Casio Men's Sea Pathfinder Solar Atomic Watch #SPW1000-2V

Other products by Casio

Product Features

• Quartz movement
• Water-resistant to 330 feet (100 M)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Made for the rugged sea-farer, this Casio Pathfinder Triple Sensor men's digital watch (model SPW1000-2V) includes a built-in digital compass, thermometer, barometer, and depth gauge. It's also solar powered and offers wireless atomic clock updates. This radio-controlled watch receives a time calibration signal transmitted from Fort Collins, Colorado, and signal reception is possible within a radius of about 2,000 miles from the Fort Collins transmitter. You can choose to automatically receive this signal four times a day, or manually update the watch to the atomic clock.

And because it's solar-powered--charging in either sunlight or indoor light--you'll never have to deal with changing the battery. Light enters the watch through the sapphire crystal and dial, and hits a solar cell beneath the dial. Current is created and stored in the battery.

The digital compass displays 16 directions and has a 5-set memory capacity that captures direction, month, date, and measurements time data. You can predict changing weather patterns using the PathfinderÕs barometer. It takes readings every two hours, stores them automatically, and can graphically display the barometric pressure for the past 26 hours. It also offers a depth gauge to measure and record ranges from 0 to 80 meters (0 to 263 feet). You can change from meters to feet easily. The watch uses a system-specific nitrogen loading graph.

Timing functions include a 1/100-second stopwatch with a 60-minute measuring capacity with elapsed time, split time, and 1st/2nd place time modes, optional hourly signal, daily alarm, 12/24-hour format, and autocalendar (to 2039). Other features include a durable blue resin case and strap, scratch-resistant mineral crystal, AfterGlow LED electro-luminescent backlight, and water resistance to 100 meters (330 feet).

Development of the Timepiece Business

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

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000FQ0WDO
• Item model number: SPW1000-2V
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,788 in Watches (See Bestsellers in Watches)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of Features,, January 28, 2007

By	Fo Shizzle - See all my reviews

This is an amazing watch, having more features than I will probably ever use. Atomic accuracy and never needing to change the battery were my primary requirements when I was looking for the perfect watch. I found those plus many more in the Casio SPW1000-2V.

Pros: I originally was concerned about the color of this watch and I couldnt bring myself to buy one of the black pathfinder watches that had a altimeter since I do scuba dive on occasion, and would never see the need for an altimeter.

I am very happy that I chose this, the color has more of a grey hue to it than the amazon stock photo has and the color on Casio's web site doesn't seem to do it justice either.

The watch itself is the largest watch I have ever worn, although it is light enough that you don't notice while wearing it. The viewable portion of the watch face is about the size of a fifty-cent piece. The photos that I have seen don't show a reference to scale the size.

Even though I live in the midwest, the watch updated itself while sitting in the middle of a 2nd floor bedroom, with a "3 of 3" signal strength. You can manually force an update with the Fort Collins time server if needed.

I use the auto light feature, which seems to place a large drain on the battery. The auto light comes on while driving when making turns. I placed the watch in a window for 3 hours and the battery went from "M" to "H".

Cons: The temperature is artifically inflated from body heat while wearing the watch, but it appears to be accurate while the watch is not being worn, albiet not practical.

Other Thoughts: I haven't had a chance to use the depth gage and compare it against my dive computer. I would assume that it will never be a replacement for a dive computer, but I think the dive log feature is something that I am going to use.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dive Watch?, January 21, 2008

By	A Customer - See all my reviews

This is NOT your primary depth gauge... It most probably(!?!) will withstand basic scuba submersions for the recreational diver(if you don't know how deep that should be... stop reading). All Ok in my experience to take down with scuba, though I would recommend you not use it relavant to safety in any way. Oh and let me add, what a complete, self sufficient, great bit of everything watch!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Everyday Adventure Watch, October 5, 2008

By	Mike (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

Nice multi-function watch for the everyday adventurer. Large display for easy reading. Watch holds a decent charge, even after a week in my drawer. Many useful features. Such as, barometer for forecasting weather changes. Compass for underwater and land navigation. Depth gauge that moniters and logs multiple dives. Has a neat world atomic clock receiver for TRUE times. Casio rates the watch for ONLY recreational swimming and snorkeling. But was designed to handle 100 meters or 300 ft. Hmmm... So far, have scuba down to 120 ft. a few times with no adverse affects on the watch. NOTE! NOT a professional diver watch! I wouldn't recommend going pass 100 ft. Must set functions to be used on surface before submersion. Otherwise, water might get pass the seals if any of the buttons are depressed while submerged.