Casio Twin Sensor SGW-100B – 3V with textile strap & buckle

For those of us that don’t actually require the full ABC sensor set up there is the lesser option of a Twin Sensor model.  Some folks don’t really need to know the Barometric Pressure or the Altitude or the Temperature, though the latter seems to come regardless for some obscure reason.  You could of course, if money an issue, get yourself a cheap “does everything” ABC model such as the LAD Weather watch, but at £40 against the Casio Twin Sensor model at £50, once you factor in known quality and reliability issues, plus wild variations of good to bad reviews of the LAD, then I’d have to go with the Twin Sensor from Casio.  (incidentally the LAD Weather watch with such conflicting reviews says to me that Quality Control is left to the buyer and that I don’t like). 

So all that said and back to topic, the best value Twin Sensor model I’ve yet found with Compass and Thermometer is the Casio SGW-100B-3V and it’s not just best value, as not being G Shock and with fewer sensors, it is a much smaller and neater affair altogether.   It is also very, very easy to use.  I should also note this model is battery, not Solar as the triple sensor PRG270 I reviewed last week, but with 3+ years battery life, it’s hardly relevant.

Let’s say you’ve been wearing the watch for a month or so and you decide to use the Compass – the scenario being, you might have just popped up to street level from the subway/Tube in London for example and no clue what direction you’re facing – Well you’re in luck as this model is as easy as it gets, it’s also super clear to read the dial (unlike so may digital models) and one push of a button shows North and you’re on your way.

Neat to the wrist and great quality construction

Physically the watch is just 47.8 mm diameter and only 13 mm case depth and importantly just 49.7 mm lug to lug, which means this model sits great on small wrists.  And weighing a mere 57 gms, it’s a wear and forget watch and a real contender for Daily Beater status.  And although it has just two sensors, it still has a good feature set, with a 24 hr Stopwatch, 59 min, 59.99 seconds Countdown Timer, a 29 zone 48 Cities World Time function, 5 Alarms and is Water Resistant to 200m.  The pushbuttons are not overly protected and neither do they need to be as they are sleek to the case, easily operated and located within the centre of the case edge, so don’t suffer from inadvertent operation either.

In short this watch is a gem and with it’s high contrast digital display, it is simply better than any other brand, bar none in the clarity stakes.  It also has a night light in the form of an upgraded EL (electro-luminescent) panel that highlights the digits in a glow for a second or two.

The digital compass aspect (why I have it) is good and simple to use.  I have also found it surprisingly accurate and against my Silva trekking compass it reads the same.  Pushbutton D (lower right) and the compass mode starts – sweeping a revolution graphic around the circumference of the dial and then indicating with an arrow – North.  The heading of the 12 o’clock position is indicated in degrees and Cardinals.  Nice to note that in compass mode, the time is still visible on the upper dial zone.  Compass Declination is catered for and can be easily set and also easily switched OFF if not required.

Neat Twin Sensor or ABC – note both are textile straps – so small wrists welcome!

It is also nice to see that Casio compass sensors are pretty accurate today.  For example if I activate my Triple Sensor ABC Casio PRG270B-3, my Tissot Solar Expert and this model together with my Silva Compass, they all point in the same direction.  I remember well when digital compass models first came out, different brands pointed in different directions and rarely stayed calibrated for long.

The Module in this model is the 3157 and it has a industry standard CR2025 battery, so is both efficient and practical.  Water Resistance is a good 200M or 660 feet, so if you swim, no problem. This model has the textile strap which is my preference and it’s of decent quality and much better than their older generation, with melt edged buckle holes and a steel buckle and as I’ve said before, the textile strap fits the smaller wrist much better (see images) as the strap can sit perpendicularly to the case.

Casio precision case and dial quality – difficult to beat

The strap is approximately 24 mm at the case fixing and tapers to 18mm at the buckle.  A hybrid springbar fitting is used and a standard strap/band could be fitted with a bit of fiddling if preferred. (Note I’ve never had issues with Casio textile straps despite adverse comments from users – What on earth do these folks do to destroy both straps, bracelets, cases, crystals and goodness knows what else?  I have to wonder what their car or home looks like?

Finally this model is a testament to Casio  high quality watch production today, very well made, great resin technology case construction (I’ve not seen better) and in short, this model in my opinion is pretty special and with no negatives to report.  And at around £50 in the UK it also has to be a bargain.

If you don’t have one now, then I suggest you find one sooner rather than later, as these, certainly in the strap version, are becoming scarce.

So my picks for ABC and Twin Sensor are – the Casio SGW100B-3v Twin Sensor and the Casio PRG270B-3 ABC Triple Sensor and I think it doubtful either model will be bettered for some considerable time – if at all!

Note – Whilst Solar is fine for the Triple Sensor PRG270 being an ABC multi-function model, the lack of Solar on the Twin Sensor SGW100 is fine for me as the battery life is in excess of 3 years anyway.