Casio AMW-320D Marine Gear

I have become quite attached to mine Ricky. I am smiling...

(Views: 13)
Jimmy50 -- May 09, 2009 01:22PM

Photo by Jimmy50

What's the model number on that one, Jimmy? I haven't seen it before, and.. (Views: 6)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 02:25PM
..must admit that I do prefer the "smiley face" digital display over the AMW320D's straight rectangular window. Also nice that they incorporated lume dots all the way 'round the dial, instead of omitting the 5-7 dots as on the 320D. Thumbs Up!

Wanna swap? Laughing!

-Ricky

The model # is AD-520 Ricky. You noticed several things... Post contains photos

(Views: 10)
Jimmy50 -- May 09, 2009 03:15PM
that I considered pointing out. I suspect cost saving was the reason for switching to the rectangular display window on the newer versions. My watch was also givin to me. It was in pretty bad shape. Harold Clitheroe donated a parts watch which I used the bezel and hands from. Kelly Rayburn donated the strap. My watchmaker donated a free crystal and gaskets. Ofcourse it has a bit of sentimental value to me now. I am smiling ...

I have noticed that Denzel Washington is quite fond of these watches. I've seen them on his wrist in several movies and photos.

Jimmy. "AD-520" is now filed under "ones to watch for". I am smiling ...

(Views: 6)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 03:37PM

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Jimmy50
I suspect cost saving was the reason for switching to the rectangular display window on the newer versions.

The AD-520 predates the AMW-320 then? Interesting...

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Jimmy50
My watch was also givin to me. It was in pretty bad shape. Harold Clitheroe donated a parts watch which I used the bezel and hands from. Kelly Rayburn donated the strap. My watchmaker donated a free crystal and gaskets. Of course it has a bit of sentimental value to me now.

And well it should! Thumbs Up!

Surely our

brothers are the most generous bunch of fellows in the known universe! Applause

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Jimmy50
I have noticed that Denzel Washington is quite fond of these watches. I've seen them on his wrist in several movies and photos.

Whoa! I had no idea. Telling, that. Obviously ol' Denzel could be wearin' any watch, no matter the $$$. So the fact that he chooses to wear this Casio

... well, it shows he's a smart fellow, AND that this watch has a lot goin' for it! Thumbs Up!

-Ricky

one good thing about Casio analog-digitals... (Views: 7)
cesium -- May 09, 2009 12:11PM
is that every one that I have use(and I believe it applies to this model too) the analog andy digital time stay in synch once set. Almost all others of the 'moderate' price range, including my Pulsar and Freestyle are just two watches slapped together with two batteries and no connection between them.

Re: ..the analog andy digital time stay in synch once set. URL (Views: 5)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 02:16PM
Ahhh.. alas, no. That's not the case with my two Casio

ana-digi models. I am sad...

My Databank ABX23-8BV is close, but no cigar. The analog time leads the digital time by about 2 seconds per month. Call it ~ 15 seconds between Spring Forward and Fall Back. This used to bother me a bit but, due to the many positives of the watch, I've grown to accept it.

This one is a lot worse - the analog time trails the digital by approx. 1 sec/day! Extrapolating, let's say 30 sec/month, or a full 3 minutes between Spring Forward and Fall Back. I probably should have mentioned this as a Nitpick but.. well, as I've grown to accept some level of error with the Databank, it doesn't really bother me with this Marine Gear. And, bear in mind, this is a well-used example.. I reckon a BNiB AMW320D would be much more in synch.

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cesium
Almost all others of the 'moderate' price range, including my Pulsar and Freestyle are just two watches slapped together with two batteries and no connection between them.

And that's the case here, I fear.. thanks for bringing it up, and keeping me honest. Laughing!

-Ricky

Glad you got her fixed up and are enjoying it I'll drink to that!

(n/t) (Views: )
PaulGeo -- May 09, 2009 08:32AM

Cheers! back at ya Paul! (Views: 4)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 02:39PM
"Enjoying it" is an understatement! You wanna hear something totally bat-guano crazy Crazy, man!

? I am sorely tempted to order a brand-new one from Amazon, despite the fact that this one is perfecty fine and functional. Scary!

Like I need 'backup', when I've got ~ 60 other watches in rotation... I am confused...

Thanks again bro! Thumbs Up!

-Ricky

You know Ricky, we may have stumbled on to a good thing>>> Post contains photos

(Views: 22)
EdH -- May 09, 2009 06:28AM
with these AMW Casio

watches: I have a few and love 'em! First, my oldest one, which has the pushers on both sides of the watch:

Photo by EdH

Here's the blue dial model:

Photo by EdH

And the one like yours:

Photo by EdH

They are GREAT watches for the $$$!

Cheers, I am smiling...

The last looks like an exact match! Thumbs Up!

(Views: 4)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 06:48AM
Viva le Casio

!

-Ricky

thats a real awesome watch big guy.. i always liked those (n/t) (Views: 5)
anjizkit -- May 09, 2009 05:58AM

Anjan! Get your order in to Amazon NOW! Rolling on the floor laughing my a$$ off!

