fact, an unusual quartz movement.

Let's start with the impressive and somewhat unusual specifications:

• 316L stainless steel case and bracelet.
• Screwdown crown and caseback.
• Water resistant to 200m (660ft) -- diving-rated according to ISO6245.
• LumiBrite lume on hands, markers, and bezel pip
• 8F35 quartz movement: 192kHz, accurate within 20 seconds per year.
• Mineral crystal class.
• 12mm by 39mm, 140g.
• Perpetual calendar.
• 10-year battery.

Please read on for the full review and pictures.

If you're a regular reader, you know that we're big fans of YES watches. We reviewed both the Zulu and the Tati, and love them both. I also happen to know the founder and CEO of YES watches, Bjorn Kartomten, personally, and I know how passionate he is about his watches, and about customer service. In fact, I've heard several stories of people having their emails to YES Watches answered personally by Bjorn.

We seldom do promotions on Watch Report, but when Bjorn asked me the other day if I'd be interested in offering a discount on YES watches to our readers, I decided it was a good deal for everyone. From now through December 21, 2009, Watch Report readers can save between $100 and $300 on all YES watches purchased through this link. This discount covers the Zulu, World Watch, Tati, Luna, Inca, and the Kundalini.

Even if you're not in the market for a new watch, you might want to check out their lineup or our reviews just to see what YES watches are all about. They are some of the most unique and innovative timepieces out there.

Throughout the watch collecting world, one often hears of the "grail watch." These are generally watches that an enthusiast has been lusting after for some time and plans to one-day own, but due to cost, rarity, or both, immediate ownership is not possible. Most watch collectors have not only a grail watch, but a list of grails. For me, these include such pieces as the Ernst Benz Great Circle Chronoscope, any titanium Panerai Luminor, Fortis Marine Master Chrono, Breitling SuperOcean Chrono, etc. It's a long list.

Occasionally, I come across a watch that is not in the normal grail price range, but has many of the features or styling that draws me to some of my grail watches. A good example of this is the Citizen BL5250-02L: a handsome titanium chronograph with military and aviation styling not generally found in its price range. I have been interested in a BL5250 (the 02L designates a leather strap, where as the 53L is the titanium bracelet) for a couple of years, but only recently found myself ready to give one a try. I will admit -- I had very high hopes for this watch, and it has not let me down. Here are the specs:

• 42.5 x 13mm all titanium case.
• Mineral crystal.
• Lug width of 20mm.
• Blue dial.
• Solar Eco-Drive movement.
• 270 day power reserve.
• 1/20 second chronograph (max 60 minute).
• Perpetual calendar.
• Dive style countdown bezel.
• 24 hr register.
• Alarm.
• 200m water resistant.

Thanks to the generosity of Phosphor, we have another watch to give away to one of our readers. Pictured here is the Ana-Digital E-ink (review link), which can be yours this week!

Hit the link for the review so you can see all of the high-tech coolness that could be yours. Analog-digital, with an innovative electronic ink display and versatile steel case and bracelet.

Please read on for details and rules!