This one isn't atomic like the Seiko Ignition Takuma Sato, but it is a solar Ignition, and it is most definitely a beautiful watch. Features include:

• Titanium case and bracelet.
• Seiko's own "Hardlex" crystal (used in many of Seiko's divers because it is especially hard).
• Solar-powered with a 6-month reserve and overcharge prevention.
• Quartz accuracy of ± 20 seconds per month.
• Double locking clasp with "one-push" diver extension (to go over a wetsuit).
• Water-resistant to 200 meters, or about 650 feet.
• Rotating bezel for dive timing (not sure if it's uni- or bi-directional).
• Screwdown caseback.

This watch does not appear to be available in the US, so the best way to get more information is to do a Google search, and click on some "Translate this page" links. And of course, you can always count on a translated version of Watch-Tanaka for good information and nice pictures. It looks like this watch should go for about $450.

Although sometimes the search for a watch can be just as much fun as actually buying it, there's also something to be said for getting exactly what you want, when you want it, and not paying for anything you don't need. If you're the type who knows exactly what he wants and is accustomed to getting it, you might consider buying a custom watch from 121TIME.

121TIME allows customers to customize their own Swiss-made watches using their online Design Studio. In a little over five minutes, I built myself a very nice Challenger Automatic with a stainless steel bracelet and bezel, black dial with Arabic numerals, and sapphire crystal, all for $644. I have never owned a 121, so I can't vouch for their quality, but assuming they are well made, that's a fairly reasonable price for something custom built and Swiss.

Like my colleague Robert over at Fratello Watches, I recently received an email from 121TIME co-founder Daniel Morf letting me know that as of this month, 121TIME is offering ETA 2824-2 automatic movements as an option for almost all their watches (it looks like the Speedster is only available in quartz, but the Grand Central, Metropolitan, Challenger and Centurio are all available with automatic movements). Although I love high-tech digital watches, I believe a watch like the 121 is far more appealing as an automatic. Nice move, 121.

View the Casio G-Shock GW-400J photo gallery.

When I first saw the new Casio GW-400J vibrating watch, I knew I was going to have to get my hands on one. You see, I'm very in to vibrating watches. Not because I'm some kind horological pervert, but because they make so much sense. Ever since a got my Timex Internet Messenger some six years ago or so, I've always felt that digital watches should have vibrating alarms. What good is it having multiple daily alarms, programmable alarms, auto-repeating countdown timers, and an hourly signal if you can't hear them because they are so faint, or because you live in a world where you don't want your geeky watch attracting attention?

Not only was I tempted by the Casio GW-400J's vibrating alarm, but it's even solar powered. And atomic. And it has a countdown timer. True, it's goofy looking, but I just named all my favorite digital watch features, and it's very unusual to find them all in one place. Besides, big black plastic Casios appear to be in right now, at least in San Francisco where I live.

Before I get into my review of the Casio GW-400J, here's a list of features:

Casio's Edifice line is designed to be sporty, stylish, and sophisticated. They are for people who want something inexpensive (sub $100) and reasonably well made, but who can't quite bring themselves to strap a big, black, plastic G-Shock to their wrists.

The new Edifice EF-505s are your standard affordable, consumer line quartz watches, but what caught my attention was their design. Casio has always been known for their innovative and durable timepieces, but recently, with watches like the Casio Futurist, Oceanus, and the Square Baby-Gs, Casio has been trying to move into markets driven more by fashion and style than technology. To my eye, the Edifice EF-505 line is reminiscent of the newish and very beautiful Seiko Sportura Kinetic Chronograph (though the similarities stop there -- the Sportura Kinetic is a very nice mid-range chronograph which retails for around $995.)

Feature of the Casio Edifice EF-505 line include:

I've really been intrigued by Luminox watches for some time, and I've been been looking for just the right one to add to my collection. With the new Luminox Blackbird 9000 series, and specifically the 9032 chronograph (pictured at right), I may have finally found just the right one.

What primarily makes Swiss-made Luminox watches unique is their illumination system. All Luminox watches contain tiny, gas-filled glass tubes installed in the hands, hour markers, and sometimes bezel which glow up to 100 times brighter than other watches with luminescent paint. Additionally, the Luminox illumination system does not require recharging (meaning you don't have to expose it to light before it will glow), and does not use batteries. The glass tubes will glow continuously for about 25 years, and are guaranteed for 10. So if you need a watch which must always be visible in low light without having to press a button, Luminox is a good bet.

