Casio watches are enjoyed worldwide, so it's little wonder that there are models specifically based on either popular cultures, races or even collaborations you'd never think you'd see (Looking at you Big Mac G-Shock)... Welcome to the preview column, and today we'll be highlighting the G-Shock Rasta Series, based on the vibrant Rastafarian community and Jamaican culture. Ready? Let's get to it!

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First up is the DW-5600CMA-9D. Based on the classic DW-5600 series, this is a vibrant digital watch. The band is a mixture of Red, Yellow and Blue, a parallel to the colourful culture. Inside the display, the numbers are extra-large, making it easy to read the time.

Next, sticking with the digital theme, we have the 5600CMB-1. This is a darker model, with the bright colours reserved for the inside of the band (a bright, sky blue). As with the 9D, this watch is fully digital, making it perfect for those with lousy eyesight, or those of you who just want a retro, classic looking watch.

dw-5600cmb-1

Moving on from the classics, we have the GA400CM series, starting with the GA-400CM-1A. This series takes its design from the GA400CM series, incorporating some of the cool features developed there (which we'll talk about later on). With regards to the looks, the outside is grey/black, with a mixture of red, yellow and blue sprinkled throughout, and a bright neon red on the inside of the band. This is an analogue/digital combo, with an extra-large display so you can read the screen easily. The digital display is what's known as a Negative Screen, which means the numbers are light, while the screen is dark.

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Finally, we have the GA-400CM-4A, which is a mixture of salmon red, yellow, as well as a sky blue inside the band. The analogue hands are a mixture of blue and red, while the hour marks are bright yellow, which will really help when reading the analogue part of the watch. If you weren't a fan of the negative display, you can breathe a sigh of relief, because the 4A has a regular display.

ga-400cm-4a

So, that's the looks done, let's talk features! First up, let's look at the 5600CM series.

Now, I've already mentioned that the watches are fully digital. What I haven't mentioned is why it's so important. See, with an ana/digi combo, some people complain that the backlight only lights up the analogue hands, while they want to read the digital display. With a fully digital screen, you when you press the backlight button, the entire screen lights up, making it easier to read the time whether at night, or in the afternoon if there's glare hitting the display.

Another interesting feature of the 5600 series is the auto repeat function. That means, you can set your alarm to always start beeping at the exact same time every day (helpful if you need to take meds.

Moving on to the GA400CM as mentioned that's got quite a few tricks up its sleeve. You notice that rotary switch on the right? That's for those of you who don't like pushing the mode button all the time in order to get to the right function. Simply move the switch up or down to quickly get to your desired function.

Another cool feature is the hand shift. Basically, if your nalogue hands start blocking the digital display, simply use the hand shift feature to move them away, so you can read the digital window. Once you're done, simply turn that feature off, and the hands will move back to where they were supposed to be.

There you have it. The Rasta series is coming soon, to BuyWatchesOnline.

Until Next Time - Jimmy B