Casio

Casio Men's WVAM490D-2A Atomic Waveceptor Sports Watch

• Tough solar power, waveceptor atomic keeping
• LED light with afterglow, Neo-Brite luminous hand and markers
• Stopwatch, 12 and 24 hr formats

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Rugged yet distinctly handsome, The Casio Men's Atomic Waveceptor Sports Watch #WVAM490D-2A never needs resetting or batteries thanks to Casio's Solar Power and Waveceptor Atomic Timekeeping technology. With its classic dive style design (which includes features like a rotating bezel, resin band, and LED display built into its bold, blue dial), this handsome timepiece is ready for a day at the office or inspection by the ship's divemaster. The watch's reliable Japanese quartz movement is solar powered--which can accurately keep time up to six months without further exposure to light. And if you're in the US, UK, Germany, or Japan, the watch receives time calibration radio signals (up to six times per day), so you always know your watch is set to the right time. Other technical features include three daily alarms, an LED light with Afterglow technology, Neo-Brite luminous hands and markers, a stopwatch that records split time, a calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099), 12- and 24-hour formats, and water resistance to 165 feet (50 meters).

The Casio Story

With the launch of its first watch in November 1974, Casio entered the wristwatch market at a time when the watch industry had just discovered digital technology. As a company with cutting-edge electronic technology developed for pocket calculators, Casio entered this field confident that it could develop timepieces that would lead the market.

In developing its own wristwatches Casio began with the basic question, ""What is a wristwatch?"" Rather than simply making a digital version of the conventional mechanical watch, we thought that the ideal wristwatch should be something that shows all facets of time in a consistent way. Based on this, Casio was able to create a watch that displayed the precise time including the second, minute, hour, day, and month — not to mention a.m. or p.m., and the day of the week. It was the first watch in the world with a digital automatic calendar function that eliminated the need to reset the calendar due the variation in month length. Rather than using a conventional watch face and hands, a digital liquid crystal display was adopted to better show all the information. This culminated in the 1974 launch of the CASIOTRON, the world’s first digital watch with automatic calendar. The CASIOTRON won acclaim as a groundbreaking product that represented a complete departure from the conventional wristwatch.

Casio transformed the concept of the watch — from a mere timepiece to an information device for the wrist — and undertook product planning based on this innovative idea. We developed not only time functions such as global time zone watches, but also other radical new functions using Casio’s own digital technology, including calculator and dictionary functions, as well as a phonebook feature based on memory technology, and even a thermometer function using a built-in sensor. The memory-function watches became our DATA BANK product series, while the sensor watches developed into two unique Casio product lines of today: the Pathfinder series displaying altitude, atmospheric pressure, and compass readings.

In 1983, Casio launched the shock-resistant G-SHOCK watch. This product shattered the notion that a watch is a fragile piece of jewelry that needs to be handled with care, and was the result of Casio engineers taking on the challenge of creating the world’s toughest watch. Using a triple-protection design for the parts, module, and case, the G-SHOCK offered a radical new type of watch that was unaffected by strong impacts or shaking. Its practicality was immediately recognized, and its unique look, which embodied its functionality, became wildly popular, resulting in explosive sales in the early 1990s. The G-SHOCK soon adopted various new sensors, solar-powered radio-controlled technology (described below), and new materials for even better durability. By always employing the latest technology, and continuing to transcend conventional thinking about the watch, the G-SHOCK brand has become Casio’s flagship timepiece product.

Today, Casio is focusing its efforts on solar-powered radio-controlled watches: the built-in solar battery eliminates the nuisance of replacing batteries, and the radio-controlled function means users never have to reset the time. In particular, the radio-controlled function represents a revolution in time-keeping technology similar to the impact created when mechanical watches gave way to quartz technology. Through the further development of high radio-wave sensitivity, miniaturization, and improved energy efficiency, Casio continues to produce a whole range of radio-controlled models.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B002J4UBGI
• Item model number: WVAM490D-2A
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,092 in Watches (See Top 100 in Watches)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice watch. Works perfectly. Good value., December 10, 2009

By 

Chris Lienhard - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Casio Men's WVAM490D-2A Atomic Waveceptor Sports Watch (Watch)

This watch was purchased to replace my 12 year old Seiko Kinetic that would no longer hold a charge. I am very satisfied with its two major features - it is solar powered (no more shaking my wrist to keep it charged) and it is atomic (I am confident the time is exact).

