A look back at an old ‘gem’

Seeing I trawled back in time on my last Post with a favourite Timex – this time I’m looking back at a favourite Casio.

This is the understated and very affordable  Casio AQ-190W, which I first reported on back in 2015. I remember at that time I compared it against Casio’s more expensive models and was very surprised at how good it was.  It also has the dial look of the great Citizen Skyhawk, Nighthawk and Navitimer series, which I’ve always rated as an absolute classic in digital/analogue dials

This Casio is at a lower price point alternative, but has many of the same features including a 1/1000 of a second Chronometer and is ultra affordable. It is a resin cased example with a metalized clad top plate, but it is an exceptionally clear dial configuration and again being light weight is easy to wear.

In fact it fits right in to the uncanny Casio knack of making watches packed with features that manage to suit all prices.  And if you’re not a great fan of their “G” shock stuff, this particular hybrid plastic/resin & stainless/metal look model could be for you.  One thing is definite, they sport some great electronics, are easy to use, tough as any and make ideal “do everything” daily beaters.

I also have a slightly more expensive “hybrid” model already, the Casio Tough Solar WVA-470, but I actually prefer this AQ -190 model for all sorts of reasons and not just the price.  I also like the fact, it doesn’t have the over muscular lumpiness and often less than easy to use pushbuttons of a “G” shock.  The AQ-190 model is very easy to use with sleek pushers, intuitive functionality and decent dial clarity.  As I said this is all at a very affordable under £40 price tag – and function for function is great value.

It has the Citizen ana/digi dial familiarity, though slightly less busy with similar digital displays, and it functions virtually in the same manner.  The contrasting background layers, clear digits, contrast and clever use of tones makes this very clear, considering the functions shown, though the sub dial is perhaps a little reflective – a matt finish may have been better – but perhaps I’m being over critical.

With it’s excellent full World Time feature you might be excused today for thinking it was Radio-Controlled, but it’s not and nor is it Solar, so you have to remember it’s simply quartz powered. But the functions and features on this are useful and reliable and to include a true 1/1000 sec digital chronograph is exceptional.

I love the Casio and Citizen knack of “at a glance” dial that manages to show a lot of information, clearly – Day, Month, Date, analogue time, running digital seconds.

It’s also unusual to have 2 x light sources on this watch.
Firstly – It has a very bright orange/yellow dial light (not Indiglo) at 3 o’clock which reflects right across the dial, lighting analogue hands and digital windows, which is a surprise. Certainly bright enough to read the time in the dark and maybe find your way to the bathroom at night! and much better than expected, especially compared to some other dial light models.
Secondly – The analogue hands and markers are also properly luminous and pretty good in their own right.

The World Time feature is about as good as it gets.  It is really easy to adjust, without continual reference to instructions, so is a practical travel watch.
It’s simple to set the time or to select another Time Zone or indeed change from your current time to your destination time.  As the digital and analogue times are linked, you first select World Time and set the destination Zone you want, then “Swap” the digital time you’ve just set on to the hands – simply by pressing buttons A and B at the same time (that is the two upper buttons) and the hands immediately move quickly round to the new digital setting.  Your previous analogue time will now show on the digital screen.  On your return journey again select World Time, press both buttons A & B simultaneously again and job done – the times will revert once again.
Very clever and more importantly, simple to use in practice.

However, whilst just about everything on the watch is pretty damned good – inexplicably the quality of the band (bracelet) on mine, was let down by sharp edges, which cut into the wrist and this is a real shame. But easy to correct fortunately and I did just that.

And if considering a strap change, then my experience may be useful.  The watch standard spring-bar fitting is just 18 mm, but the width of the bracelet at the case is around 24 mm.  But an 18 mm strap is no good as it will look far too small in proportion to the watch.  I managed to get round that by getting a 24mm silicon deployment strap and carefully cutting two small cut-outs with a sharp knife, at each side of the strap to accommodate the smaller lugs.  It wasn’t difficult to do and it looks absolutely fine. I have used it ever since (see image).

However, bracelet apart, in terms of price, functions, features, intuitive ease of use, size, weight and style, this is a very, very good buy and it even manages a 100m Water Resistance as well – So it’s really has a lot going for it.  Note – movement is made in Japan, but cased in China for whatever reason! But with this result – who cares!

 

As regards Analogue/Digital models in general and especially resin case light weight models, were and are actually a great idea.

Low cost, huge functionality and I’m checking out this month to see if these are still in existence – because they should be.

However, I’m not going to include the plethora of really ‘cheap’ Asian models that appear in their droves on a few of the web sites – they are indeed cheap but rarely value for money. Often functions don’t last, luminous is laughable, clarity is often cluttered – the list goes on – so I’m not about to waste my time.

And when looking at what I call hybrid or composite models made from plastic resin and so on, where Casio’s quality is near unsurpassed, many other ‘Brands’ are a different matter. You do have to really carefully check build quality.  And even on this excellent Casio one aspect was poor – the steel bracelet – but easily sorted, but care should be taken.

So, often the really great and super value Casio models can be sometimes hidden under the radar and you may have to actively seek them out. The AQ featured was such a one.

Checking what’s similar today I found this model which only has a passing similarity- the AE-1000W-1A2VEF which says it is World Time, though also says it can show 4 time zones (are there others?) so a bit confusing at first look.

The display set up is very much Casio. And on this model, often not realised, is the fact the dial indicates both a digital time and a small moving virtual analogue hands sub-dial clock.  And that means hours, minutes AND seconds (they used this module set up on a few of their models).

Incidentally, I have the square AE1200WH resin only cased model, which is probably my all time favourite Casio. On it’s virtual dial it also shows hours, minutes and seconds – so a small complete clock face, which is really quite useful. I did a Post on it a few years ago – the link is in the above the watch name.

I attach a small thumbnail image here just as a reminder as to how neat it was. And it is as good today as it was when I bought all those years ago and it’s 10 year battery (at least) is pretty good! Another of my favourite travel models.