81 of 84 people found the following review helpful:
My personal perfect watch
This 5600 has everything I need, and nothing I don't:
- It tells you the time, date, and day of the week at a glance.
- It has 1 alarm (not 5 like many other G-Shocks -- too fidly).
- A countdown timer (with the current time shown in the upper box).
- A stopwatch (again, time is still shown).
33 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
STILL A GREAT WATCH, BUT --- ??
THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE DUAL TIME??? I have had this exact same watch for many years, finally having to replace it. For some unknown reason, CASIO dropped the DUAL TIME feature. WHY?? All of the other features are still available and no new features were added, so why did they drop a very useful feature for travelers. Even their cheaper ($15) watches have dual time,...
This 5600 has everything I need, and nothing I don't:
- It tells you the time, date, and day of the week at a glance.
- It has 1 alarm (not 5 like many other G-Shocks -- too fidly).
- A countdown timer (with the current time shown in the upper box).
- A stopwatch (again, time is still shown).
That's it. If you want fancy "features" like inaccurate temperature readings, barometric pressure graph which gets distorted by temperature and altitude, 19 alarms, and world time in 7,000 cities around the world -- look elsewhere! This watch does exactly what a wristwatch should, which in my opinion is tell the time, and take an absolute beating. I don't particularly want to stand in public pressing 15 buttons on my watch, just to set a quick alarm to remind me of something. This 5600 keeps everything relatively simple (obviously go through the manual when you first get it).
(I started collecting G-Shocks; they have all since been given away/sold since I discovered this little beauty. I had a Riseman, Gulfman, Mudman, and G7700 -- and none of them were worn after purchasing this. And I paid AUS$350 for the Riseman!)
The design of this watch is absolutely classic. It is truly a "timeless" design for a digital watch. The best thing about it is the simplicity -- it is one of the few G-Shocks which doesn't have random circles which show the seconds, bar graphs, a bezel 2 inches off your wrist, etc etc. It's clean and simple.
As far as durability, I haven't taken mine off for over 6 months; it's been swimming indoors, at the beach, smashed against shelving time and time again (I'm a storeman), it gets run under hot water about 10 times a day for hand-washing, I shower in it, sleep in it, play with my kids at the park ... It is yet to show ANY visible damage -- absolutely amazing!
The buttons are fine to press. After setting the alarm, starting the stopwatch, whatever, it returns you to the time mode with a single button push. Again, there is no nonsense, like scrolling through 5 more modes just to get back to the time display.
If you are also looking at the "solar atomic" model of the 5600, please consider -- the batteries in this watch will last years and years, and it will keep very accurate time (I reset it against Internet atomic time every few months and it's never been out by more than a few seconds). In my opinion solar & atomic are essentially "gimmicks" in wristwatches (no offense to those that enjoy those features, but, I see them as useless, and I have owned a solar G-Shock).
I 100% recommend this watch for the no-nonsense buyer who wants a relatively slim/sleek G-Shock with all the toughness, and non of the "fluff".
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I bought one of the early G-Shocks in the 1980's... and it lasted through 2006 -- over 20 years. The plastic outer case finally started to deteriorate... and oh yeah I tore or lost the strap retaining loop about 10 years ago (no big deal just put on a tie wrap and kept on wearing the watch).
To put this in context, I use my sport watches for sailing, boating, diving and snorkeling (usually in salt water) ...and most other watches have lasted only 2-3 years. The amazing thing is that I never replaced the battery on this original Casio G-Shock -- it just kept working until the casing finally went.
Only slight disadvantage for sailing races it that it doesn't have a synch feature for interim starting signals. But other than that all the functionality that you really use is there *and* you don't have to read the instruction manual to figure out the watch... user interface and buttons are straightforward and obvious.
Classic bulletproof sport watch -- highly recommended. I'm searching for a yellow one just like my old one, and will buy it immediately if/when I find it (may have to settle for black though).
One other thing -- I'm a lefty and unlike other watches, on the Casio G I never had a problem with accidentally tripping the buttons -- as is common when you wear a watch on your right wrist (reaching up and back with your hand can press the watch buttons against your upper arm and on some watches this causes a button-press).
