International Casio followers wanting all of the goodies from Japan have a brand new purpose to have fun, because the Casio Oceanus assortment is now out there in additional markets — together with the USA. Individuals who have traveled to Japan and checked out native watch shops have in all probability all seen these curious high-end high-tech gown watches from the model finest related to G-Shock. The Oceanus formulation is simply that: to take the perfect of G-Shock watch expertise and place it in a slimmer, extra elegant, but nonetheless high-performance, “formal watch” profile.
To assist place the construct high quality and worth proposition of those extra high-end Casio watches, I would need to point out that the Oceanus watches are constructed by Casio in Japan. It occurs at their extra elite Yamagata manufacturing unit which I visited just a few years in the past. That is the place the extra high-end and specialised Casio watches get made, and it’s a actually spectacular lab-like facility. You’ll be able to try my report on the aBlogtoWatch go to to the place Casio G-Shock [and Oceanus] watches are made right here.
Casio Oceanus now debuts within the U.S. with a reasonably fancy mannequin assortment that known as the “Manta.” Right this moment, I have a look at three fashions out there within the U.S., together with the reference OCWS5000ME1A (maki-e dial), OCWS5000APA2 (mother-of-pearl dial), and OCWS5000B-1A (DLC-coated black case). One fascinating factor in regards to the Oceanus Manta is simply how small it’s. It even wears small given the printed 42.3mm-wide dimension. Casio isn’t even measuring how the Swiss do, which is normally simply the bezel distance. The Japanese are, if something, “too sincere” with their printed measurements. The bezel diameter of the Oceanus Manta is 39mm-wide. I might say that watch wears like a 40mm timepiece.
The case can be skinny at simply 9.5mm-thick in a slick titanium case that has a domed, AR-coated sapphire crystal over the dial. The watches really feel very mild on the wrist at simply 82 grams in weight. That’s crazy-light for a full-metal timepiece with the sort of {hardware} inside. The module contained in the watch is a “Robust Photo voltaic,” which means it’s successfully the identical expertise (simply thinner) that you simply discover within the widespread Casio G-Shock assortment of watches. The Oceanus Manta case is water resistant to 100 meters.
Robust Photo voltaic actions are powered by mild and have palms that may realign if they’re displaced attributable to sudden case shock. The actions even have an antenna that’s meant to choose up the radio alerts from atomic clocks in locations like Japan the place the alerts are robust. Most individuals nevertheless will respect that the motion connects through Bluetooth to your smartphone and could be managed and up to date vial an app. That is very useful expertise that really permits extra individuals to take advantage of out of the options in these difficult actions.
Casio’s Bluetooth-connected cellphone apps alter the watches whenever you enter new time zones and likewise make it easier to do issues like set the alarm or a second time zone extra simply than with the pushers on the case, although, on the finish of the day, the Bluetooth connection is elective for the carrying expertise. The multi-function dial has rather a lot occurring, together with a subsidiary dial to point a second time zone in 12-hour format, and twin AM/PM indicators. Whereas the dial can carry out chronograph options, the Manta is a journey watch at coronary heart.
In some ways, the Casio Oceanus Manta is the proper technique to put on a high-end G-Shock watch beneath your sleeve. Given the slimmer profile and extra elegant options, Casio isn’t pretending that Oceanus watches are as sturdy as G-Shock watches. As a substitute, that is G-Shock-style expertise built-in into a conventional gown watch bundle that’s actually fairly pretty and suited to many tastes. I might name the design “future workplace apparel stylish.” And Casio is clearly having enjoyable with among the dial kinds.
The fanciest of the three is the OCWS5000ME1A with the standard Japanese “maki-e” dial artwork. This has the dial and bezel elegantly mix collectively in a single sequence of gold waves over a deep black texture. It’s not for everybody, however it’s very nice and paired with a pure titanium case and matching bracelet. The subsequent model is equally ornamental and is the OCWS5000APA2 which has a royal blue-toned bezel and mother-of-pearl dial. Casio is, after all, very pleased with these dials as a result of mild nonetheless must enter them to be able to cost the photovoltaic cells that energy the battery. I occur to be among the many guys who like mother-of-pearl dials on a males’s watch, however it’s nonetheless an acquired style within the Western world.
Let me add right here that Casio included a neat consolation characteristic within the deployant clasp bracelet closing system. It really works very like the “consolation alter” on a Rolex GMT-Grasp II for example. You get one 3mm or so adjustment that may be opened or closed. It really works by urgent the deployant opening pushers after which tugging in, or pulling out the sliding adjustment. Additionally it is a simple characteristic to overlook when you aren’t in search of it.
The ultimate of those three fascinating Casio Oceanus Manta watches is the reference OCWS5000B-1A with its stealthy-looking black DLC-coated case and bracelet. Not solely does the DLC coating obtain a pretty black tone, however additionally it is extremely scratch resistant and can make this mannequin essentially the most sturdy of the three fashions in my estimation. The deep blue on black dial isn’t as legible as the opposite fashions, however the total good-looking and mysterious guise of this watch is difficult to disregard. Additionally it is the least costly of the fashions with a worth of $1,900 USD. The Oceanus Manta with the mother-of-pearl dial is $2,000 USD, and the mannequin with the Japanese maki-e dial is $2,400 USD. Be taught extra on the Casio watches web site right here.
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