Only 2 casio's = the edifice/g-shock marraige

[rktect]

As a Casio virgin, here are my thoughts for purchasing my first g-shock and/or other Casio series.

I've just recently been searching for my next watch and came upon the g-shock world. I thought I was totally set on getting a g-shock (actually still am), but I'm now considering something else for my first casio purchase which others may not have considered. My goal is to limit myself to own just 2 Casio's. I know that's hard to imagine for some, but I believe it can be done while satisfying all of my aesthetic/functional necessities. I'm set on owning 1 ana-digi, and 1 digital for a complete miniature collection. The ana-digi will be my daily work watch and has to be aesthetically pleasing (and also not look like a kids toy watch), yet functional in certain ways. It has to have an alarm with snooze, a cdt, resin band, and doesn't need to be g-shock, atomic, or solar. The all digital will fulfill my outdoor/sporty/hiking/jogging/mountain biking needs, so should be a g-shock with resin band and jam packed with everything you'd expect in a digital g-shock, with the exception of atomic and solar (not worth the extra price in my opinion). Theres really only 1 g-shock that could fulfill all of those needs (while adding atomic/solar), and that is the GW2500B:



It's the best looking ana-digi g-shock that provides a snooze alarm. In fact, it may be the only g-shock that is an ana-digi, atomic, solar, and snooze alarm. Every other ana-digi that has atomic/solar kills the snooze because there just doesn't seem to be enough room on the dials, but this module has the alarm settings shown in the digital portion. My only gripe with the GW2500 is that it's too expensive. For $250 retail, I can follow my plan of buying 2 casios for that price and getting much more for my money since the all digital will provide superior functionality. So which 2 to get! I've come up with these 2 beauties:



Ever since I saw the new "Black Label" Edifice series, I can't stop drooling. Specifically, the EFA131PB-1AV. It has everything I'm looking for in my daily work watch, and the only black label that has a snooze alarm (come on Casio, not all of us love jumping out of bed in the cold morning). With the resin band, I won't have to worry about dragging and scratching a steel bracelet across my desk all day, and it still looks as sharp as many watches costing much much more. The only drawback that I can see is that there's no backlight. Just an led light which I haven't seen yet. It's also no g-shock, but that's why this is a 2 watch deal.

As for the 2nd watch/full digital g-shock fulfillment, the G7710-1 has it nailed. It's one of the most feature filled g-shocks and with its incredible looking reverse LCD (some say the best one there is), along with a nice price, it's looking really good for my 2nd Casio to complete a miniature collection. I just wish the multi-function snooze alarm could be had on the edifice series.

Now both of these can be bought for $240 retail (around $160 street) which isn't too shabby. If anyone can come up with a better 2 watch collection that fulfills the needs as mentioned, I would be greatfully thankful. Or just 1 watch, besides the GW2500. I don't think another exists, besides the AW590, but its shape just looks odd to me . Since I didn't feel there was that 1 perfect g-shock to fullfill everything, it seems only logical to get 2, but only 2. Hence, the Edifice/G-Shock Marraige is created. Of course we all know who the Edifice is. She even has 2 nice legs, even though they're different sizes, but hey, who's perfect.

Those of you that own these, or want to; do you think this marraige is solid and will last?

[tribe125]

Extend your budget very slightly and get the GW-2500B and a DW-5600E for $30 - $40.

[rktect]

Extend your budget very slightly and get the GW-2500B and a DW-5600E for $30 - $40.

Getting the dw5600 is so tempting, and the classic square shape is growing on me, but then I compare it to the 7710 and it seems like such a great value, even though it is $20 more than the 5600. I just worry that I'd regret not getting the more functional one. The dual cdt also excites me when I think about what I could use it for. Every day my mind seems to change. Does it ever end, even after you buy?

[tribe125]

Does it ever end, even after you buy?

Nope.

[rcaddict]

Getting the dw5600 is so tempting, and the classic square shape is growing on me, but then I compare it to the 7710 and it seems like such a great value, even though it is $20 more than the 5600. I just worry that I'd regret not getting the more functional one. The dual cdt also excites me when I think about what I could use it for. Every day my mind seems to change. Does it ever end, even after you buy?

The 7710 is a great watch, I prefer it over the 5600 although the 5600 is slightly more comfy with the softer strap.Use it as my daily sleeping watch as I depend on watch alarm to wake up :) I have the black label 132bk, its very nice despite the hand can block the digital portion, the 131bk is in my wish list too, love the ana digi black labels

[rktect]

The 7710 is a great watch, I prefer it over the 5600 although the 5600 is slightly more comfy with the softer strap.Use it as my daily sleeping watch as I depend on watch alarm to wake up :) I have the black label 132bk, its very nice despite the hand can block the digital portion, the 131bk is in my wish list too, love the ana digi black labels

I appreciate your info. Since you have the 7710 and the 132bk, how do the alarms compare in volume? I figure the 131bk and 132bk should have a similar alarm volume, although I noticed that they have different battery specs but both say three years. The 7710 is definitely more appropriate for morning alarm with its weekday setting and snooze, but I wonder if the 131/132 black labels would suffice too.

The ana-digi dilemma with the digital blockage seems unavoidable, but it's the only way to have an analog that has useable functions like multiple alarms. It's a small price to pay. I'd appreciate any feedback.

[tribe125]

The ana-digi dilemma with the digital blockage seems unavoidable, but it's the only way to have an analog that has useable functions like multiple alarms. It's a small price to pay.

It is, and it's just struck me that I've never seen anyone complain that they can't see the date on their analogue watch for two minutes per hour.

[rcaddict]

I just tested the alarms, the 7710 is louder than the 132bk, 7710's alarm tone is not the standard casio alarm tone and it's quite high pitch. The oceanus 510D 's digital is quite visible even when the hands are on top of it, due to the digital lcd sit deeper on the watch's dial, i would think the 131 's digital would be more visible as compare to 132 for the same reason.

[rktect]

Tribe, I think you're right. I think it's worried about more than it actually is an issue. If you look at this pic of the 131, the minute hand is right over the day, but you can still see it from straight on since the letters are big enough. The hour hand would be even less of a problem.


And if you look at this one, the minute hand looks as though it will cover part of the lower digital numbers for a couple minutes each hour.


Has anyone wore one of these black label watches with the resin band? They look very flexible and comfy, but I haven't found them anywhere locally to try it out. It's also hard to tell how big (or small) it will look on the wrist since I've not seen any pics.

I'm not sure how useful the speed indicator would be either. Many cars already show you average speed and so on, and if you have a bike computer, it tells you all of that while riding too without having to enter any distance separately. And most runners are not going to buy this watch. It just looks so good, and that's half the battle.

[rktect]

I just tested the alarms, the 7710 is louder than the 132bk, 7710's alarm tone is not the standard casio alarm tone and it's quite high pitch. The oceanus 510D 's digital is quite visible even when the hands are on top of it, due to the digital lcd sit deeper on the watch's dial, i would think the 131 's digital would be more visible as compare to 132 for the same reason.

Thanks for testing the alarms. That's very helpful. Do you find that the 7710's high pitch is an annoying sound to bring you out of sleep? Or is it necessary to have the louder 7710 to actually wake you up? I'm a pretty light sleeper anyways, and my wife is very picky about alarm sounds, hence the concern.