Customer Reviews

Casio Men's AMW340-1A Analog Diver Resin Strap Watch

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, the guy who rated this watch at only one star was talking about the larger AMW320R-1EV. This one, the AMW340-1A, is slightly smaller (see my photo) and has a third function button on the right side, just under the crown. My 320's crystal was getting scratched up so now I own both.

The 340 is slightly smaller, thinner and lighter than the 320 but just as nice looking. It has only one digital time display, not two, like the 320. But the digital stop watch function has "split times" and a way to record the time of two finishers (that I don't yet understand) which the 320 doesn't have.

Neither watch has a count-down timer, and neither has a backlight. Many complain about this but I don't seem to need either, though a backlight would be nice. I'm really happy with it.

This is a smaller sized diving watch. It is not too small, though. It is actually nice sized, and reasonably lightweight. The LCD screen is actually larger than the one on Casio's classic large face dive watch (AMW 320). The improvements that would be great for this watch would be some kind of illumination of either the actual face (and sweep hands), or the LCD screen. The sweep hands are luminous, as good as any Casio luminous hands. Another improvement would be a better positioning of the AM/PM designation in the LCD screen, which is nearly impossible to read because it is postioned so high. To overcome this lack, when setting an alarm, you can toggle to 24 hour time to make sure your 6AM is AM indeed. Another feature I would personally have liked (which is the only reason I returned the watch) is a countdown timer. The LCD format does not have that one feature, which I happen to use frequently. Bottom line: Great watch if you're OK without a countdown timer and without illumination.

As another helpful post said, this Casio watch model is the AMW340-1A, not
the larger AMW320R-1E that was indicated by someone who gave it one star.

*Edited & Updated on Tuesday 10/12/2010*

I own five Citizen & Casio Chronograph sport watches packed with features, subdials, day/date, dual time, world time, alarms, count-down timer, etc. However, I wanted something sporty & fairly rugged that was less expensive (in the $50 range) that would fair well and still clean up nice after working hard around the house, the yard, the car and the garage...ie: something that would take a beating now & then without having to worry about getting any of my nicer watches all scratched up or possibly damaged. Yeah, a "scapegoat-watch" to take all the minor abuses and infractions I have frequently subjected my nicer watches to.~;o)=

Most everything else I looked at in the $50 range were just too cheap, plastic, or didn't have enough features (if it was all-analog), or just too geeky & gaudily digi-tech looking for my taste (if it included digital features). I wanted a suitable good-looking sporty analog/digital hybrid 'scapegoat-watch' with essential features (such as analog, chronograph, day AND date, dual time, alarm), but at a LOW PRICE and in an all stainless-steel case to endure some dirt, grime, and occasional punishment. (Timex was simply out of the question for me because I've never had a Timex take my abuses for more than a year or so before it broke.) I've been somewhat spoiled from having decent chronograph sport watches with useful analog/digital hybrid features. Thus it's been a tough long search over the years (poor me) finding a nice-looking sporty diver-style watch that's suitable (fairly-rugged in an all stainless-steel case) as well as useful (with a rotating bezel and most of the essential features that I like)...at a low *price.

*You can get this watch for $42.99 w/free shipping at Over Stock
dot com, which certainty helps clinch the deal as a bargain watch.

For the price, this Casio AMW340-1A sport watch fits the bill. I'm also happy to say, that this watch looks nicer in real life than it does in its photo debut here at Amazon. Here's an analog/digital hybrid watch that looks good (like a genuine diver's watch), comes in an all stainless-steel case with a fully functional rotating bezel, and has most of the essential features I look for...all for under $50 bucks. And I'm also pleasantly surprised that after 3 months of constant use and putting it through its paces, my Casio AMW340-1A is only off (fast) by 3-seconds, which is pretty accurate and a swell performer for a watch just under $50 bucks!

Let me just say...I did not get this watch because it dazzles (it doesn't). I did not get this watch because it's jam-packed with every useful hi-tech Swiss Army-like feature out there (it isn't). And I did not get this watch to impress my scuba-diving & rock-climbing buddies either (it doesn't even impress me). Simply put, I got this watch to let it get dirty, scratched, and all banged up while doing all my handiwork around the house, yard, car, and garage...so that I could spare my nicer watches after extorting 10 yrs of hard service & slavery from them. Honestly, I have yet to take off this watch after 3 months (except to clean it) because it has filled-in rather well for my other watches...better than I had expected from a "cheap" $50 dollar watch.

