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Taking the GA-800 Sneaker Series for a Run!

You gotta strike while the iron is hot, and that’s what Casio is doing with the GA-800SC series. This spinoff from the GA800 keeps the features you loved in the GA-800 and adds some exciting new colours. Considering the GA-800, like the 500 and 700 series are running watches, this latest design is here to match your sneakers and trainers. Ready to see what the fuss is about? Let’s get started!

So first up we have the GA800SC-2A. As you can see, it’s a dark blue, with some splashes of yellow. The second hand, the inner G-Shock logo, and the button below the display are all bright yellow. The digital display is black with white numbers and letters, while the analogue hour markers and hands are extra-thick to enhance readability.

Next there’s the GA-800SC-6A. As you can see it’s mostly purple with an orange button, second hand and inner G-Shock logo. The outer logo is purple to match the band.

Last, you’ve got the white and lime green GA-800SC-7A model. Guaranteed to match with most sneakers, this watch is almost pure white, with splashes of green in the inner analogue display.

Alright, we’ve discussed the looks, but what exactly can this series do?

First up, let’s handle the negative display. Now, some people may dislike those types of models, saying they’re hard to read, but that’s where the Dual LED Light comes in handy. Unlike the earlier ana/digi combos, the GA-800 series lights up both the analogue and digital screen, making it easy to see the time no matter the light conditions.

Next is a really cool dual time feature. Now, I gotta admit, I’d never even heard of a digital dual time, since usually dual time is used with two analogue displays. Here though, there’s an option to set a different timezone on the digital screen, and then swap them around with the press of a button. It’s also quite useful in letting you know whether it’s AM or PM overseas (as opposed to an analogue dual time display).

Being a watch made for athletes, Casio decided to go with a lap memory function. Unlike previous watches though, the memory size has doubled so you can save 120 laps into your memory. A great way to check your progress and see what needs to improve!

As with the GA-500 and 700 series, The stopwatch is easy to get to – all you need to do is press one button and you’ll be in the stopwatch timing mode. Much quicker than having to go through all the different modes this watch has.

Well, there you have it. The GA-800SC series will be making its way to us in the very near future. In the meantime, check out the GA-500, GA-700, and GA-710.

If you want a more in depth analysis of the GA-800 series itself, click here.

For a video highlighting the GA-800SC Series, click here.

Until Next Time – Jimmy B

His and Hers Casio Watches for This Valentine's Day (and Beyond)

Aaah, Romance... Love is in the air, which means it must be close to Valentine's Day! In honour of this occasion, we've compiled a list of 8 pairs of watches, that'll allow you, and your loved one, to match. And best of all, these gifts are great for anniversaries, birthdays, or those days where you inevitably put your foot in it, and want to apologise (speaking from personal experience here...) Ready? Let's get to it!

1) GA-110GB-1A and BA-110-1A – Go out in style with these extra-large case models. They're easy to read, with plenty of room for the analogue and digital sides, and the gold pieces all over the display really makes your (and her) wrists stand out!

2) BA-110DC-2A2 and GA-110DC-2A – Denim clothes have become pretty popular over the years, so now you and your partner can match with these G-Shock and Baby-G 110DC Series! Everything matches, including a dark blue tint on the display, to match the band colour. Best of all, since it's a resin band, you still keep the toughness and scratch resistance.

3) BA-110TP-7A and GA-110TP-7A – A tribal pattern series will make your wrists stand out and be the talk of the party. These designs are really trendy in the fashion world, and it's easy to accesorise with.

4) BA-110PP-1A and GA-110LPA-1A – one of two pairs here that are great to exercise with, the 110PP and 110LPA have holes throughout the band. This will allow air to get to your wrist while exercising, helping to make sure it doesn't sweat too much, and doesn't stain the band.

5) GA-110-1B and BA-110BC-1A – Black goes with pretty much anything, just like this pair of matching watches. Part of the famous XL Case series, the GA-110 and BA-110BC are also a good choice for the military.

6) BA-110-7A1 and GA-110RG-7A – Match with your partner, thanks to these white wristwatches, which are decorated by Rose Gold throughout the display, and some on the bezel as well.

7) GA-110C-7A and BA-110-7A3 – Sometimes something simple is best. If you want a watch that matches your clothes, but don't like black, these white watches may look minimalist, but they have enough features to keep you busy for hours. And they look great with just about anything, so she'll be happy, and you'll match.

