Casio EF-550PB-7AV Review

[Kotik]

A sporty analog quartz watch, almost like it has materialized from a comic book.

This watch is extremely good looking to my eyes, I love the white cartoonish main hands, the busy black and white dial, the angular shape of the case and bezel, the shiny black color of the case and bezel.

The watch has a 1/20 second chronograph with a maximum capacity of 60 minutes. The subdials are so small and the print on them so minuscule that I have serious problems reading them. I have to use a magnifying glass to check the scales on them and then just remember what they say.

There is no backlight and the lume is average.

The 24 hour dial at the three o'clock position is utterly useless. I do not see what purpose it serves, and the numbers are printed small and they are in a dark recess and thus impossible to read without a magnifying glass. The date window is also recessed and very small and consequently extremely hard to read.

As in many other Edifice watches, you can park the small second hand by pressing the lower button. This is why it sits in the same place in all of the photos. I like to keep it stationary as it is so small as to be almost useless. When the minute hand has been adjusted carefully, you can read the fractions of a minute from its position without the need for the second hand.

All in all a very lovable watch, shows the time clearly, and can be used occasionally for timing events. A serious chronograph it is not because of the hard-to-read miniature subdials.

I like it so much I have already ordered the black version, EF-550D-1AV, and am planning to buy the braceletted white version EF-550D-7AV, too.

Swiss watchmakers are in trouble when Casio produces immaculately finished, stylish watches like this, at a fraction of the price of Swiss watches. I own several Swiss watches, too, and can say with confidence they are overpriced when only functionality and quality of finish is being considered. When you add brand image to the equation, then the Swiss watches get into their own territory. If you can, own both. Japanese watches for looks and functions, Swiss watches for image.





















And high resolution version of the photos:
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_a.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_b.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_c.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_d.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_e.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_f.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_g.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_h.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_i.jpg
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...50PB-7AV_k.jpg

[a.sasaki15]

thanks for uploading pictures of your new watch. it definitely encouraged me to buy this! i can't wait for it! i had a hard decision whether to buy this or the all black model. they both look awesome! BTW, you should post this on the G-shock forum! you will get more responses!

[BenL]

Thanks for the great review. Well done!

[Kotik]

I received the black dialed version, EF-550D-1AV, tonight. The main hands are appreciably harder to read than on the white dial.

On this particular watch I got tonight the main second hand has a lot of play, it is off the dial ticks by up to half a second interval, depending on how the watch is held. A slight disappointment. The stainless bracelet is also not as beautiful as it looks in photos. In real life there is something cheapish about it, but hard to put a finger on it. Maybe because it is very thin, and the polished and brushed combination effect looks like a manufacturing shortcut to get a complex multilink look.

But no regrets having bought this watch, either. For the price it is a welcome addition to my line-up of working watches.

Now to get the bracelet version with a white face...

[a.sasaki15]

I thought about buying that one too but I just wasn't sure about the band. The watch itself is a beauty (just by looking at it...im waiting for mine in the mail) and I believe Casio could have done much better with the band.....You should upload some wrist shots!

[tolimoli]

Hello everyone,
I am from Germany, and would really like to buy this watch. Unfortunately the color variants which are available here dont include, the one which the reviewer showed here. Is there any good and reliable European watchshop which can deliver me the shown model in this thread? Only option I found so far is to get it from an American ebay-seller, but this would mean long travel distance and custom fees, which would make this watch unattractive for me.

I am really thankful for any helpful advise :)

Best Regards
Toli Moli

[bazookame]

great review thanks!

as i'm in a dilemma to whether to purchase the rubber black strap model with black casing or the stainless bracelet model with stainless casing...

i was wondering though, what is the quality of the black casing like, ie. does it scratch easily? and comparing the plastic strap to the stainless bracelet, which one gives the feel of quality more? is it soft plastic or hard plastic? does the stainless bracelet give a light, hollow feel to it like some cheap metal rubbing together or does it give a quality feel to it?

many thanks