*Note: Please disregard the first photo above, this watch does NOT have an illuminated digital display window as apparently shown in the 1st photo above. The added customer photo is the ONLY pic above that displays the digital window realistically (see customer pic above).


CASIO AMW340-1A SUMMARY FEATURES & SPECS: A Sporty Diver-Style Analog/Digital Hybrid Watch

-The Casio AMW340-1A is a simple, battery operated, *medium-sized (41mm wide), sporty diver-styled quartz ANALOG watch in an all-stainless-steel case and a fully functional rotating bezel, with some additional (basic/essential) multi-mode DIGITAL quartz functions in a discrete digital-display window.

*Note: The Rolex SubMariner is only 40mm. This 41mm Casio is not a "small" watch. It's technically an "average-sized" or "medium-sized" Men's watch. Whereas the AMW320R-1E pictured along side this watch (in the customer photo) is "large".


CASIO AMW340-1A DIGITAL FEATURES & SPECS: Digital Functions

- Digital chronograph with dual split times (elapsed time, split time, and 2 finishes); the chronograph has a 1hr measuring capacity/limit in units of |MIN'|SEC"|1/100sec|, ie: [00'00"00], for a total of 59min & 59.99sec max, or approx. 1hr max/limit, ie: [59'59"99]

- Digital day & date calendar displaying "month|day|day-of-week", for example: [06 17TH] on the digital display is June 17 THursday, not June 17th

- Dual-time operation (digital time can be set independent of analog time; see "Stainless-Steel Bezel" features below to yield a 3rd time in analog)

- Daily 24hr digital alarm for reminders (it's not loud enough to awake a normal-to-heavy sleeper, and maybe not even a light sleeper, but it is certainly suitable for reminders & appointments); the alarm goes off for 20 seconds unless the sound is manually canceled by pressing the start-stop/on-off button on the lower-right

- A 12hr and 24hr mode setting (affects digital time, dual time, and alarm)

- An hourly chime/beep setting (it's not loud either, making it quite useful rather than annoying); chime duration is approx. 1/2 of a second

- 3 mode buttons: Mode, Set, and Start-Stop/On-Off (these 3 buttons are in addition to the Crown which alone sets the analog time independently).


CASIO AMW340-1A ANALOG FEATURES & SPECS: Analog Features & Other Features Worth Noting

- Accuracy Rating: The Casio AMW340-1A is reasonably dependable and tells time accurately (it was offf only by 3 seconds after 3 months on mine, however, in the manual it's accuracy is rated at +/-30sec per month at normal temperatures, which is reasonable for a $50 watch.

- Impact Rating: This watch is fairly rugged and made reasonably durable because of its full metal stainless-steel casing (no resin materials/coating or ion plating anywhere on the body/case & bezel). It's actual Impact Rating is for: "normal daily use and light activity such as playing catch, tennis, etc." (which includes soccer, baseball, flag-fooball, jogging/running, light rock-climbing, boating, rowing, mowing lawn, etc). That is, it's not G-Shock rated for extreme vibrations such as industrial use with a jack hammer or chain saw, nor is it rated for extreme impact sports such as tackle football, motocross, extreme mtn-bike racing such as downhill racing and racing through extreme terrian with technical obstacles, etc.

- Water Resistance: This watch is rated "Water Resistant" to 10 BAR, or a depth of 100 meters or 330 ft (10 BAR = 10 ATMospheres of BARometric pressure), that is, as long as you maintain the watch and keep it clean and lubricate/replace its O-ring/seals when necessary. (See *Watch Cleaning Tips* & *Watch Battery & O-Ring Maintenance Tips* at the end of this review below.)

- Full Metal Jacket: It's sporty and handsome (it actually grows on ya) and is encased in an all stainless-steel full metal jacket (with a resin band as pictured), as well as a stainless-steel screw-on cover on the back for a better seal.

- Stainless-Steel Bezel: This watch has a 2-way rotating stainless-steel bezel with easy-to-see dual scales:
*(1) a 60min scale which can yield a 3rd time, and *(2) a smaller-font 360degree compass scale;

*(1) How to use the 60min scale on the rotating bezel to yield a 3rd time: Rotating the 60min bezel scale in-effect 'offsets' the inner analog 12:00 o'clock position to yield a 3rd time, OR it can be used to mark an upcoming-time, OR to mark the current analog time as an approximate start-time, OR to mark ahead of the current analog time as an approximate count-down time.