8) BGA-240-7A and GA-700-7A – The second pair that's great for fitness training, the BGA-240 and GA-700 have both become the go to watches for sports. The BGA-240 has a stop watch with lap memory, and a display that lets you easily see how long you've been exercising. The GA-700 ups the ante by including a direct start stopwatch, and a stopwatch alarm (so you can start it up without having to look through all the features, and you can set yourself a time limit and keep improving.

Well, that's it from me. For more Baby-Gs, click here, for G-Shocks click here, and if you'd like to see what other customers think about us, click here. For a video highlighting these watches, click here. Until Next Time – Jimmy B

Top 10 Casio Solar Watches
Let's face it - changing batteries is annoying, and can be a huge hassle. So why bother? Give yourself (or your loved one) a gift that keeps on giving, with one of these Top 10 Casio Tough Solar Watches of 2017. Never have to worry about changing the batteries again!

10) PRG-240-1 - We're starting off with the Protrek. A series made for those that love the great outdoors. The PRG-240-1 is fully digital with an extra-large screen, and even includes a digital compass.

9) PRG-240T-7 - Sticking with the PRG series, some people complain the band just can't handle tough environments. The solid titanium band of the PRG-240T-7 ought to put your fears to rest. It's also low temperature resistant, up to -10 Celsius.

8) EQB-500D-1A2 - This serves a dual purpose. It's not only a solar powered watch, but it's a great watch for work as well. A solid stainless steel band and fully analogue display means this watch will stand out wherever you are.

7) G-5600E-1 - Based on a very early design (DW-5600-1) the G5600E is a great economical Solar watch. It's fully digital, light on your wrist, and has aectangular, large digital display, to make it easier to read the time.

6) PRW-6100Y-1 - The last Protrek in this section, the PRW-6100Y-1 is an analogue/digital combo watch, with a hard to scratch Carbon Fiber Resin band, a dual LED light and it's radio controlled, so it can automatically set the correct time for you.

5) GWG-1000-1A - A must have for any collector, the GWG-1000 is a Mudmaster, MASTER OF G watch. Now, to get the label "Master of G", you need to be the best at what you do. And the GWG series protects against the mud and the weather like no other. It's also resistant against strong vibrations, so if you're flying and hit major turbulence, the watch will still run smoothly.

4) GST-S300G-1A2 - The G-Steel Series is a must for anybody in need of a tough, good looking watch. It's 200g water resistant, has a hand shift feature (in case the hands get in the way of the digital face), and it has a Dual LED light, which means you'll be able to see the digital time even at night (a feature that's been heavily requested)!

3) GST-S120L-1A - Quite a few people seem to dislike stainless steel bands. Maybe they just don't like the feel. For those of you who prefer something a little more classic, the GST-S130L-1A has a brown, tough leather band.

2) GWN-Q1000-7A Another Master of G title here, the Gulfmaster already has the perfect excuse to be solar powered (you're out in the sun anyway, might as well charge the watch up)! This watch also includes a tide graph and a depth sensor, so it's perfect both on the water and while diving.

1) GW-9400-1 - A mainstay when it comes to most top ten lists, the Rangeman is the perfect tool for the great outdoors. With a compass, barometer, thermometer, and a whole lot more, while you're in the great outdoors, the watch will keep on charging.

There you have it, these watches will keep on working. For our full range of Solar watches click this link

And check out a video of all 10 Solar Watches here

Until Next Time - Jimmy B

Top Ten Kids Casio Watches for Christmas

Shopping for kids can be a real pain (I know, I’ve got a few of my own). In this list, you’ll find the top 10 kids watches, which should make your lives a little easier. Oh, and don’t let the Baby-G label fool you. Unless specifically stated otherwise, these watches are fine for both genders to wear.

10) BG-169R-1DR – A classic digital look and a black band, this watch is easy to read and can also be used to remember phone numbers (a feature that’s exclusive to the BG-169 series.

9) BGA-180-2B2 – This watch is a great beginner watch if you want your child to learn how to read analogue watches (the arrows and markers are extra-large). It also has a tide graph, if your child is learning to surf.

8) BG-6903-2 – A watch for runners, this digital timepiece has an extra-large screen, which lets you see both the time and the stopwatch if needed.

7) BG-6901-1 – a thinner version of the DW-6900 series, this is great for smaller wrists. It’s also a precursor to the BG-6903 series, and has the extra-large screen so you can see the time better.

6) AW-590-1A – the first G-Shock on our list, we know despite our assurances, some boys just don’t feel comfortable wearing a Baby-G. This watch is one of the smaller analogue/digital combos, so it still fits on your child’s wrist without looking oversized.