(n/t) (Views: 4)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 06:43AM

Casios are some of the best-bang-for-buck pieces out there, for sure. (Views: 4)
T-88 -- May 09, 2009 04:09AM
I sure like my G-Shocks and Pathfinders. Great style, tough as nails, and true PM watches.

You bet! Even leavin' G-Shocks out of it - and yes, they are, with little room for argument, THE Toughest Watches Ever.. (Views: 10)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 04:37AM
..the "leftover" Casio

models, including this Marine Gear, are mighty impressive indeed!

I used to be of the opinion that Alpha

was the Biggest Bang For The Buck in all WISdom.

No longer! It's Casio

, hands down!

No, they don't have an extensive homage line. No way Cool, man.

pieces like a $100 mechanical chrono. But real world? You just can't beat a Casio

!

-Ricky

Casio sure does make some affordable, nice watches that you can wear daily without worry! Thumbs Up!

(n/t) (Views: 6)
MCV -- May 09, 2009 03:37AM

What he said! I'll drink to that! Cheers!

+100!

(n/t) (Views: 4)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 05:10AM

I've got a real weakness for ani-digi models (Views: 7)
bjohnson -- May 09, 2009 03:29AM
for all purpose usability.

A Cardinal one was my daily for years and I still have it. One day I'll post a photo.

I like the readability of the dial but also having a digital stopwatch and alarm can be mighty handy.

It's the Best Of Both Worlds! (Views: 4)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 04:20AM

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bjohnson
for all purpose usability.

Does it all, it does. Provides the comforting tick of the analog hand, plus the 1/100th accuracy some of us require.

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bjohnson
One day I'll post a photo

Please do! Thumbs Up!

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bjohnson
..can be mighty handy.

Absolutely required, in my line of work. Wink, wink ...

-Ricky

I saw a pilot wearing one of those a few years ago (Views: 13)
Bill J. -- May 09, 2009 02:55AM
I sold a car to a guy in a nearby city. When he showed up to test drive it I noticed that he and his wife were both wearing one. The guy is an instructor for fighter jets.

Re: The guy is an instructor for fighter jets. (Views: 12)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 03:18AM
I rest my case. Wink, wink ...

One of the Amazon reviews is from a 737 jockey who relates that one of the cattle once stopped by the cockpit door upon disembarking and cried "Nice Breitling, sir!" I am smiling...

I'm tellin' ya, this one is The Real Deal. And a' that for a measly fifty bucks! Scary!

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Bill J.
..I noticed that he and his wife were both wearing one.

Cool!

Heck, this watch might even work for Paul December, then! Laughing!

-Ricky

I once wore a similar Casio for a few years... Post contains photos

(Views: 2)
thebarak -- May 10, 2009 03:18AM
The only photo I have of it is..

Chris has the correct answer AFAIK. What you need to look at is an Air Force supply CD... Post contains linked URL

(Views: 7)
Brian Uziel -- May 10, 2009 01:52AM
that every shop/unit orders parts and supplies from. Then it's not so much a question of it being an "issued" watch but one of is it something that can be ordered at the shop/unit level. For instance, there is no "issued beer" but Budweiser has a NSN & part number and has met all the DOD / US requirements as a supplier to the military. I can only make an outdated guess, but I rather doubt this or these were issued, at least not in any "official" capacity and/or outside of this guy's shop/unit. Once, I had a Commander that issued Leatherman tools to his previous unit for safety reasons ( some guys were stuck inside a tent that caught on fire and part of the correct safety action was to insure everyone deployed had a way to cut through the heavy canvas ) - same difference i.e. not an issued item but the unit ordered a dozen through the normal supply chain and handed them out in the same way as deployed troops sign for a sleeping bag etc. when they inprocess to that unit.
Ordering anything "not in the catalog" is a royal PITA and I highly doubt anyone would go through the trouble when Marathons are order-able. Most unit/shops have a kitty of accumulated funds from the inter-shop sales of sodas and snacks ( the soda fund ) for the purpose of buying goodbye plaques, shop parties, etc that the Air Force doesn't budget for, so there's the off chance that some watches were bought and handed out very unofficially, a very slim chance. In recent news, some Singapore Air Force aircraft and crew are being stationed at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. That could makke for some interesting watch contacts I am smiling ...

[www.mountainhomenews.com]

Re: Chris has the correct answer AFAIK. What you need to look at is an Air Force supply CD... (Views: 3)
John Lind -- May 10, 2009 02:56AM

Quote
Brian Uziel
Once, I had a Commander that issued Leatherman tools to his previous unit for safety reasons ( some guys were stuck inside a tent that caught on fire and part of the correct safety action was to insure everyone deployed had a way to cut through the heavy canvas ) - same difference i.e. not an issued item but the unit ordered a dozen through the normal supply chain and handed them out in the same way as deployed troops sign for a sleeping bag etc. when they inprocess to that unit.