*(2) How to use the 360degree compass scale: Likewise, turning the bezel rotates the 360degree compass scale (it rotates the "N" North arrow). As a general rule: if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, simply align yourself so that the analog hour-hand on your watch points towards the direction of the sun; the position between the hour-hand and the 12:00 o'clock position on your watch is South. Then rotate the "N" North arrow on the bezel-scale so it aligns opposite to South...and poof!...you have a compass. [This info is not in the Casio manual, but it's in Citizen manuals for Citizen watches with 360degree compass scales.]

*Note: The Casio bezel on this watch does not appear to be very high-grade/or industrial-strength stainless-steel, however this could be because the brushed stainless-steel finish on the bezel-ring is not polished to as high a luster as the rest of the watch case[?]. Either way, when buying a sports watch, I never buy a sports/diver watch without a fully functional rotating bezel. For me, a bezel must rotate with clicks and have a 60min scale and/or a 360degree compass scale, OR it must have a full tachymeter and/or a rotating slide-rule scale (without clicks). In comparison, stationary bezels with limited markings are rather useless, or just decorative.

- The watch features a classic dive-watch design with large luminous hour & minute hands, a crisp (and luminous) second hand sweep, large luminous 5-min increments clearly marked on the face, plus small 1-minute increments as well as smaller (fine) 1/5th-sec increments. The analog portion of the watch face (along with the 60min and 360compass scales on the bezel) is high in contrast, very clear and well laid out, and it's easy to see & tell time with in low-to-dim light levels (however, this is not the case with the rather dim digital display...more on that below).

Simply stated, this a decent essential-featured sport watch that looks like a classic scuba-diving watch. And most of all, it passes my ultimate test...ie: I can get a good bit of use out of it AND I don't get tired of looking at it NOR do I regret buying it. This is important to me [as I point up in the air] even for a 'scapegoat watch'. ~;o)-

*Note About "Water Resistance": The manual states that this watch's
10 BAR rating is suitable for the following "Examples of Daily Use":

- Hand washing, rain
- Water-related work, swimming
- Windsurfing
- Skin diving

*The manual also states: "Do not use this watch for scuba
diving or other types of diving that requires air tanks."

*Personal Note: Since this watch is thus advertised as a "Diver" watch (as are most economical "diver" watches), then PER THE USER MANUAL this realistically refers to "Skin Diving" and NOT to "Scuba Diving". So, if you're in the market for a serious/genuine Scuba Diving watch, AVOID economical-type "diver" watches that indicate "Water Resistant"[WR]...and get a professional Scuba Diving watch that indicates (or even guarantees) "Water Proof"[WP] TO AT LEAST 20 BAR (200 meters or 660ft) or to 30 BAR (300m or 990ft) or more. AND make sure it has an all-metal case with a "screw-on back", vs a "snap-on back" or some "screw-down plate" w/four screws. (Look up some Citizen Diver watches for starters, especially their 'Aqualand' diver watches).


SO WHAT'S MISSING?

Ok, so what's missing in order to make this a super all-in-one watch?

(1) A light button is needed to illuminate the 'discrete' yet somewhat dim/obscure digital display.

(2) A 10 yr battery to handle the extra load from a needed illumination button.

(3) A count-down timer should have been a no-brainer for Casio to add as one of its digital functions.

(4) The 1hr-chronograph should have a higher max/limit to at least 12hrs, if not 24hrs.

(5) And a more reasonably-sized (larger) AM/PM indicator in the digital display because it's just too tiny as it is.
(All the Mode indicators are too tiny as well, however it's fairly obvious which Mode you're in.)

I seriously doubt these five things above should drive up the price by more than
$10-15 dollars, and should have been included in the watch anyway...along with:

(6) A stainless-steel band w/clasp should be offered (and would be worth it) on optional models for a fair price.