After the first day shake down and learning it updates every night at 12:04am sharp and it keeps a full charge with a little attention to light exposure. It is not so bulky as many of the other similar watches. The band was too large for me and with a some poking from a tiny screw driver I managed to remove enough links to get it just right. For the mechanically impaired I would suggest this be done with one of the cheap watch band pin-removal tools or just take it to a jeweler. I rate it 4 stars because I would have preferred it be just a bit smaller, a bit thinner and lighter. Big guys - no problem!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very nice timepiece...except the resin case, April 26, 2010

By 

Tinker (Jones, OK) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Casio Men's WVAM490D-2A Atomic Waveceptor Sports Watch (Watch)

This is an update to the following review. After one month of normal wear, the band pin pulled thorugh the resin case. I sent the watch in to the Casio service center in Dover NJ for repair. After a month, I called but was unable to get through. I sent an email via the [...] website stating my issues. I received a prompt reply stating that my watch was un repairable and that it would be replaced with another style. The WVA-320J was suggested. This watch is a superior timepiece in that the case is completely stainless steel. The only drawback, and the reason I did not choose this model to start with is that it is a bigger watch. It is in the dive watch style and, though not as big as most dive watches, it is bigger than the 490D. After choosing the 320J, it was shipped promptly and arrived the following week. In the end, the resin case of the 490D was its only drawback, but it proved to be critical. As has been said, if the case were stainless, it would be outstanding. As it is, the delicate nature of the resin case makes it a risk.

This is a very nice watch. It compares favorably with a Seiko/Tag Heuer/Omega. And, prioritizing accuracy and functionality, it surpasses high end sport/dress watches. It is a slimmer watch than most regarding case thickness, but the diameter is comparable to the turning bevel fake dive watch chronographs. I am replacing two watches: a Seiko chronograph and a Casio Databank 150. This watch fills both those needs and admirably fits the bill for an everyday work watch (I'm a pilot) as well as a dress watch.

It fits well and looks very nice. The analogue hands are a classy look and the digital window is large enough to read and use, without overwhelming the analogue look. It has dual time, alarm, on-hour beeps, stopwatch, day-date and seconds read-out in the digital window, as well as the timesetting and watch management functions. There is not second hand, but the seconds are always visible in the digital window. It will continually display either day-date or digital time (either same time zone or dual time). It has illumination for the entire face including the digital window as well as luminescent hands and numbers. Its weight is heavy enough to feel substantial but not overly heavy. The band is stainless steel along with the face cover. Obviously it is accurate. It resets itself every night according to the clock in Fort Collins. The solar cell face continually keeps the battery charged and seems to work with very little light. This works extremely well and is everything I had hoped it would be. The watch is water resistant, claimed to be good for up to "water-related work and swimming".

On the other hand, this is not a stainless steel case. It is a resin case with stainless front and back covers. Resin is visible from all views, though it blends well with the stainless. I was taken aback at first, but have grown accustomed to it and don't mind. The resin is difficult to see without close inspection. The instruction book is small, though not out of the ordinary for a watch instruction book. The band has a two-button clasp that grasps a post. This seems to work well and holds securely. However, adjusting the band is difficult. It has pins that must be driven out. This is a delicate operation. I chose to take it to a watch shop for adjustment and was advised that many people were ruining this type band by driving the pins out themselves. Further, there is only one clasp adjustment slot. It gives you about a quarter inch of self adjustment.

All in all this is exactly what I was looking for. It has a classic elegance with the analogue face. It has the size and weight of the sport/dress watches but is slim enough to not snag on your sleeve. Where it shines is in utility. It is a true multi-function, highly accurate timepiece that is well laid out and easy to use. I am very satisfied with the watch.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost a Great Watch, May 19, 2010

By 

T. Danner "TJ" (Santa Monica) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Casio Men's WVAM490D-2A Atomic Waveceptor Sports Watch (Watch)

This watch really is good and has very few flaws.

The concept, atomic & solar is the best.

Having said that, here are the problems.

Casio seems to have a mission to make cheap watches for some reason. This one has a plastic body which makes it feel like a cheap watch, but I paid almost $200 for it.

If the body were Stainless Steel and the face, which is mineral and good, were sapphire, this would be the best watch in the world.

Also, the band tends to pull hair on my wrist.