5) BGA-240-7A – don’t be fooled by the title “ladies” watch. This time piece is perfectly fine for both genders. It’s the next generation of running watches, keeping the size of the digital screens, but making it wider to fit an analogue display as well.

4) BGA-190BE-2A – Kids love going to the beach, playing around in the sand. This watch with blue pastel colours, is tough enough for the most strenuous exercises, and is also 100m water resistant.

3) BA-110PP-8A – A spinoff from the G-Shock’s GA-110PP series, this punching pattern watch is perfect when you’re exercising, or just out on a hot day. The band has holes in it, letting air get through and keep your wrist from sweating too much.

2) BA-110DC-2A3 – A companion watch for the GA-110DC series, the band is a scratch resistant resin, but it looks more like a denim fabric band, so if you want to wear your jeans or denim shirt, you can easily accessorise.

1) BGA-225-7A – If your kids love camping, this watch is perfect. Known as the “Glamping” watch, it lets your kids camp in style, and has all sorts of useful features, such as a moon phase indicator, as well as a tide graph.

Well that’s it for the Christmas gift ideas. To see a full list of Baby-Gs click Here, for a full list of G-Shocks click Here. To see what our customers think of our products and service, click this link.

Finally, for a cool slideshow of this list, take a look at our video here

Until Next Time – Jimmy B

Get a tough new watch to welcome the winter season, with Casio’s all new Urban Tough collection!

Coming together with “New Era” (a company known for its wide variety of accessories), Casio’s Urban Tough series includes a wide screen digital watch, along with a woolen G-Shock black cap (with the logo actually featuring a black metal badge)!

The watch itself is the DW-5600NEWERA. The DW series has always been known for their toughness – in fact, the very first G-Shock watch was the DW-5000, which goes to show you just how tough and popular this series is!

The DW-5600NEWERA keeps all the features that made G-Shocks popular. You have the shock resistance to protect from falls, 200m water resistance so you can go swimming and, being a fully digital watch, you’ve got an extra-strong backlight to show you the time even when it’s pitch black.

This watch is a limited edition, and has the New Era logo showcased on the band, stamped on the back of the timepiece, and even shows up on the watch face. It’s a must-have for any collectors.

Look for the watch and cap to come to our stores soon!

Until Next Time. Jimmy B.

What Happened to my Solar Powered G-Shock???

Two nightmare scenarios for any Solar watch buyer:

1) It’s a pain isn’t it? You buy a watch, it’s solar powered so you don’t have to stuff around with the batteries, you open it up and it’s…. DEAD! WHAT HAPPENED?

2) You’ve had the watch for years, you never needed to replace the battery. You may have stopped wearing it for a while and when you put it on again, what happens? The watch won’t start, even after a few minutes in the sun! What do you do?

Both scenarios can have the same solutions, so don’t lose your head just yet.

First of all, there’s something you need to know about all Casio watches. When Casio builds each watch, before shipping it out all over the world, they put a test battery in, and test that the features are all working fine. After the tests, the battery is left inside and sealed to ensure water resistance. Now, here’s the problem – since the battery is left inside, and the watch switched on, it’s already draining. Now, that doesn’t mean the watch you’ll receive has a dead battery, but it won’t last as long as with a brand new battery (kind of like if you buy a printer and use the ink/laser cartridge that’s already there – you won’t print out as many pages as they promise until you get a brand new cartridge).

So let’s say either scenario 1 or 2 happens. Don’t panic. Put the watch on the windowsill and leave it exposed to the sun for about 3 days. That should do the trick (it’s also helpful when you get the low battery signal on your watch). Now, if this happens in scenario 2, you’ll want to also turn off the automatic backlight, so it doesn’t interfere with the charging.

Now, let’s say the watch is still dead after you left it in the sun for a few days. Unfortunately, that means your battery is faulty and you’ll need to get a new one. If your watch is still under warranty (or if you had just bought the watch and it’s already not working after the 3 days of charging), take it back to where you bought it from.

If the watch isn’t under warranty, then feel free to use this guide on how to change a watch battery. Remember, if you’re under warranty, do NOT do this, it’s only for watches out of warranty, as opening the back will void your warranty.

Until Next Time

Jimmy B

9 things you never knew about G-Shocks.

The G-Shock watches have been around for over 30 years. They’ve made a lot of models, with no sign of slowing down. Collectors know a lot about Casio watches, but even I was surprised to discover some of the things on this list!

1) Fox Fire VS Illuminator.