World-time would be a big plus, along with solar power & atomic time-keeping; but I have yet to see all these functions in a watch with a full metal jacket at this price range. The "closest" I've seen (so far) to most of the added features above is "Casio Men's AMWS320-1AVCF Tough Solar Black Dial Diver Watch". It is larger (~45mm wide), and it's solar (but not atomic), and it has a nicer digital display (but it's analog display is NOT as nicely proportioned), and it has a full metal jacket (but does NOT have a screw-on back...it's screwed-down w/four screws), and it's currently going for $87.06 here at Amazon. There are nicer ones by Casio, but the price just keeps climbing as well. So, if you want "ALL" THESE EXTRA FEATURES LISTED ABOVE in an all-in-one analog/digital-hybrid sports watch in an attractive/sporty all stainless-steel case with a useful rotating bezel, then this Casio watch isn't for you...get a Citizen Eco-drive SkyHawk; that is, if you're willing to fork out $240 smacks or more for the Eco-drive Skyhawk Black Eagle (like I did), or over $350 for the larger Eco-drive Skyhawk-AT(atomic) with backlight. And, to spare your new Skyhawk from hard wear & tear and keep it nice, then you'll probably be looking into getting a suitable/useful scapegoat-watch at a bargain price (like I am).


THE CONS:

Actually, I really don't expect too much from a watch for under $50 bucks...ie: I certainly didn't get the Casio AMW340-1A thinking I was buying an all-in-one watch. However, just to be fair (on the critical end of it) especially for those who returned a perfectly decent watch and may want some reassurance, below is my critical take "IF" this Casio AMW340-1A were my one & only watch:

(1) I prefer a stainless-steel band w/clasp over resin, simply
because metal lasts longer, fairs better, and looks nicer on me.

(2) The digital display window is too narrow & rectangular, too dim & flat in contrast, and is set too deep under the face plate (which creates abrupt shadows and narrows the view)...and, it's just plain dorky looking. The digital display window really needs an overhaul in the design & layout department; at the very least some more rounding along its corners, and less length with a slightly higher placement on the face so that the 5min-markers at 5:00 & 7:00 o'clock are not lost. Honestly, the digital display window looks like a cheap after-thought, as if a 5 yr old had been rushing to use a ruler & scissors to make quick cut-outs out of a milk carton before the bell rang. The digital display lacks adequate design & layout, and really makes an already-classic sport watch design look like a couple of geeks at Casio got to it and quickly slapped something "digital" in there (ie: bare-knuckles digital) just in time for distribution. Even some of the cheaper plastic Casio's for under $20 have more digital functions and a nicer digital display & layout than what this watch got stuck with (but they're cheap because they're plastic). The digital display here is just boring; the rotating bezel is more fun even if you were to turn it back & forth a hundred times while pretending it was some sort of James Bond gadget. And, it's not terribly easy to see the digital display in low light, but...it works. (I would have bought this stainless-steel watch if it had decent subdials with a chronograph, day AND date, alarm, and no digital...which is hard to find at a bargain price, especially in a medium-sized watch. However, I liked this one because it's medium-sized, has an analog face with a fully functional rotating bezel, plus a chronograph, alarm, day AND date, a 12/24hr mode, and dual-time functions; and it's sporty, fairly rugged & handsome, and has a full-metal jacket...and it grows on ya...which for me are the main "essentials" I look for in any watch.

(3) The digital display should be higher in contrast so that the digits are more black and easier to read at a quick glance. (If I keep staring at the digital display for more than a few seconds just to get a fix on one of its digital display functions, it's only a matter of time I get into some awful accident while driving. ~;o)- The classic sport-look in this watch is definitely in its analog design, so if the grey background in the display screen were made any lighter, it would detract from its sporty classic look and become a full blown geek watch (like it does in the 1st pic with the mock digital screen in the photo). However, if this watch had an extra button/function to illuminate the digital screen, it would resolve this digital contrast issue altogether (and make it an even better watch)...ie: light up the digital screen whenever you need to, as it remains discrete & somewhat obscure otherwise.

NOTE: Again, this AMW340-1A watch does NOT have an illuminated headlight in its digital display window as has been mocked-up in the 1st picture above. Nor is the digital display window as bright & easy to read as it is in the 4th pic (which is an over-exposed pic to begin with). The added customer photo above is the ONLY pic that shows the digital display window accurately (except that the watch-face itself has a cleaner & higher contrast overall, more like the 1st pic). In real life, the digital display window is low in contrast (flat) because the grey background in the display screen looks a shade (or so) too dark; inadvertently though, this actually helps keep the digital display window from standing out too much like a sore after-thought. In other words, in the shade or indoors at medium-to-low light, the digital display can be difficult to read, and almost always (usually) requires you to angle the digital display towards a more direct light source in order to read it quickly. For me, this inconvenience ironically turns out to be a plus on this watch, because the digital display (when it's finally visible 2 feet away from a neutron star explosion) is no more attractive than a cinder-block sitting all alone in a cold basement.

