CWhatWatch

Lately, I’ve been really into radio controlled watches. I find it fascinating that your wristwatch can receive a signal from hundreds of miles away and display the “accurate” time. These watches also work great as a travel watch: as long as you are within range of one of the timing signals, you will have the right local time at the push of a button. I’ll spare you the technical aspects of this (perhaps on an installment of “Focus Fridays?” Keep an eye out!) However, today let’s take a look at three radio controlled watches from one of the best value watch brands– Casio. Of the thousands of styles Casio puts out, there are quite a few radio controlled watches. They refer to this radio technology as “Multiband” and it comes in a few different iterations. Specifically, “Multiband 5” watches can receive timing signals from Japan, USA, and Europe, and “Multiband 6” can receive timing signals from those areas with the addition of China. The three examples we will look at today also come in at three very different price points, making your entry into radio controlled watches a bit easier.

Casio – WV-59RD-1AJF – $60

The Casio WV-59RD-1AJF is a wonderfully retro looking entry in the radio controlled watch category. It is also one of the most affordable options, coming in around $60 on Amazon at the time of writing. Like many other Casios, the 39 by 48mm rectangular watch has a plastic mid-case with a stainless steel face and caseback. The display is pure nostalgia, having different partitions for different functions. The most important and quirky window on the dial is the one showing antenna functionality. On the lower right hand corner there is a screen with the outline of an antenna or satellite dish. During syncing procedures, depending on how many parts of the image is lit up, this graphic tells you how strong the timing signal is. It will also be permanently lit if the watch successfully completed the syncing procedure.

Casio Lineage – LCW-M100TSE-1AJF – $180

The LCW-M100TSE-1AJF, a part of Casio’s Lineage line of products, is a considerable step up from the previously mentioned WV-59RD-1AJF. When handling the watch, you are immediately faced with the familiar lightness of Casio watches. You might think to yourself, this is just another plastic watch with a metal shroud but for triple the cost. Thankfully, you’d be wrong. The 39mm diameter LCW-M100TSE-1AJF is constructed wholly from titanium. Looking over the watch, you will see a largely traditional watch face, albeit with a cut out to make way for a digital display. This digital readout can cycle through a few functions while only taking up a small portion of the space from 5 to 7 o’clock. You can display the day and date, running seconds, show the time digitally, and even make use of a chronograph function. Being radio controlled and super light weight, this watch makes a great case for being the perfect travel watch.

Casio Oceanus – OCW-T150-2AJF – $300 to $400

The Oceanus line is every bit the most premium line in the Casio stable. Save for the MR-G line, which itself is a line of G-Shock products, the Oceanus line features the best fit and finish in Casio’s catalog. They even feature the much vaunted Zaratsu polishing technique made famous by Grand Seiko. This particular model, the OCW-T150-2AJF, also comes in at 39mm and has an all titanium build and a subtle light blue dial that is almost silver at certain angles. The watch is bright with punchy highlights, its dial furniture glints in metallic blue. Around the outside of the dial you will see a ring of cities from all around the world. This, in conjunction with the crown and pushers, allows the user to select the time zone that best corresponds to their location. While this may be a full featured radio controlled watch, I think one of its best features is in its titanium bracelet. By pressing the two pushers a bit harder, you can make use of a sliding micro-adjustment. This really comes in handy in the summer months when your wrists are more prone to swelling.

I think of the three options here, my pick for an everyday watch would be the Oceanus model. There is enough visual interest and finishing touches to really excite me when I look at it. The other two, while really great watches, are more subdued in their design and color palette. The Oceanus is the perfect mix of design, functionality, and ergonomics. I often find myself reaching for it at the start of a busy day, trusting that it will be charged and have the right time. I’d say the only issues I have with this watch are minor: the bracelet features an integrated end-link and the price tends to fluctuate a bit. No matter what price point works for you, either of these pieces are great functional watches. At the touch of a button you can have access to the exact time almost anywhere in the world.

Reference	WV-59RD-1AJF/LCW-M100TSE-1AJF/OCW-T150-2AJF
MSRP	$60/$180/$300 to $400
Case Size	39x48mm/39mm/39mm
Lug-to-Lug	48mm/44mm/44.5mm
Lug Width	20mm/20mm/20mm(Integrated)
Materials	Stainless Steel, Resin, and Titanium