A hands-on review of the Casio Oceanus "OCW-T200S-7AJF." The key point is the high-tech movement hidden within the simple face.

Here are my impressions after wearing the Casio Oceanus OCW-T200S-7AJF. Following the success of its calculator business, Casio entered the watch business in 1974. Casio has amazed the watch industry with numerous masterpieces, utilizing its unique electronics technology to create timepieces. That legacy is evident in this simple three-hand model.

Review of the Oceanus "OCW-T200S-7AJF"

　This time, we will be reviewing the Oceanus three-hand model, the OCW-T200S-7AJF. Oceanus, named after the Greek god of the sea, Oceanus, is one of Casio's watch brands.

　Casio has a unique origin as a watch manufacturer. As a company that has brought many inventions to the world, its collections, such as G-SHOCK and Pro Trek, are clearly focused on functionality. But what is the "Casio-ness" hidden in this new model, which has a completely different, simple appearance?

Casio's clear vision for a watch, achieved after winning a fierce calculator battle

　First, let's review how Casio, the company behind the Oceanus, got started in watchmaking. The company's first wristwatch was the Casiotron, released in 1974. At the time, small home appliances using electronic technology were appearing one after another, enriching people's lives.

　In the watch industry, this coincided with the period when the quartz revolution caused mechanical watches to decline and cheap, accurate quartz watches began to emerge.

　The Casiotron was a groundbreaking model born from the evolution of electronics technology, and was the world's first digital watch equipped with an auto-calendar function that automatically handled the hours, minutes, seconds, month, date, day of the week, and even the length of the month.

　Behind its functionality lies the company's understanding of time, which is that "time is calculated one second at a time." Although today Casio produces products such as watches, electronic musical instruments, and electronic dictionaries, at the time, it was still a "calculator manufacturer." However, this proved to be a success.

　The company made its name known to the world with the invention of the world's first small, all-electric calculator, the "14-A," in 57. The company continued to develop calculators thereafter, and in 65 released its first calculator, the "001."

　With the rapid evolution of computing elements, many companies soon entered the calculator business, starting the so-called "calculator wars." This was marked by the release of the Casio Mini, a small personal calculator, in 72.

　Although the calculator business was a success, Toshio Kashio, the company's development manager, foresaw that calculators would eventually reach their limits. Faced with electronic components becoming smaller and more sophisticated, he devised the next step: to enter the watch business.

　Time is made up of seconds added up to minutes, and minutes added up to hours. So, I thought it might be possible to express time in the same way that digits carry over when you add numbers on a calculator.

　The aforementioned statement that "time is calculated by adding up one second at a time" may seem obvious at first glance. The number of teeth on a gear embodies this idea. However, is it easy to recognize this fact anew? The fact that he was able to think about time so honestly must have been due to the unique perspective of a "calculator maker."

　The company has always pursued technology in its watches, and since the Casiotron, it has equipped its watches with a variety of functions, including calculators, phone books, and MP3 players. These are tools that make people's lives more convenient. This is perhaps the basic concept that is shared by all Casio watches.

A high-tech watch with a simple design

　Now, let's move on to the main topic, the Oceanus OCW-T200S-7AJF. This model was just released in January 2023 and is a color variation of the OCW-T200S series.

　It's a simple three-hand model with a 41mm diameter stainless steel case and a solar-powered radio-controlled quartz movement. If we had to categorize it, we'd consider it one of the high-end quartz watches that Japanese manufacturers specialize in.

　From the outside, it gives off an impression that is the complete opposite of the high-tech image of Casio mentioned earlier. However, that doesn't mean you should underestimate it. This model is equipped with a "Mobile Link" function that allows it to connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth communication. By using the dedicated app, you can use various functions such as automatically correcting the time and checking the amount of solar power generation.

　With the widespread popularity of smartwatches, it's not unusual for them to be able to connect to smartphones. However, what makes this watch so different is that it can be used standalone, without relying on a smartphone. The only auxiliary function it provides is to the smartphone.

　Even if Bluetooth becomes obsolete due to advances in communications technology, or if Casio discontinues the dedicated app for some reason, the basic functions of the watch are covered by the watch itself, so it can continue to be used as a regular radio-controlled solar watch.

　This is just my imagination, but I think the main target audience for the Oceanus is not serious watch enthusiasts, but rather people who just want a slightly better watch. To put it bluntly, it's a more "general" demographic. For these people, it would be disappointing to spend over 60,000 yen on a watch that becomes unusable after just a few years.

A dial that provides outstanding visibility and an exterior that rivals that of luxury models

　The first thing that surprised me when I held this model in my hands was its high visibility. The contrast between the clean white dial and the blue-rimmed hands and indexes clearly tells the time at a glance. What's more, this model maintains visibility not only from the front, but also when viewed at an angle.

　If you look closely at the dial, you can see that it has a light blue base with a ring-shaped part printed with a minute circle superimposed on top of it. The indexes extend from this ring, giving the dial itself a three-dimensional structure and ensuring visibility from all angles.

　The brand logo at 12 o'clock features a wave motif, expressing elegance and innovation. Below it, the words "OCEANUS" and "CASIO" are simply printed. Perhaps because the date disc is slightly recessed, the date display appears a little dark, but not so dark that it makes it difficult to read.

　Between the 6 and 8 o'clock positions, there are letters to check the radio reception status, but they are light gray or blue and the letters themselves are small, so they do not give the impression of being cluttered.

　The crystal is made of flat sapphire crystal. The inside has an anti-reflective coating that improves visibility under any light source. The outer edge of the crystal is blue, which enhances the overall dial.

　The case, with its hairline finish, has a texture that is superior to that of other watches in the same price range. In particular, the vertical lines on the top of the flat bezel emphasize the strength of the watch itself. The lugs, which taper towards the tip, are faceted, giving a sharp and masculine impression. The sides of the bezel and the chamfered edges of the lugs are polished, adding a touch of elegance.

　The bracelet has ample movement for each link, allowing it to sway and move freely. Like the case, it is mainly hairline-finished, but the surfaces adjacent to adjacent links are polished, causing them to sparkle in the light.

　It's not flashy, but it's not plain either. It's a design that gives off a sense of refinement. The links are connected using a C-ring system.

　The sturdy buckle can be released with a push button, which is flush with the side of the buckle, preventing it from accidentally getting caught or interfering with bending your wrist.

　If I were to be greedy, I would have liked it to have a fine adjustment mechanism. With a toothpick, you can move it about 3mm, but that's still not enough.

　When you actually put it on your wrist, you'll be surprised at how comfortable it is. The case, which is just 10.7mm thick and has a moderate presence, has a low center of gravity thanks to the thin case back, so it doesn't move around even when you move your arm. The bracelet moves flexibly to the shape of your arm, and the sturdy buckle maintains an optimal weight balance with the case.

　This watch is being produced by the "Premium Production Line" at Casio's mother factory, Yamagata Casio, where only those who pass an internal test are allowed to enter. In addition to the high functionality of the watch, the aesthetic appeal is also a major consideration, as it shows the soul of the craftsmen who put their heart and soul into the watch.