(4) I like to see things clearly so the digital display window really needs an illumination button for mid-to-low light situations, especially because the issues in #2 and #3 above make it more difficult to read even in moderately dim light. However, the analog face is nice and very easy to read even in dim light...but I prefer an extra button anyway so I could light up the digital display whenever I needed to. (Again, see the added customer photo for a realistic view of the digital display window.) In addition to a needed illumination button for the digital display, the 1hr-chronograph should have a higher max/limit to at least 12hrs (if not 24hrs); the digital functions should also include a count-down timer; and world-time would be a plus.

(5) The AM/PM and Mode indicators inside the digital display window are just waaaaaay too tiny to distinguish clearly unless I use a magnifying loop. As others have already pointed out, setting the digital time to 24hr mode (military time) takes care of any AM/PM readings...ie: in 24hr mode, any hours beyond 11:59 to 23:59 (between 12:00hrs and 24:00hrs) are PM. But if you're like me, I just look out the window whenever I get disoriented and need a fix on daylight hours.~;o)- Also, crickets can really be helpful at night...and if you don't have any in your yard, I'm pretty sure you could order a case of half-frozen/stunned crickets from a reputable hobby shop or pet store.~;o)- If all else fails, put a birdhouse in your yard and feed your new guests LOTS and LOTS of seeds so your birds keep coming back and you can tell when its daylight as they swear at each other in "chirp" to compete for seed.~;o)- So there.

(6) As for the rest of the watch face, it's already a sporty/classic diver-watch design so there was no need for Casio to add all those circular grooved rings just to "fill" the space inside the minute marks to remind me of my old record player. These useless circular rings (see 1st pic, but ignore 4th pic), although somewhat subtle and not too terribly distracting (thank the Lord!!!), nonetheless, IMHO, subtly detract from the overall design more than add to it. Just look at a Bulova, Rolex, Omega, Tag, Tissot, etc...this watch "just" pulls it off, but would have done better if a couple of geeks at Casio had left it alone and stopped messing with it after getting it to look like a classic sport watch in all its simplicity. Simple, when done right, can be as classic as it is timeless.

(7) Some have already mentioned that this watch is "small". It's really "medium", about 41mm wide as opposed to 44mm or 45mm+ for a fuller-sized men's watch. But if you're close to/or over 6ft tall, or if you've inadvertently inherited chunky wrists for some reason, or you just so happen to like wrist clocks, then relatively speaking, anything smaller than a wrist clock could be considered "small" by some of our prominent reviewers. However, since I'm 5'7" with a medium frame, a medium-sized watch works out great for me. I also listed several other watches in my public Wish List just in case any of you readers out there want to buy me a nice gift.~;o)- [Please see CONS #1 above before making any commitments!] ~:o)=


THE PROS:

Ok, I already covered the pros. But just as a consolation, the geeks at Casio didn't go too far off-base from the overall classic diver-watch design in order to make this one look just a wee bit different enough to claim as some sort of original design of their own. However, Casio was certainly headed in the geek direction and would have ruined it completely had they gone overboard, like they have with many other Casio's that have suffered such full blown tendencies just to "look" more hi-tech and all.

Considering the very-affordable price range of this watch here at Amazon (it sells for $70 at Walmart, and for more than $90 at some places online), and the fact it has a full metal jacket, is rugged, accurate, handsome (it grows on ya), and STILL manages to sport a classic diver's watch design overall, plus the fact that Casio would gladly charge $125 or more if ever my design-tweaks were to leak out and they implemented them or hired me as a consultant (tee hee hee)...thus, I give this watch a solid 4 stars because it lacks (more than anything) a needed illumination button for the digital display. However...considering the low price for a bare-knuckles ana/digi-hybrid in a classic diver-watch design with an all-stainless-steel case, fully funcional bezel, and screw-on back...I must say it's a damn good cheap watch, and one of the best-built essential-featured stainless-steel 'scapegoat watches' I've seen in its class. Despite it's relatively minor shortcomings, this watch is a solid performer and a real champ for under $50*.

*You can get this watch for $42.99 w/free shipping at Over Stock
dot com, which certainty helps clinch the deal as a bargain watch.

