Casio created its first wristwatch in November 1974 at a time when the watch industry was just beginning to experiment with new technology. Casio was already a step ahead of the electronic boom and had created the world’s first pocket calculator with electronic features in 1956. The Casio entered the watch market with the confidence that it would come up with a watch that would revolutionize the industry. Casio didn’t just want watches – they wanted watches that were information chambers which used the latest technology. One example of their innovative products is their newest release in 1983, the solidly-built AWG100-1A Solar Atomic Watch. The version you see today obviously has about 30 years of technology and innovation behind it, but the spirit of the watch remains and this timepiece stands as a icon of rugged time keeping.
The construction
Being a G-Shock, the AWG-100 is known for it’s rock solid construction. The watch comes in a hard shell, weighs around 5.60 ounces, and has a sleek, black resin band with a durable buckle closure that is 25 millimeters wide.
The movement
The G-shock blends sporty looks with technical efficiency so as to create a stunning timepiece that is made to promote sophisticated taste. The watch is charged by analog-quartz movement and designed to be water resistant for up to 660 feet. This watch mode is made as part of the G-shock line that Casio has created, which means that it is so tough that it will not stop working even after if it has been severely damaged. Another feature of the G-shock is the precision accuracy at +15/-15 seconds per month, LED backlighting for the analog portion only, and a smooth silver frame that goes great against its dark background. It also comes with a self-timing adjustable feature that works with the atomic time signal calibration function.
The dial / face
The Casio Men’s G-Shock atomic watch has a great-looking black dial face that is covered with a tough mineral dial window. The watch also features a stationary resin bezel in addition to a 45 mm steel case that is 15 mm thick. Attachments to the face include a daily alarm, a countdown timer, stand-out, easy-to-read indexes, and calendars by day, date, and month.
Features
- It is a very attractive, shock-resistant, solar analog watch
- It has a sleek, black face with resin bezel
- It receives the time through radio signals
- It has a stopwatch capacity of 1/100 seconds
- It has an auto calendar with a 12/24 hour format and that can be programmed until 2099
- It has 29 time zones (30 cities)
- It has a city code display and daylight saving on and off option
- It has a water resistance up to 660 feet (200 M)
- It has a LED backlight
Of course, the main feature of the G-shock is that it is a watch that was made to be tougher and longer-lasting than their other watches. The G-shock was created with a shock-resistant, triple-protection design for the parts, case, and module. That said, the AWG100 still has it’s fair share of features. Personally, I am a big fan of the time zone feature. I do a lot of traveling so it’s always nice to have one time zone always set for “home” and another (or multiple) set for where I’m traveling. Nothing is worse than waking up my wife because I didn’t realize it’s 4 am back in the states!
Another feature I love is the built-in solar battery. Rechargeable for up to 10 years, allows for less hassle with having to replace the battery. This is an amazing feature – I love the feeling of knowing that I don’t have to worry about replacing the watch battery (which can sometimes compromise that factory seal if you don’t get it done right).
One downside with the watch is that the self-setting radio-controlled feature does not always receive signals. To fix this problem, users will have to find a spot in their house that will help them to receive an atomic clock signal. Also, the G-shock is essentially an analog watch, but does have a digital display that lets users view the minutes and seconds.
Final Thoughts
Casio’s AWG100-1A Solar Atomic Watch packs all of the modern features that people on a hectic schedule and watch-lovers alike will enjoy. For all of its many features, the watch works remarkably well and is made to withstand the weather and the tests of time. Anyone looking for a strong, long-lasting watch for all of their rigorous activities, whether it’s doing handy work or mountain biking, should look into buying this type of watch.