See, the Illuminator/backlight has been around pretty much as long as Casio, but in Japan for some reason it’s called the “Fox Fire”. Apparently though, that’s only because Foxfire is the term given to a glow, which is found on a fungus. Interestingly enough, said fungus was used in submarines as far back as 1775, thanks to a suggestion by Benjamin Franklin. Everywhere else in the world, the backlight is called the Illuminator, so PETA (or other animal lovers), there’s nothing to worry about – no foxes were harmed in the making of Casio Watches :)

2) They’re the go-to watch for the Navy Seals.

In the US, the Navy seals used to get Rolexes, but obviously it cost way too much to repair. So back in the 1980s, they switched to analogue G-Shocks. These days you wouldn’t be surprised to see them wearing a Frogman or a Gulfmaster.

3) They’re worn by celebrities in movies. That one is Casey Affleck in “Triple 9” wearing a DW-6900MS-1. Everybody from Clint Eastwood, to Arnie can be found wearing G-Shocks in both movies and TV shows.

4) It’s all about the Screen Size.
If you’ve ever looked at digital watches, you’ll note that a majority have the time set to 10:58. There’s a perfectly valid reason for that. You see, those numbers take up the most space, so by photographing the watches reading 10:58, you’ll see the whole screen being used up, and it really emphasises the LCD display.

5) Only three original prototypes exist.

In 1983, the very first G-Shock was called the DW-5000. Five of those prototypes were built, but as of 2017 only 3 remain. Those three were gifted to members of the original design team. Another interesting tidbit – the follow-up to this model, the DW-5500C was nicknamed the Mudman, due to its high resistance to mud. That name stuck around until the G-9000 and G-9300 series came out and took over the nickname.

6. What do the codes mean?
A bit complicated I know, but this picture above shows exactly what the letters and numbers mean. For more information on this point, have a look at our previous article here

7) For years, the Frogman was the undisputed king of Casio’s Diving Watches… Until late last year when the GWN-Q1000 series came along.

The newest edition to the Gulfmasters included a depth sensor, along with improving the compass, barometer and other sensors to make them accurate even when the watch isn’t on a flat surface. To find out more about the Gulfmasters click here.

8) The G-Shock was inspired by a rubber ball. That’s right, something so simple inspired a watch that’s been around for almost 35 years! And it wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for an accident. You see, the creator of the G-Shock, Kikuo Ibe, was just an engineer working for Casio, when he dropped and broke a watch. Not just any watch though, this was a watch passed down from his father. Of course, a loss like that would be devastating to some, but for Ibe, this was motivation to build a stronger watch, so that what happened to him, wouldn’t happen to anybody else. He put together a team called “Team Tough” and his idea was for a “Triple Ten” watch. That’s a watch with 10-year battery, 10m shock resistance and 10 bar (which is 100m) water resistance.

As we know by now, he managed to exceed the 10m shock resistance since every watch made by Casio has a guaranteed 100m shock resistance! But back to the topic, Kikuo and his team used to throw prototypes out of a bathroom window for the 10m tests. As you can imagine, that resulted in a lot of broken watches. What changed? One time, Kikuo was looking out the window and saw a rubber ball being bounced at the park. That got him thinking, since the outer layer was absorbing all of the impact, the inside of the ball was protected. That became his inspiration, and it’s where the G in G-Shock came from (it stands for Gravity).

9) The creator of the G-Shocks only has two of them (and he can only wear one of them!). According to Kikuo Ibe, his favourite is the prototype that he received (the DW-5000). But since that’s up at the museum, he uses the DW-5600. That’s not just dedication, it’s proof that a good watch can last a lifetime!

I guess it’s true, you do learn something new every day!

Until Next Time

Jimmy B.

Do you ever feel like you're getting a headache from all these numbers? Why do we need them? If you've ever looked at a model number and just went "Meh, too complicated!" Well, this article is just for you. Welcome to Jimmy B's guide to Casio, and today I'll be explaining what every part of a model name means, hopefully clearly enough that you can understand, and have a guide for next time.

Hang on... Can't I just look at the watch and see what colour it is? Well that's a good question. Thing is, some pictures on Casio's site are taken under a certain light, which could make a watch look either darker or brighter than it actually is. With my guide, all you'll have to do is take a peek and you'll know exactly what you're getting.

First let me explain the colour code:

1= Black

2= Blue

3= Green

4= Red / Orange

5= Brown / Gold

6= Purple

7= White/Transparent

8= Grey/Silver

9= Yellow

So I'll give you an example. If you buy a GW-9400-1 watch, you know that the band will be black. If it was the GW-9400-3 it's green. Now, if there's a number after the A, that actually tells you the colour of the hands or display. So, like the earlier example, GA-100-1A2. That means it's a black watch, but the hands are blue.