Now, if you want a solar-powered atomic watch from Casio, and in a real/full metal jacket, and one that looks nice to boot (without any of that geeky plastic bling all over it), then be prepared to spend upwards around $150 to $270 smacks to make it yours and really worth showing off. Frankly, at that price range I would consider Citizen, Bulova, or Tissot to be a better bargain. (Seiko is over-rated, just ask a reputable jeweler). And out of those three, you'll get more bells & whistles out of a Citizen even under $220, which can buy you a super nice ana-digi/hybrid [ie: there's a Citizen SkyHawk Eco-drive BlackEagle with a Resin Band for $217 online at Certified Watch Store dot com]. However, Casio is your best deal if you're looking for a decent quality budget-watch (under $100); but above $100, I'd look at a Citizen first.

After collecting five decent & still-working sport watches over the last 10+ years, if I bought another watch for $100-$400 or more, I would STILL be in the market for a damn good scapegoat watch and would buy this one all over again...even if the birdhouse & crickets aren't included. ~;o)-

Greeny

_______________________________________________________________


*Watch Cleaning Tips*

- All my watches still look brand-spankin' new, except for a few minor scratches from normal use. Here's the secret to keeping a water-resistant watch clean, and always looking like it's brand-spankin' new: Clean your watch regularly (once a week) with mild soap, unchlorinated water, and a soft toothbrush; then towel-dry after cleaning (do not use heat dryers to dry your watch, as heat (esp. above 104F for this Casio) can begin to damage a watch's digital screen. Also, clean the watch after each exposure to sweat, dirt, grime/oils, salt-water, lake water, or chlorinated pool/or spa water. Do not use abrasive or chemical cleaners to clean your watch...ie: do not use cleansers made of diatomic earth, because such gritty-type cleansers will micro-scratch your watch and may leave deposits within crevices (especially in/around the buttons & bezel) which can cake-up over time; nor use any chemical cleansers & solvents such as alcohol, ammonia, acids or alkalies, and especially avoid household cleansers like Windex, Tilex & Chlorox, etc. (such cleansers can instantly begin to damage your watch's O-ring seals and any other resin components such as a resin band). Just use soap, unchlorinated water, and a soft toothbrush. And if you have a watch that's already caked-up, you may use a non-chemical enzyme cleaner and a soft toothbrush, BUT make sure it has NO chemicals or fragrance in it; then keep maintaining your watch clean once a week with soap, unchlorinated water, and a soft toothbrush to keep it sparkling like new.

*Watch Battery & O-Ring Maintenance Tips*

I got tired of paying about $10 bucks a pop or more for someone else to replace each watch-battery for my watches. So I decided do it myself because it's a lot cheaper. I've seen several watch tools & kits here at Amazon and they're not expensive at all, and neither is a 5-pack of button-batteries for your watch, as well as a pack of O-rings, and some silicon lube for O-rings.

- The tool you need to unscrew a watch case is called a "Jaxa-type Watch Case Wrench".
- The tools you need to remove and adjust links & pins in a watch band are called: "Spring
Bar Remover", "Link Remover", and "Pin Pusher". For a resin band, all you really need is the
"Spring Bar Remover".

Start by doing a search here at Amazon for "Jaxa Watch Case Wrench", or "Watch Case Wrench, Jaxa Type", or "Watch Case Opener, Jaxa Type". From there you'll see Watch Case Wrenches/Openers, kits, etc. I recommend tools with the highest review ratings, and you'll also find that many reviewers give helpful instructions on how to use them and how easy it really is to do it yourself.~;o)

True, the watch doesn't have a backlight. However, the analog face is so high-contrast, and has glowing arms, that in general you will still be able to see it. The watch meets some FTC ISO standard for watches, and delivers 3 different clocks for unsurpassed world-travel compatibility for a watch this cheap. I own several watches that are more expensive, I bought this on sale because I always felt it was a good watch and I am not disappointed with it. The features it has are simple and I expect it to last basically indefinitely as long as I change the battery and get the seals inspected every few years.

Most men's watches these days are huge, like wall clocks with wrist bands. This one is small, but plenty big enough to see. Total width: 41mm. Total length: 45mm. Thickness: 11mm. It weighs 54 grams without the band. The entire watch is stainless steel; none of it is plastic/resin coated to look like metal. After exactly two months, it was off by exactly two seconds, as best as I could measure against an "atomic clock". If the digital time is set for 12 hr am/pm, the "p" is a miniscule dot located above the seconds display. Because of this, I set the digital time to 24 hr so I won't accidentally set the alarm for "am" when I want "pm" (or vice versa). There is no backlight, but the hands are resonably luminous.

