Watch Overview: Casio Edifice ECBS100D-1A

Out of Casio’s multitudinous choices, the G-Shock line at all times tends to garner probably the most consideration amongst watch fanatics. No query that focus is well-deserved; but, the über-tough G-Shock’s aesthetics aren’t for everybody. That’s the place the G-Shock’s two sister traces, the ProTrek and Edifice, are available. If ProTrek is G-Shock’s flannel-clad, outdoor-adventuring sibling, then the Edifice is the globetrotter, extra at residence in bustling metropolis streets. Like all Casio watches, the Edifice line is eminently purposeful, however the design language of this collection relies on pace and intelligence. Given that you just get photo voltaic charging, Bluetooth connectivity to Casio’s app, and loads of technical wizardry, intelligence makes excellent sense. However the place does pace come into the equation? Within the Edifice ECBS100D-1A, reviewed right here, the dial is impressed by grilles of race automobiles, with automotive cues sprinkled all through.

Making a racing-inspired watch comes as no shock, seeing as Casio Edifice has been a sponsor of the Scuderia AlphaTauri Components 1 group since 2016. With some racing-inspired watches, the aesthetics could be a bit over-the-top for my style, however Casio doesn’t push the racing theme too far right here. The black metallic mesh that varieties the backdrop of the dial could also be impressed by grilles, and that’s straightforward to see when blown up on a pc display, however on the wrist, it merely comes throughout as an attention-grabbing texture. Likewise for the 9 o’clock register; whereas I can see it evoking a speedometer, the impact isn’t overdone.

There’s loads occurring with the dial, with the countdown timer at 9 o’clock and digital shows at 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock. Extra on what these shows do in only a second, but when your major concern is studying the time, Casio ensures that’s straightforward to do with outsized lumed markers and broad arms. However the arms… they’re just too quick. Many manufacturers invoke the design philosophy that the minute hand ought to simply meet the minute observe, whereas the hour hand ought to simply attain the hour marker. That’s actually not a hard-and-fast rule, however it’ll get you shut. I’m undecided if the designers needed to sacrifice the hand top so as to account for the raised parts on the periphery of the dial whereas conserving the case top good and slim, however regardless of the motive, they appear disproportionately small.

The ECBS100D-1A is powered by Casio’s Robust Photo voltaic know-how. This method has come a good distance over time, and the advances enable the Edifice ECBS100D-1A to now incorporate complicated dial textures, digital and analog shows, Bluetooth connectivity, and an extremely lengthy battery life. Even stowed away in whole darkness, the solar-charged battery will final 7 months (18 months in power-save mode). However what’s necessary is what that battery powers.

The 2 analog shows present fast entry to helpful features like day/date, world time, stopwatch, and alarm. And, in a neat get together trick, the arms shift out of the way in which when utilizing the digital shows so that you don’t have to fret in regards to the arms impeding your view. Talking of visibility, nighttime legibility is supplied by lumed arms and markers, and an LED backlight for the digital show, together with a super-illuminator (a small LED gentle that lights up your complete show) that’s activated by a fast faucet to the pusher at 2 o’clock. The watch comes pre-loaded with 38 time zones, however connecting to the Casio app means that you can entry 300 cities. Connecting to the app additionally means that you can rapidly handle the alarm settings, switch stopwatch information, discover your telephone via a fast push of the app, map your time and place, and can mechanically sync your watch to the native time whereas touring — positively a pleasant function should you’re incessantly hopping between time zones.

At 9 o’clock, the watch encompasses a countdown timer that may be set to measure anyplace from 1 second to 60 minutes. The timer could be rapidly set manually or via the smartphone app. Personally, I fairly just like the presentation of the countdown timer. It provides a wanted contact of coloration to the dial and is simple to rapidly learn at a look.

The ECBS100D-1A is not at all petite, with a 46mm diameter and 50mm lug-to-lug distance, however that dimension is tempered by a slim design (9.8mm in top), and an easy-wearing weight of 138g. In different phrases, it’s a big watch on the wrist, however straightforward to put on all day, even on my 6.75” wrist. The chrome steel development of the case is stable, as anticipated, and the combo of brushed and polished surfaces, gently curving midcase, and chamfered edges are properly executed, particularly when contemplating the sub-$300 value level. Most significantly, the pushers provide simply the correct amount of resistance and a reassuring really feel.

The ECBS100D-1A comes on a stainless-steel 3-link bracelet that begins at 22mm on the lugs and tapers all the way down to 20mm on the clasp. The excellent news: The bracelet’s snug, and the push-button clasp is safe and straightforward to make use of and, general, it’s snug on the wrist. The dangerous information: the hyperlinks use a pin-and-collar system, which is a little bit of a ache for resizing, and it has a light-weight, jangly really feel and sound. For the worth level, it’s laborious to complain an excessive amount of, however I might see myself preferring an aftermarket leather-based or rubber strap.

The Casio Edifice ECBS100D-1A is an attention-grabbing watch; it presents loads of performance for journey but in addition sensible concerns like 100m of water resistance for on a regular basis put on. As you’d count on with any Casio, you’re getting an entire lot of look ahead to the cash. If the sporty, automotive-inspired aesthetics give you the results you want, then this may very well be an important, inexpensive choice for a journey watch. The Bluetooth connectivity can be a bonus for some customers, however I respect the truth that Casio doesn’t make connecting with the app a necessity (a bonus for these of us who have already got sufficient related gadgets in our lives). The Casio Edifice ECBS100D-1A is accessible for $260 USD; to study extra, make sure you go to the model’s web site.

Mandatory Information
>Model: Casio
>Mannequin: Edifice ECBS100D-1A
>Value: $260 USD
>Measurement: 46mm-wide, 9.8mm-tall, 50mm lug-to-lug
>When reviewer would personally put on it: Metropolis-hopping after I need the performance of a GMT (and extra) with out the stress of sporting an costly mechanical watch.
>Buddy we’d suggest it to first: Somebody on the lookout for an inexpensive look ahead to frequent journey.
>Greatest attribute of watch: Considerate related performance.
>Worst attribute of watch: Undersized hour and minute arms.