Big Boys Toys: Emergency II

About

We’re all so busy trying to juggle work, family and late night internet trolling that often we forget where the hell we are. Trying not to get lost on a daily basis is a tedious, brain-space consuming activity, and quite frankly I’m sick of it and happy to start outsourcing.

Imagine my Jonathan Coleman-esque glee upon stumbling across the world’s first wristwatch with personal locator beacon!

Technicians from master watchmakers, Breitling, had to find their way to the laboratory with a compass and old-timey map to develop The Emergency II – a high-tech time-piece that is synced to an international satellite alert system. The satellite network both alerts and guides search and rescue missions – on land, at sea or in the air. And possibly down a coal mine but I was too lazy to research that.

The Emergency II is distinguished by “numerous microelectronic and microtechnical innovations” (no way!), including a revolutionary rechargeable battery, a miniaturised dual frequency transmitter that… blah blah, who cares as long as it’s made from titanium right? Which of course it is.

An international fleet of Cospas-Sarsat system satellites circle the earth sending info to ground receiving stations that pin-point exactly which pub you’re in. There’s nowhere to hide with The Emergency II. Consider one for your teenager.

[pullQuote]“An international fleet of Cospas-Sarsat system satellites circle the earth sending info to ground receiving stations that pin-point exactly which pub you’re in.”[/pullQuote]

The Emergency II features two crowns at the bottom of the case that you unscrew to extend two antennas, which activate the watch’s microtransmitter. For 24 hours, distress calls are sent on the 406 MHz frequency for satellites every 50 seconds alternating with alerts. Just don’t play around with the transmitter or you could potentially face fines for triggering a worldwide false alarm – the perfect gift for the attention-seeker who has everything.

It’s so awesome Bear Grylls has one, which immediately leads one to wonder why the clown can’t find his way to the nearest Caltex servo.

Specs

Will set you back: $AUD 20,123

Top speed: Well it’s a watch, so…. one second per second.

It’s nothing like: A sun dial zip-tied to your wrist

Why?: Because the world is a big place.