I needed a decent watch with zulu time displayed at all times. I use the analog display for local, digital display for zulu. Decent quality, although the bezel is a little loose. I always liked the AMW320, but it is a hockey puck compared to this watch and way too big for my frame. A good bit smaller, but not a woman's watch as another poster stated.

This watch is a "smaller" men's watch, just what I wanted and is the perfect size for me. The product specifications clearly show it to be 35mm in diameter, which it is, and 10mm (3/8") smaller than the similar AMW320R-1EV. The description also says the case is 8mm thick, but the actual watch is closer to 12 or 13 mm (I did not use anything precise). The overall case size is virtually the same as the Casio AW80V-1BV that I'm replacing. The bezel also rotates, which is not clear from the product description.

I bought this to replace my AW80V-1BV, which was a disappointing Casio product (it died after 19 months), but not disappointing enough to make me steer away from Casio.

I rated four stars because I don't know about the durability. I would have liked a countdown timer, but I definitely wanted a durable (100m or better rating) watch that DID NOT have a mechanical date, as I hate to reset them in the five months with fewer than 31 days. And the description of the features is accurate, so I knew there wouldn't be a timer. I don't need a light because I have little need to read it in the dark. (And though my AW80V had a light, it wasn't very good anyway.)

It's just what I wanted.

I got this watch for $30 on a deal a day site a few months ago. I didnt expect much but for the price I figured it couldn't hurt to have another beater watch. As soon as I got it in the mail my opinion of it changed. It's much heavier than I though it would be. I have larger watches with automatic movements that are around the same weight so this was a pleasant surprise. The bezel is very smooth and the only thing I don't like about it is that its bi-directional. I prefer a uni-directional bezel but I knew ahead of time that this one wasn't so it wasn't an issue. The strap it came with was a normal rubber diver style strap; pretty standard as far as diver watches go. I changed mine to a metal watchadoo bracelet which by the way was an 18mm braclet. I'm not sure why its listed on here as 16mm lug width but my 18mm straps fit perfectly. The metal bracelet really gives new life to this watch and makes it look much different. I find myself wearing it more than my expensive watches for various occasions and it fits right in. As far as timekeeping it has been very accurate as can be expected from a quartz watch. The subdial and the analog second hand have been synchronized without me having to reset them since I got the watch, and also the second hand lines up with each second increment on the dial. I can't even begin to tell you how many watches I have that dont line up and it drives me crazy but this one was spot on. The lume is nothing to write home about but I dont really mind it. If I want lume I'll wear my Seiko Monster, otherwise I dont worry about it. The initial brightness is pretty good if your in direct sunlight but it doesnt last long. Room light will do almost nothing as far as fueling the lume so dont expect it to glow after being inside.

That being said overall it does everything I want it to. It keeps time very well, it feels very sturdy and heavy, looks great, and I got it at a great price. I love it so much I plan on buying another one just incase something happens to this one. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a good watch in this price range that isnt the size of a dinner plate which seems to be the trend now, so I'm grabbing another while this model is still available. I highly recommend anyone considering this watch to give it a shot. You will not be dissapointed.

I got this little watch a couple of days ago, so far so good. As what i just said, it is really a "little" watch, actually a bit smaller than what i ever expected, though that doesn't bother me at all. Basically this watch is functional like what it described, except the hands are actually not bright enough as it looks like, in the darkness. I wore a Timex e-compass before i bought this, which has a bit more brightness than this one, though has even fewer fluorescent material on the hands. And, another thing is, this watch actually doesn't have any real world time features, though it does support the second time display with LCD, but, anyway, it shows another time, that is exactly what i want. The build and finish are pretty good, giving the feeling it really worth's every buck you paid. Honestly i haven't tried all the functions it provides, which those i don't really need for every day. On the whole, I need a watch which is simple and comfy, it is what i want, and now i could read what time is where my wife lives by having an eye on the LCD screen, I am happy with it.

It looks just ok.
The painted black markings on the dial are bold and look ugly from close.
Casio has some better watches. I couldn't correctly judge its look online else would have avoided this one.