Sure, a pilot’s watch is timeless, but it’s also flightless — it needs gravity to function, meanwhile it’s the plane that does all the heavy lifting. Then there’s the new GRB200 from G-SHOCK — a watch with so many flight-specific features that calling it the “GRAVITYMASTER” was probably its own idea. Using highly compact Quad Sensor technology to free up case-space, the GRB200 has enough room to house sensors for compass, altimeter/barometer and thermometer measurements, making it easy to understand your surroundings and maintain comprehensive flight logs. There’s even an accelerometer to track step count, just in case you’re tempted to hang up your wings and go for a good old-fashioned walk. In the meantime, we got our hands on a new GRB200 in order to take a firsthand look at its features for ourselves.
- Case Diameter: 54mm
- Case/Bezel Material: Carbon/Carbon Fiber Insert
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Approx. Battery Life: 2 Years
- Strap Material: Resin Band
- Water Resistance: 200m
Gear Patrol Studios
Gear Patrol StudiosCockpit Controls
Unlike flying an actual plane, the GRB200 is surprisingly easy to operate. The three button layout on the right side of the watch is designed to resemble a fighter jet control stick, allowing for an intuitive user experience. Meanwhile, the watch’s Bluetooth function seamlessly connects to the G-SHOCK Connected app for quick and easy configuration, as well as a unique Mission Function, which pairs altitude data from the watch with GPS data from your smartphone in order to plot a virtual flight course.
From Our Tester: Right from the start, our tester noticed how intuitive the unique three-button control layout felt — a departure from G-SHOCK’s more standard designs and better suited to the GRAVITYMASTER series. Our tester also remarked how easy it was to pair the watch with the G-SHOCK Connected App. The connection is fast, and our tester had no problem pairing the GRB200 with a variety of smartphones. Lastly, in addition to the Mission Function, our tester enjoyed the waypoint navigation feature, which directs the watch’s second hand to point towards a location marked within the app.
Gear Patrol StudiosQuad Sensor Technology
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the GRB200 is its sensors. Unlike most watches on the market, the GRB200 features highly compact Quad Sensor technology to free up case-space. The unique configuration allows enough room to house sensors for compass, altimeter/barometer and thermometer measurements, making it easy to understand your surroundings while flying as well as maintain comprehensive flight logs. There’s even an accelerometer to track step count, just in case you’re tempted to hang up your wings and go for a good old-fashioned walk.
From Our Tester: Without logging any actual flight time, our tester was unable to truly put all of the GRB200’s features to the test. Nonetheless, the less flight-specific features were appreciated, such as the step-counter and associated calorie-tracker, or the ability to set timers, and activate the stopwatch within the G-SHOCK app.
Gear Patrol StudiosCarbon Core Guard
You might think that all for all its functionality, the GRB200 would come in a fragile package — but that’s where you’d be wrong. In addition to the brand’s industry-leading shock resistance, the GRB200’s module is housed within G-SHOCK’s Carbon Core Guard Structure — a high-strength, highly water-resistant resin case with additional carbon fiber reinforcements. Further adding to the watch’s durability is a bezel cut from three layers of semi-transparent resin interlaced with carbon fiber inserts, ultimately making this one of the most shock and vibration-resistant timepieces available.
From Our Tester: Despite wearing the GRB200 throughout the week, our tester had very few opportunities to really test the Carbon Core Guard’s protective capabilities beyond the occasional scratch or bump — none of which had any lasting effect on the watch. What our tester did appreciate, however, was how light the watch felt, despite its outer toughness. The carbon fiber structure protects the watch without adding so much as an ounce of unnecessary weight or bulk, meaning the watch is easy enough to wear on days off and tough enough to weather the days on.