The new Blackbird 9000s are really nice, tough, military-looking watches. They are all stainless steel with a black PVD (physical vapor deposition) coating which gives them a very cool, stealthy look (although in the dark, Luminox watches are anything but stealthy, so be sure to cover them up if you really need to be invisible). The one I like best -- the 9032 -- has a smaller 24-hour quartz module embedded in the 6 o'clock portion of the bracelet for tracking an additional time zone. I like this solution for a GMT watch because it allows the main dial to remain uncluttered and readable. I first saw this feature in the Breitling Chrono Avenger which I still drool over every time I come across one.

The TAG Heuer 2000 series is being re-released as the new Aquaracer series with an interesting new addition: the Calibre S. The Calibre S is probably a little too sailing-specific for me to justify actually purchasing, but I can definitely appreciate what TAG has done with the Calibre S.

The most striking feature of the Aquaracer Calibre S is the sub-dials. Rather than placing them at the traditional 3, 6, 9 or 2, 6, 10 positions, the Calibre S actually uses semi-circular sub-dials. at the 5 and 7 o'clock positions, inspired by sports cars' tachometers. Since the sub-dials are not circular, as you might have guessed by now, the Calibre S uses bi-directional motors to position the tiny hands (or should I call the needles?). The point isn't just to be different, but to create a much more readable and intuitive interface. Chronograph sub-dials. are not particularly easy to read, especially to the untrained eye, so the Calibre S takes a completely new approach by using the main three hands to display time, elapsed time in chronograph mode, and time remaining in countdown mode, the theory being that the three main hands are by far the easiest to read (as opposed to tiny hands on sub-dials.). The right sub-dial shows tenths of a second in chronograph mode (when time is stopped), and in time mode, both sub-dials. work together to indicate the date. In any other mode, the left sub-dial indicates which mode you are in.

TAG Heuer calls the Aquaracer Calibre S the easiest to read chronograph in the world. I really like the idea of using the three main hands for timing functionality since they are what we are most trained to recognize and read at a glance. Nicely done, TAG.

The most sailing-specific feature on the watch is the regatta countdown timer. A regatta is a fancy word for a boat race, and apparently most sail boat races allow 10 minutes for the boats to maneuver into the optimal starting position. When the 10 minutes are up, the race begins. The TAG Heuer Aquaracer Calibre S has a regatta countdown timer which automatically starts counting down from 10 minutes, can be re-synchronized at 5 minutes (apparently there's a 5-minute warning), and when the full 10 minutes have elapsed, the mode automatically switches to chronograph so that you can time the race. Very slick, in an aristocratic, sailboat-racing kind of way.

The Seiko Ignition Takuma Sato is an unusual watch in several respects. First, Seiko is not very well known for their solar watches. Kinetic, Spring Drive, and even automatic, yes, but you don't find a lot of solar powered Seikos out there. And you find even fewer atomic Seikos. Seiko is well known for their extremely accurate quartz movements which almost make atomic functionality unnecessary. However for the Takuma Sato, I guess "almost" wasn't good enough.

Takuma Sato is a famous Japanese Formula 1 race car driver, and the Seiko Ignition is a worthy tribute. The design of the dial is an attempt to capture the essence of Takuma's helmet, and the caseback bares an engraving of his signature along with the watch's serial number. Only 3,000 of these unique pieces will be made, and I seriously doubt very many of them will ever make it to US shores.

Features of the Seiko Ignition Takuma Sato include:

• Solar powered, with a 6-month power reserve.
• Radio controlled atomic time calibration. Again, this is the only Seiko watch that I know of with this type of functionality. (I should note that I don't think the watch is compatible with our atomic clock in Fort Collins, Colorado, but I don't know for certain.)
• Titanium case and bracelet.
• Domed sapphire crystal.
• Water resistant to 100 meters, or 330 feet.

The Seiko Ignition Takuma Sato will be available June 7th, and will sell for 73,500 yen, or about $680. If you read Japanese, check out the press release. If you don't, here's the Google translation.

Update: Watch Report reader Gilbert Sopakuwa has pointed out several other solar atomic Seikos in the Spirit, Ignition, and Brightz lines. Thanks, Gilbert! One of the things I really love about watches is that I'm always learning and finding something new, often thanks to my readers.