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You can't beat this Casio for the price. This is the second one I purchased. The first one was getting pretty beat up (8 years) and the cost to replace the bands was about half the watch, so I just got a new one. This is an all purpose watch and it truely takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.
This watch keeps great time and has all the important features for me; date/time on easy to read display, good illumination for night viewing, alarm, event timer and rugged design. This watch has performed great in the water as we swim a lot in the summer, both in pools and beach. Never a problem with leaking even after replacing the battery. Good seals!
I'll most likely buy another one after I beat this one around.
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This is THE one! Back to a more minimalist time. This beauty shows only the time, date, and day. Rugged as can be, so retro it's...it's...why, it's perfect. Everything a watch should be and less. Reminds me of my first Casio - probably one of the first digitals to hit the market. Very hard to find anywhere else. The price is right!
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As far as looks go, you either like it or you don't. Personally I love it and it does everything it promises...I feel like I could wear it anywhere and not worry about breaking it.
It's bigger than it looks in the pictures (to me, that's a plus).
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There are products, good products, and classics. This is one of them. Tested by time, selled and worn all the world over in all kind of activities from common to extreme, this watch simply won't let you down. The explorers of those old National Geographic Rolex Ads would have worn one of this if they had the chance.
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THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE DUAL TIME??? I have had this exact same watch for many years, finally having to replace it. For some unknown reason, CASIO dropped the DUAL TIME feature. WHY?? All of the other features are still available and no new features were added, so why did they drop a very useful feature for travelers. Even their cheaper ($15) watches have dual time, so it cannot be an expensive feature. Just does not make any sense to delete features from one of the most successful watches ever designed. A little disappointed in CASIO!
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This is the 2nd or 3rd Casio G-Shock watch I have owned over the past 18-20 years. Too bad that the bracelet/watch band isn't as tough as the watch.
The only issue with my recently purchased ( May 2008) G-Shock is the fact that the chip--or firmware-unsure of the proper terminology--will only support the calender portion of the watch until December 2009 It is too bad that Amazon.com's product description does not state this. Had I been aware I probably would have purchased a different Casio model.
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I've read all 71 previous reviews to this classic G-Shock DW5600E-1V (as of today June 28, 2009) and the most common words that are used to describe this watch are:
1) DURABLE. I've purposely dropped this watch from my second floor balcony directly on the concrete sidewalk below. Guess what? Still kept on tickin'. Because the glass is just slightly BELOW the protective G-Shock rubber/plastic, it cushioned the impact. I'm a FedEx Express courier and I beat the living snot out of this watch and it stands up to the daily punishment.
2) DEPENDABLE. Go to the most reliable website on accurate timekeeping, time.gov, plug in your time zone and wait several weeks...the time will only be but a second off.
3) COMFORTABLE. Honestly, you forget it's on your wrist. I wear it all the time.
Buy it. Trust me, you WON'T be disappointed.
______________________________
***UPDATE*** February 2, 2010:
My G-Shock DW5600E-1V is STILL taking a beating and just keeps on tickin'. It endures the bumps and bangs as I work being a courier at FedEx Express 50 hours a week, the constant changes of rain, sleet & snow that get on it, the punishment of my three little kids (ages 6, 4, and 1) and a drop or two on my kitchen floor when putting it on in the morning.
It is simply the BEST watch I've ever had, and I've had a few G-shock watches over the past decade. If Amazon had 6 stars, I give it 6. ;)
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My first exposure to a G-shock was in the engine room of a USN destroyer, on the wrist of a gas turbine technician while we were standing the midwatch. "That watch looks tough," I said. "I don't know...let's find out," he replied, then took it off, picked up a rubber mallet and started pounding it like a madman. It bounced around on the deck plates but never cracked or broke. I was sold.
This watch looks identical to that watch but is deficient in a few ways. The second time zone feature is gone, and perhaps as a result the functions of the buttons are rearranged in a way that feels screwy. New purchasers of the watch will probably like it just fine. Users who bought the old version for $25 twenty years ago from the commissary will have the unpleasant feeling of talking to a best friend who's been lobotomized.
It's still a solid product--excellent for all manner of outdoor activities (though too thick to fit inside a standard dress shirt sleeve cuff)--but I'm frustrated with Casio's poor headwork in redesigning it backwards.
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