I need help on regarding whether I should purchase a CASIO G-Shock Mudman G9300-1 right now.
I was wondering from other owners of the Mudman G9300-1; how much did the Mudman G9300-1 cost when you bought it?
I am currently looking to purchase it as it is on sale for $245 and I was wondering whether it buy it now or should I wait for the price to be lowered?
I bought the G-9300GB-1 a couple of years ago for $220 that was with an eBay Plus discount. You can get the G9300-1 for $239.99 on eBay with plus discount right now from aussiedigitalwatch.
Thanks, I ordered one on eBay instead of the one I was previously going to buy for $245.
I've got this watch, but I intentionally wanted the Japanese version that has carbon fibre inserts in the strap and multiband 6. I paid about $460 for it quite some time ago. Locally, it was $260 for the non-JDM one.
Me too, even though those damn carbon fibre inserts can't be seen while you're wearing it but it's a feature that hasn't been replicated on many other G-Shocks so it felt like a unique model to add to the collection.
I went with the G-9300GB-1 with the gold on black negative display.
Mine is still on the original battery, I think I bought it around 2012/2013 though I can't remember what I paid but somewhere around $400 seems right.
Really good watch, it sits nicely on the wrist too for being so chunky and these Mudmans were all Japan-made as well.
even though those damn carbon fibre inserts can't be seen
The print on the band is slighty different with the word "Carbon Fibre" on it! 😁
Mine is still on the original battery
I think I got mine about the same time as you. It's solar powered so I don't think the battery/capacitor needs to be changed (?). I just leave it by the window every now and then and it seems fine.
I remember thinking that the shipping was very expensive on eBay but I bit the bullet and paid anyway. That's where the price difference might've be between yours and mine.
But yeh, it's a great watch! The JDM model just seems that little more special!
The battery needs to be replaced eventually, my Riseman is 11 years old and the battery is still fine so no idea on how long they last. Replacement batteries go for about $20-$30 so relatively cheap.
@yippy: Normally you get at least 10 years on an OEM solar battery in most Casios but 20 years isn't unheard of on some models (and at this point in time those would be the some of earliest Casios/G-Shocks that were solar-powered, which presumably had less efficient solar cells so newer generation solar-powered modules would theoretically last even longer on an OEM battery). It all depends on your usage of course and how well you've cared for the watch (prolonged extreme temperature exposure and fluctuations definitely don't do watch batteries any good).
One thing I have noticed though is that solar-powered ana-digi models have trouble retaining the "High" battery charge state for very long as they get older and they definitely require more frequent recharging compared to all-digital models, no doubt due to the higher power consumption of the analogue movement.
I have a G-Shock GW-3500B-1A which is of a very similar vintage as the G-9300 series and functionally a very similar watch however the battery charge level indicator on the GW-3500B never stays on "H" unless it's in direct sunlight for several minutes at least whereas the battery charge level indicator on the G-9300 will stay on "H" for a good amount of time after a proper recharge. The GW-3500B also needs to be recharged every 2 months or so whereas the G-9300 can go a lot longer without a recharge.
Replacement batteries go for about $20-$30 so relatively cheap.
Yeah but changing the batteries in most G-Shocks is an absolute pain in the ass due to the amount of shock-absorbing components and parts that need to be removed, so it should really be left to a professional, especially if you need them pressure-tested which is definitely recommended given the time between battery changes on most solar-powered watches. If you can find a decent watchsmith like my local one, they should charge around $40-50 for a battery change and another $40-50 for a pressure test. Otherwise at most run-of-the-mil watch kiosks in shopping centres, they'll charge you $100 or more for a battery change alone and that's if they even service G-Shocks which a lot of them refuse to because they're not trained on them and/or it's too hard for them.
The mudman series are indestructible. If you're a fan, get one, enjoy it and you'll be passing it onto your kids.
I've got a collection of g9000 watches which I love.