Now, what about the DR? Well that's actually quite simple. When you buy a watch, the end will either be CR, DR, ER or JF. In order that means Chinese Export, Wide Distribution, Made in Europe, and Made in Japan. So, when you see DR models, those are the most common but if you see any of the other three, you better grab them up fast, because they're limited edition, and only a few are being made at a time!

I hope I've made things clear for you. If there's something you don't understand, then don't hesitate to leave a comment and I'll try to explain further.

Until Next Time

Jimmy B.

Introducing the Casio G-Shock GA-500 series.

A new addition to Casio’s ever-growing G-Shock family, the GA-500 series is becoming the number 1 choice for those playing urban sports (such as Parkour, Street Basketball, Freerunning, etc.).

The watch comes in three colours: Black, Black and Red and White. All three watches have what’s known as a negative display (which is white numbers on a dark screen. All three are both analogue and digital, in case you prefer one over the other.

The GA-500s have an extra-wide screen, to rival the GA-110 series. The analogue markers are colour coded to match the motif of each watch, and they stand out in order to ensure they can be easily seen.

The hands do sometimes get in the way of the digital display, but Casio has long since solved that problem with the introduction of the Hand-Shift feature. As simple as it sounds, the press of a button will let you move the hands for a few seconds, so that you can see the digital time. Then, they go back to where they belong, without losing a single second of time!

And speaking of time, the GA-500s are great for athletes trying to improve their times! See, Casio added a very special feature to their GA500 series: Target Time stopwatch. Working similar to the countdown timer, the Target Time mode allows you to input a time limit. Then, once the limit has been reached, the stopwatch will sound an alarm. By using this, athletes can set new goals for themselves and keep improving.

That’s not the only change with the stopwatch though. Quite a few customers have complained that it takes too long to find the stopwatch mode. So Casio decided to add a new mode called Direct Start. Just like it sounds, the watch can go into the stopwatch mode, with a single press of a button!

Don’t forget, these are Casio watches, so each model comes with 200m water resistance, and 100m shock resistance, so you can take the watch with you, wherever you want to go!

The Casio G-Shock, GA500 is in store now!

Until Next Time – Jimmy B

Which Casio Watches Can I Wear for Work?

A common complaint about Casio Watches, is that the bands are made of Resin, and it “looks cheap” according to some buyers. Now, normally this isn’t a problem, but some folks want a watch they can take with them to work. That’s where the Edifice range comes in. In particular, the EFR-552, EFR-539 and the EFR-303L

The EFR-552 comes with either a Black Leather Strap, a Brown Leather Strap or if you prefer stainless steel, there’s a two-tone Stainless Steel and Rose Gold model. Now, these watches differ quite a bit from the Casios we usually have on sale. Mainly because they’re purely analogue (a rarity these days).

In all three cases, the watch has what’s known as a screw lock back, which helps protect the module, as well as making the watch as water resistant as possible. It still has a stopwatch, but an analogue version called a Chronograph. May take a little while to get used to, but even NASA prefers analogue chronographs to the digital stopwatches!

If you’re worried about being able to see the analogue hands (a common worry for people who are used to digital watches, the hour markers stand out like they’re popping out of the screen, so even with bad eyesight, it’s pretty easy to see the time. A small advantage that the stainless steel band has over the leather bands, is you can buy more links for it to increase the band length.

Now, as mentioned before, you might be interested in the EFR-539L series. All three have leather bands, with a choice of Dark Brown, Light Brown or a Light Blue leather band. Each of these watches come with a matching colour display. As before, these watches have a screw lock back, but also have Ion Plated bezels, which are much tougher than Resin bezels.

Finally we have the EFR-303L. This watch serves two purposes because while it looks great at work, it’s also a traveller’s watch. The display even has a world map to go with the Traveller’s motif. The stainless steel analogue markers are very easy to see, while the leather band means it’ll look good on your wrist.

An added advantage to the 303L is the ability to have the World Time showing on your watch. Located at the top of the display, you can even pre-program the dial with a specific city, and it will always show that city’s time. Helpful if you’re away on long trips.

Another advantage is the watch has a low battery warning, so you won’t be caught by surprise!

Well, there you have it. If you’re after a watch that you can proudly wear at work, one of these three models will definitely do the trick.

Until Next Time. Jimmy B.