AK vs GS

An idiot I once put up with blithered to me some time ago that he believed "The watch one wears says a lot about the man wearing it". This was said while he was waving around the "Rolex" he inherited from a relative. I agreed with a simple "Uh-huh" in the hopes that he would go away and that would be the end of it. I've since thought about it and realized that a more accurate comment from him would have been "The watch I wear says a lot about what I wish I was", or even "The watch I wear says a lot about what I hope others will think of me". It's dumb, I know.

If you're a watch guy (or gal) then you probably have a collection of watches. You wear the one you're in the mood for. Or you wear the one most suited to the day ahead of you. Sometimes you just want to wear the shiny one or the heavy one or the neat SCUBA diver one. And we buy watches because they have tritium tubes or go 1,000 feet under water or can be adjusted by a satellite or just because they look cool. No great philosophy or politics here. To make any judgement at all about someone based on a watch is absurd.

That being said, I recently received two watches as gifts from my lovely wife, Sue. One was for Father's Day and the other for our anniversary. These watches could not be more different. The first is the Rolex Air-King. The second is the Casio G-Shock. Call me crazy but I really dig both of these watches. Now what does that say about me? I'm not schizophrenic no matter what the little voice in my head tells me. But imagine if you had to pick one or the other and it would be the last watch you ever wore. Is it a no-brainer? Which one would you choose? Hmmmmmmmm.

I know what you're probably thinking. You're thinking, "Why don't you do an Air-King vs. G-Shock comparison/challenge"? "That way I can compare the two and choose the one and only watch that suits me best regardless of the cost or state of the economy". Well, okay, if you insist.

Some facts and observations:

Rolex Air-King:

Model #: 114200
Material/Case: 904L Stainless Steel
Bezel: 904L Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster, Stainless Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Movement: Automatic, Analog. Cal. 3130, 31 Jewels, Official Chronometer, (Same movement as used in the Rolex Submariner and Explorer)
Accuracy: +/-0 secs. after 7 days.
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Illumination: None
Case Width: 34mm
Case Thickness: 13mm
Lug-to-Lug Width: 42mm
Features: A tiny, laser engraved crown logo in the crystal above the 6 o'clock hour marker that can only be seen with a magnifying glass.
Looks Like: Rolex Explorer
Most Likely To Survive Nuclear War: Yes
Most Likely To Survive Angry Wife: No
Gripe: Hard to read face in low light.
Price As Tested: About $3,500.00

Casio G-Shock:

Model #: G9000-1V (Mudman)
Material/Case: Rubber
Bezel: Rubber
Bracelet: Rubber
Crystal: Mineral Crystal
Movement: Quartz Digital, Module # 3031
Accuracy: +/-0 secs. after 7 days
Water Resistance: 200 meters. The Casio User's Guide claims that the Mudman may be used for Scuba diving except at depths that require helium-oxygen gas.
Illumination: Two Electro-Luminescent Panels
Case Width: 47mm
Case Thickness: 15mm
Lug-to-Lug Width: 51mm
Features: Day, Date and Year, Five Alarms, Countdown Timer, World Time for 48 Cities, Two Stopwatches, 12 Hour or 24 Hour Timekeeping.
Looks Like: Spare tire from a toy truck
Most Likely To Survive Nuclear War: No, EMP will cause malfunction.
Most Likely To Survive Angry Wife: Yes, rubber case will absorb the shock of rolling pin.
Gripe: Alarm is not loud enough.
Price As Tested: About $68.00


Packaging. There is a compartment in the back of the G-Shock Mudman display used for hiding the User's Guide. Do not lose the User's Guide.


The Rolex Air-King and the Casio G-Shock Mudman side-by-side. They refused to touch each other.


The moleman engraved on the back of the Mudman. The watch is made in Thailand.

No engraving or embellishment at all on the back of the Air-King.

The Mudman as it looks on my bony wrist. I know, I know, it's too tight, but it's still pretty comfortable.

The Air-King actually looks at home on my wrist.

A final picture of these two fine watches.

Conclusion: It's a tie. Of course, comparing these two watches is like comparing apples and oranges. They come from two different worlds with two entirely different ideologies regarding how a watch should look and the features it should have. The G-Shock is an instrument and is based on the "Form Follows Function" school of thought while the Air-King is more like a piece of art that must be appreciated for it's timeless, classic design. Maybe someday there will be an Air-Shock or a G-King. Anyway, I think I've had it with these two. I'm puttin' on the Seiko.

Special thanks to Alan Furman & Co. through which Sue purchased the Air-King. They treated us like we were their most important customers.