A review of the latest Oceanus "Manta OCW-S7000D." We can't wait for its release in 2024!

The "OCW-S7000" joined the OCEANUS "Manta" series in May 2023. Furthermore, a new model with a new "panda"-style dial is scheduled to be released in January 2024. This time, we had the opportunity to wear and review the latest OCEANUS "Manta OCW-S7000D" before its release.

Oceanus' latest model "Manta OCW-S7000D"

　A new model of the Oceanus "Manta OCW-S7000" will go on sale from January 2024. The main feature of the new "Manta OCW-S7000D" is its "panda"-style dial design, which is rare in the series, with a white dial and blue subdials.

　The OCW-S7000 itself is new among the Oceanus models. Released in May 2011, it is a series with a tachymeter scale bezel and a ring-shaped sapphire crystal. It retains the thin, high-quality exterior characteristic of the Oceanus Manta, while emphasizing a sporty image.Casio sales data for 2023According to the report, the best-selling model of the Oceanus series was the OCW-S7000B-2AJF.

　The new model being reviewed this time has the same exterior and specifications as the existing model. It is positioned as a cosmetic change to the dial. However, this "panda"-style dial makes full use of Casio's manufacturing know-how for solar radio-controlled watches. It is the latest model that embodies the Oceanus Manta concept of "combining elegance and technology."

The latest model features a white and blue "panda"-style dial.

　Until now, the Oceanus Manta has mostly had blue or black dials, but this model features a white and blue coloring. A coloring with a white main chronograph dial and a black inset dial is called a "panda" dial, and this model also features a "panda"-style design that creates such a contrast.

　However, unlike brass and other materials, it is difficult to produce a bright white dial for a solar watch, which must be able to transmit light. Therefore, this model is designed to generate power only from the in-dial section.

　Since there is no need for light to pass through the main dial, an opaque white print is applied to the back. Furthermore, the front is coated with silver vapor deposition and then a clear matte finish. This coloring technique gives this watch a subtle luster reminiscent of an opaline dial, achieving a sense of luxury that is quite different from ordinary solar watches.

　The inner dial is coated with a transparent blue vapor deposition for solar power generation. The Oceanus Blue accent color retains the distinctive feel of the series, giving it a high-level design.

The titanium case and bracelet are of the high quality you'd expect from a luxury watch.

　The Oceanus Manta is priced at around 20 yen, making it a high-end solar radio-controlled watch. To compensate, the exterior, including the aforementioned dial, is of high quality.

　Let's take a look at the case and bracelet. Made of titanium, the exterior weighs approximately 84g and features a satin finish with polished finishes on the sides of the bezel and the ridges of the case. Zaratsu polishing is used, highlighting the sharp edges. A satin finish makes scratches less noticeable and enhances the sporty impression. However, this model is not all about sportiness; the different finishes and complex design give it the three-dimensional feel you expect from a luxury watch, which is another reason why it can be said to be of high quality. It has also been hardened with titanium carbide treatment, which ensures resistance to wear and a high-quality texture.

　The crystal and the bezel, which is covered with sapphire crystal, are also thin and flat. The bezel is colored with blue vapor deposition, and depending on the angle you look at it, it can be a dark blue or a bright blue, which is fun to watch.

　Light watches are comfortable to wear, and this watch, with its thin case and bracelet and ample link play, offers a crisp, comfortable fit. I wore it for 13 hours a day for about a week, and it didn't tire me out. The case diameter is 42.8mm, so some people with certain wrist sizes may find it uncomfortable to wear. Admittedly, for me, with a 14.7mm wrist, there were times when the crown brushed against the back of my hand. Still, the overall length is just 47.5mm, and the overall fit is comfortable.

　The buckle opens and closes smoothly. It opens and closes with push buttons on both sides, making it easy to put on and take off. Although the bracelet is thin, the buckle is still quite thick, but it doesn't get in the way of desk work.

　This watch, with its well-thought-out titanium case and bracelet, has a list price of 198,000 yen (including tax). The excellent balance between price and quality will increase the satisfaction of owning this watch.

I felt that the many functions were difficult to use unless connected to a smartphone...

　At first glance, the analog Oceanus Manta looks like a model equipped with hour and minute hands and a chronograph, but it also has many more functions. For example, the subdial at 9 o'clock is a counter (the 60-minute counter and 12-hour counter are on the same axis, and the subdial below it can measure up to 24 hours), but by switching modes it can also display world time, and the current mode can be checked on the subdial at 6 o'clock. To switch modes, pull the crown out and press the push button... and so on, and the functions of the subdials and hands change depending on the function. To be honest, having multiple ways to operate and read the time can be difficult to remember. That's where the Mobile Link/app integration feature comes in handy.

　The Mobile Link/App Link function allows you to download Casio's dedicated app "CASIO WATCHES" to a compatible mobile phone and link the watch via Bluetooth to set world time, alarms, time, etc. The app has a sophisticated user interface, making it easy to use and helping you master, if not all, of the many functions of Casio products.

　However, perhaps because this watch had not yet been released, it had not yet been registered, and I was unable to use the linking feature. Understanding how to operate its multiple functions is already difficult, but some solar-powered radio-controlled watches suffer from poor usability, with crowns and push buttons that are difficult to pull out and push. Since I needed to test various functions during this review, I felt a bit annoyed that the watch lacked smartphone linking. However, when I actually tried it, I found the crown easy to pull out and the push buttons to be no problem for a solar-powered radio-controlled watch. That said, it was difficult to learn the operations required for switching between the chronograph and world time modes, receiving radio waves, and setting the time. However, when viewed as a "high-quality solar watch that displays accurate time via standard radio wave reception," I believe it is well worth the price, even if you don't use all of its functions.

The latest release is eagerly awaited!

　I had the opportunity to try on the latest Oceanus Manta OCW-S7000D before its release. I was somewhat familiar with the Oceanus Manta's high-quality exterior. But when I actually tried it on, its comfort and unique design once again sparked my desire to own it. The "panda"-style dial is also excellently crafted, adding added value as a "luxury watch" to a solar-powered radio-controlled watch, which tends to be focused on convenience and functionality.

　The product is scheduled for release in January 2024. We encourage readers who have read this review to come and see the actual product in a store!