Yep . . . and typically needs to be turned in when they leave the unit too. BTW, I saw a few tent fires over the years (usually the aftermath; only saw one actually burning from a little distance; by the time I got there it was nothing but ashes). Anyone inside only has a few seconds at best to get out . . . don't bother trying for the "door" . . . it's out through, or under the side instantly or burn with it when it collapses. Usual cause was tent stove running too hot (someone putting a little gas in the diesel . . . which we had written standing orders NOT to do), flu turning cherry red, and igniting the tent even though there is a fairly large asbestos patch with hole in it for the flu. Other common cause was not cleaning soot out of the flu . . . flu fire . . . and/or sparks of burning carbon flying out and igniting the top of the tent.

To my knowledge, it would have never passed MilWatch Muster for a number of reasons >>> (Views: 10)
John Lind -- May 10, 2009 12:21AM
starting with the dial. U.S. Mil watches . . . as procured by DoD . . . have all had flat black dials. The only folks I'm aware of that might need something specialized are the SOF (Special Ops Forces . . . includes US Army SF, Navy/Marine SEAL, and USAF HALO). USAF pilots don't rate specialized watches . . . not even the fighter pilots . . . although they did rate the standard issue type that would hack (i.e. 17j hammy vs. the cheaper 7j no-hack). Even so . . . nothing really stops anyone in the US Uniformed Services from wearing a personal watch . . . not unless it's a color, light emitting, or light reflection problem . . . or for safety reasons (working on electrical/electronic systems, mechanical moving machinery, or around extreme magnetic fields). A number of watches may be in the inventory (i.e. have a NSN or FSN) but it doesn't mean any unit can acquire them willy-nilly. An organization must be authorized to have them by TO&E or TDA before they can be acquired through supply channels . . . and it will also state how many of which NSN they're authorized to have . . . and that does get screened on the way through the system . . . otherwise some REMF Bakery and Shower Company supply sergeant run amok could order an entire ballistic missile submarine (aka boomer) . . . complete with missiles and torpedoes.

My take on it is similar to another posting . . . at a point late in my career, some units had small "slush" funds (emphasis on small) which could be used to acquire a few things of their own . . . but its spending had to be justified. Accounting for the funds, including what it was spent on, and why, was open to scrutiny during an IG (or similar) inspection. Had to be used for things that were not available through the supply system.

I think individual units can procure and issue watches as deemed necessary Ricky. (Views: 8)
Chris L -- May 09, 2009 10:14PM
From what I understand, no soldier, sailor, or airman gets a watch "issued" unless their unit commander deems it necessary to have a standardized watch. Most everybody just buys something from the base exchange, and G-Shocks are what is most commonly available/used.

Possible that it was issued, but maybe it was only issued in his unit and was never an "official" USAF adopted watch.

Yep -- that was the case during my entire career >>> (Views: 1)
John Lind -- May 10, 2009 02:46AM
and no unit I was in had even 1/10th the quantity needed to provide everyone assigned to the unit their own watch . . . just a handful were authorized by TO&E / TDA (presumably for a select few of the leadership) . . . up to unit commander whether to issue them or keep them locked up in the unit safe.

Most of us kept them locked up in the unit safe as they tended to vaporize near instantly if they ever saw the light of day. There was plenty 'splainin' to do if any did go missing . . . a formal investigation (U.S. Army version: "Report of Survey") . . . as they were considered highly "pilferable" (i.e. someone would pay for it outta their paycheck if it were not ultimately found). Might have been considered "disposable" but they were also "accountable." Crazy given their cost, but it's gov't property . . . technically owned by the taxpayers . . . and only entrusted to us for their care, safekeeping and usage.

Re: ..they tended to vaporize near instantly if they ever saw the light of day. (Views: 1)
Ricky Lee -- May 10, 2009 03:18AM
Why am I not surprised? Laughing!

Thanks for your help guys! I think we can assume that Mr. Delta Pilots "USAF issued" AMW320D was an off-the-cuff non-official unit-level procurement.

But I had t' ask.. I am smiling...

-Ricky

Re: Possible that it was issued, but maybe it was only issued in his unit and was never an "official" USAF adopted watch. (Views: 7)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 10:43PM
Ah! Yes, now that you mention it, I recall reading that, starting sometime in the 1980's, individual units could procure and issue their own choice of watches. Much the same way that the Official Railroad Approved Watch Lists were amended to say simply "any reliable and accurate watch".

I reckon this is, more than anything else, a testament to the accuracy and reliability of quartz watches. Wink, wink ...

-Ricky

And there's nothing in his post that says for certain that he was in the US air force > (Views: 5)
TakesALickin -- May 09, 2009 10:39PM
Although he's in Georgia now and works for Delta, he could have been in another country's air force.

Re: ..he could have been in another country's air force. (Views: 5)
Ricky Lee -- May 09, 2009 10:48PM
Ahhh.. well, can't argue wi' that. Highly unlikely, I reckon.. Laughing!

but still possible!

-Ricky