CasioG-Shock Men's Watch AWG

The Casio AWG M100A-AER is in many ways the ultimate watch: solar powered, radio controlled, water resistant to 200 metres (static pressure) and shock resistant. Theoretically therefore this is a watch whose battery will never need to be replaced, that you will never need to set or even take off.The watch always tells the correct time (provided you are in signal range, which so far as I can tell covers most of the northern hemisphere) and auto-adjusts for daylight saving time. It does NOT auto-adjust for time zone changes (you need a GPS watch for that, e.g. the significantly more expensive SEIKO ASTRON Water resistant for daily use dial sapphire glass super clear coating titanium white × black bright radio-corrected GPS satellite solar Men's watch SAST007 [Japan import]) but you can very easily swap any time zone for the current time with the simultaneous press of the top two buttons.The solar power unit charges easily - I don't wear mine every day but it continues to show "H" (high) power reserve. The watch arrived on "M" (medium - presumably because it had been kept in the dark, in its box for some time) and took several weeks to get up to "H" where it now remains.The operation of the watch is reasonably easy. It's true to say that the instruction booklet is rather thick and you DO need to read it, though it's certainly clear enough. Casio have always produced excellent instruction manuals, ever since I received one of their original stainless steel digitals as a Christmas gift from my parents back in the early 1980s. Once you get used to the watch, it's actually very simple to use (and will be even simpler to anyone who has previously owned a Casio watch).Crucially, this watch is not over-designed or garish - as many watches in the G-Shock range can be. Check the other models in the AWG M100 range: there are further colour/display variations which may suit different purchasers, including the easier to read conventional black on grey LCD dials if required. These inverted grey on black LCDs are, admittedly, not that easy to read and if you plan on using the watch for at-a-glance timer readings you would be well advised to investigate a slightly different model. The hands are luminous although the luminosity fades quite quickly in the dark (this would probably not happen on a more expensive watch) but there is also a light, which makes the analogue time easy enough to read. As other reviewers have noted the light is not electro-luminescent ("illuminator") and does not light the LCDs, which is a shame - I wonder whether this is maybe a constraint imposed by the solar power supply? Anyway, it's not a problem unless you plan on using the watch for its other functions in the dark, which I don't. If you do then look for another G-Shock as the AWG-M100 is probably not for you - although in my opinion these are amongst the best looking G-Shocks ("you pays your money...").The other main functions on the watch are:- Dual time (appears on digital display only) - includes all world time zones;- Stopwatch - sadly this does not go above 59m 59s 99 1/100ths - so consider that if you need a timer that lasts longer;- Countdown alarm - from 1-99 minutes only (again some may find this limited);- 5 daily alarms - good as reminders though tinny-sounding and won't wake you up. A date alarm would have been useful but sadly is not included. There is also an hourly time signal.The strap is the standard G-Shock "resin" - fairly hard-wearing, susceptible to the odd very minor scuff mark and goes very slightly shiny over time but otherwise resists wear and tear well: it is, after all designed to be knocked about a bit. In hot weather I find the strap can sometimes become a little uncomfortable and needs to be loosened, although this is the same for most watches I've owned. The casing is used on a number of G-Shock models and is something of a classic design. The watch face is not overly large and the strap is not tapered (a feature which badly dates some other Casio models, in my opinion). The thickness of the watch may be a problem for some. It can just about go under a shirt cuff and is not ridiculously thick, but may still be too thick depending on your preference. Whilst it's fairly versatile and can be worn with more or less anything I personally would not choose to wear this watch with a business suit. Whilst this Casio is not what I would call a cheap watch, I do think that wearing it with smarter clothes does maybe tend to show it up a little - a problem presumably not experienced by (rich) owners of the aforementioned Seiko Astron.£ for £ though, this is probably the best Gents watch money can but for the price and undeniably a 5/5 purchase based on the price/quality equation. The Amazon price at time of writing is good too, as typically this model sells for £130 in high street jewellers. Anyone want to swap me for an Astron? ;-)

Would have gave it five stars but came home today and it’s gained an hour. Had to go through and set it manually and then switch to auto mode. Thought is was meant to be radio conrolled.Rant over the watch is beautiful and the dark blue bezel is subtle. Not sure if it will withstand a pounding if you were gonna wear it as a work watch as the paint will probably come off. The rest of the watch will last.Nice sized watch and not to tall on the wrist. Can be worn with a shirt or t shirt. Not as hardcore as the bigger G shocks. I bought this for just that purpose. I have a GD100 for work, a bezel less DW6800 from the mid nineties that suffered bezel rot and a 2000 G2400 from Germany with some funky digit display.It comes fully charged and at the right time. Just leave it in daylight when you are not wearing to top it up, will have to keep my eye on the time keep adjusting itself as it could become irritating. Good lumen on the digits and an orangey backlight which is adjustable.A lot of people moan about the reverse lcd displays and I agree, they are all pants. I had an olive GR7900 with reverse display. A lovely watch but sold it because I could not see it in poor light.Left bezel did show date, but now time and don’t know how to get it back, middle is seconds and power bar at the bottom segment with low/med and high. The day is on the right. Don’t care for any of them to be honest, which is why I went for the reverse display. If these are important to you then go for the silver outer bezel with the navy face. Lovely watch with a few niggles that I will have to get my head around, hence only 4 stars.Update as of tonight, I have read the manual online for the module as couldn’t be bothered with the inch thick version and have set the watch up properly and now all is good so I have changed the watch back to five stars

The photography of this watch doesn't do it justice - it's much better looking `in the flesh'. This is one of the G Shocks which is easy to read and where the face is uncluttered.I wanted a watch for rugged outdoor activities and it fits the bill. This is a classy watch - watch snobs have to acknowledge the performance of G Shocks and this will outperform watches costing thousands more. It's also - in snobby Britain - one of the most classless timepieces - and cosmopolitan: you'd not get slagged in a room full of TAG wearers or look blingy or flash elsewhere - it has a go anywhere persona - from boardrooms to building sites nightclubs to nights camping.The only places it will have major fails is when wearing shirts with cuff-links (it's too chunky to get under most) or when wrapped up in the freezing cold (no solar power) - though you could possibly wear it outside your ski gear / Arctic camping clothes.The only niggle I have with the watch is the light - this illuminates the main face and not the 3 digital windows. As these are recessed and small - they are the most difficult to read in low light - durrrrr.On top of the ruggedness this offers both solar power and radio/atomic time control - so its pretty much set up and forget. Easy and cheap to run with out the risk of some duff jeweller nicking or miss-fitting the seal - rendering your watch a water bucket. No battery changes  .The strap is extremely comfortable and looks robust and buttons and the face are offered clever protection. This is a great `bang for your bucks' buy and if I only had one watch for all occasions, this would be the one.