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TweetEmailView the Casio Giez 1000BJ Photo Gallery.We first mentioned the Casio Giez 1000BJ almost a year ago, but we didn't have much to say other than its very cool looking, it's only available in Japan, and its insides are almost identical to the Oceanus 5 Motor (OCW600TDA-1AV). Now that I actually own one, however, I can finally give you a proper review.The biggest difference in functionality between the Oceanus and the Casio G-Shock Giez is the fact that the Giez is not a worldwide atomic watch. In other words, the Giez 1000BJ only receives atomic time signals in Japan and the US �� not in the UK and Germany like the Oceanus.There are a few more obvious differences, as well. The style of the Giez is pure G-Shock with ion-plated black metal clad in durable black rubber. It's a very functional looking watch, and with the white hands over the black face, it's quite legible, as well. Casio muted the usual G-Shock promotion with the bezel lettering simply inset rather than painted; the result is a much more restrained look than your average G-shock.Personally, I'm a big fan of tough analog watches, and I was really looking forward to this one. Not only does it have the legendary toughness of the Casio G-Shock family, but it's solar, atomic, and it even manages to pack in five motors. Shock-proofing motors is a lot harder than it sounds, and this watch represents an impressive technical achievement for Casio.After wearing the Casio G-Shock Giez for some time, I'm still pretty fond of it. It's not my favorite day-to-day timepiece, but it's durable and legible as advertised. My short list of issues include:Bad lume and no lighting make it pretty much unusable after dark.The subdials are very cool, but can be difficult to read precisely. The stopwatch is tricky, which is a problem for me since I use it to cook with.Complicated operation. We've covered this issue in other Oceanus reviews �� these watches take some getting used to.On the plus side, it's a fantastic looking watch, super tough, very comfortable on the wrist, syncs easily (at least from from San Diego where I live), and is an excellent watch for times when you want a functional and attractive beater.View the Casio Giez 1000BJ Photo Gallery.By Paul Hubbard

Since 2 April, Ebel has been offering a 5-year unconditional international guarantee on all its watches, the longest currently offered in the sector.Justification for this is based on the company's absolute belief in its watchmaking abilities.To celebrate the event, Ebel is issuing a special version of its model 1911, available in two limited editions. These timepieces place the emphasis on the numeral 5, a symbol of harmony and balance (in the cultures of the Far East) applied to a refined black dial that is "bereft" of any other functional indication.An 18kt gold version will be limited to just 5 pieces with an automatic movement and a quartz version, in steel, will be produced in 1,500 pieces.4/23/03