Casio Edifice Watch Review: Yep, I Said Casio

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I have a pretty extensive watch collection which includes time pieces that range in price from very low to very high. While I do posses several “high-end” watches I find that I wear a digital watch most often. Part of the reason is my line of work – I just am too hard on anything I wear to worry about a pricey wrist accessory and part of it is the functionality a digital watch offers. A few weeks ago I took off my trusty Casio G-Shock while at the mall and gave it to my wife to hold. When we arrived home somehow she’d managed to “conveniently” throw out the watch in amongst the shopping bags.

When I spotted a story on ChipChick that Bryan Greenberg (no relation, I don’t even know who he is) had become the new ambassador for Casio’s line of Edifice Black Label watches I went and checked out the collection.

I hadn’t yet heard of Casio’s newest collection but was intrigued by the pictures ChipChick had included in the article. The Edifice line consists of six different styles. These are not the Casio’s I knew. The watches are sleek and thin and features double disk hands, multi-layered dials, world time, daily alarms, and more.

I decided to order one that same day sight unseen (well not seen in person that is.)  I ended up choosing the “Active Dial” model EFA-132PB-1AV. I had/have two requirements when it comes to a digital watch. It’s got to have a resin/rubber strap and it’s got to have a digital display. This one met both. The same watch is also available in all stainless steel.

The watch comes in a sturdy Casio tin that’s surrounded by a thin cardboard box.

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The dial of all the Edifice models is blacked out. This sort of style won’t appeal to everyone as it makes the information a little harder to read, in my opinion. The bezel of the watch features orange accents. White hands are visible atop several different digital displays. The white hands really “pop” against the blacked out look.

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This model has a resin band which I find very comfortable. I have large wrists and I often worry about how much room a watch band of this type will offer me. The band is quite large and extends well past the band keeper when I place it onto my wrist.  The size measures 50.0 x 46.1 x 12.7mm / 78g.  The watch is water resistant to 100m.

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The main display of the watch includes two time displays (analog and digital) each of which can set independently. A seconds display, temperature, day and date.

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There are dual 1/100th second chronographs with 100 lap memory. My only complaint with all of these functions is with the white hands. Sometimes, depending on the time they simply get in the way of viewing the display. It would be cool if they somehow moved out of the way (say to 12 o’clock) when one of the other functions, other than time viewing was chosen.

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A countdown timer.

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The daily alarm. You can also set other alerts here such as an hourly tone and button operation tone.

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And world time, which includes the ability to view the current time in 50 pre-determined cities around the world.

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The watch features automatic illumination as well. When activated the watch turns on its backlight automatically whenever you raise your wrist. If you choose to leave this feature off you can always turn on the light manually. This helps with viewing the digital components of the blacked out display.

You can check out the entire Casio Edifice collection by visiting their website here.

Starting at a price of $150 the Edifice line of watches isn’t the Casio you’re probably used too. And it doesn’t look, feel or wear like it either. The watch is very sleek and super comfortable on the wrist. The components feel sturdy and responsive. The watch has the look of one that might cost two or three times its price tag. Don’t be scared off by the Casio name. The Edifice line deserves consideration amongst collectors or those just looking for a fun recreational watch that’ll probably survive whatever you throw its way.

MSRP: $150

What I Like: Comfortable, stylish, doesn’t look like a Casio.

What Needs Improvement: Blacked out face is difficult to read without backlight.  Analog hands get in way of display.

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