How low can you go? Apparently below $50 and you get a dive watch waterproof down to 200 meters. It is hardly conceivable that Casio can produce a waterproof and durable watch at this price.
As of this writing I paid $46 for this watch.
When I ordered this watch I really didn’t think I was gong to like it. I’m kind of a snob when it comes to dive watches if I’m being honest. I like to spend a little more money on items I purchase to get something with good quality that will last a long time.
And I’m not saying it’s an Omega or anything, it’s about as basic as you can get, but this watch is excellent value for the money. I don’t think I’m overexaggerating here when I say everyone needs to own one of these for no other reason than to have a beater watch that is rugged and durable they don’t have to worry about ruining.
Let’s dig in.
Watch Specifications
Case diameter: 44mm
Case thickness: 12.1mm
Weight: 92g
Movement: Japanese Quartz
Band width: 22mm
Lug to lug: 48mm
Lug width: 22mm
Water resistance: 200 Meters
Crystal: Mineral
Case
The Casio Duro case is a mix of brushed and polished surfaces. There’s not a lot more to say, it’s not sexy and curvy and doesn’t have any distinguishing elements that make you go ooh and aah.
It isn’t gaudy or distracting however, Casio could have made a really ugly case, but they kept it simple and elegant. I have seen a lot of cases on $300+ watches that I wouldn’t buy because they aren’t my cup of tea. I like the simplicity of this case.
The case back does include an engraving of a marlin, it’s pretty basic though.
There are different types of stainless steel and on a pretty inexpensive dive watch you would think Casio would use a cheaper grade of stainless. 316 stainless is what you want to see in a dive watch, but I cannot find what type they used here.
I have had this watch in plenty of sea water with no rust whatsoever. This leads me to believe they used 316 stainless, but I haven’t been able to confirm that.
Crown
What, a screw down crown with crown guards? Yep, this watch has it all.
It’s a little small for my liking, but gets the job done. Not bad, but not great.
Crystal
Mineral crystal on this watch, a sapphire crystal would be around $20 to the manufacturer, add markup and you are talking about the cost of this watch.
There is an argument that a mineral crystal is better on a dive watch than sapphire because it is less likely to shatter. If you are buying that this is the watch for you. I don’t subscribe to that theory, but whatever floats your boat.
Bezel
I was pretty surprised that on a $50 watch the bezel has 120 clicks. It is easy to turn with bare hands, a little harder with neoprene gloves due to the grooves in the bezel, they just aren’t as grippy as some other watches.
I’m guessing the bezel is stamped metal, it doesn’t appear to be machined.
The insert is aluminum, obviously you aren’t going to get a ceramic bezel at $50. Notice that there is a lume pip which is a nice touch.
I’ve seen a lot worse bezels on $100 watches, this is a good one.
Strap/Bracelet
I’m not a fan of rubber/plastic bracelets. Or, that’s what I thought prior to strapping this bad boy on my wrist. My standard operating procedure is to toss the rubber strap and replace it with a NATO strap. Normally these rubber straps are stiff and uncomfortable. I’m not talking about a $50 watch, I’ve seen crappy straps on $200 and $300 watches.
The Duro’s strap is soft and supple. I think because it is a little thinner than most dive watch straps it is more comfortable. Don’t mistake thin for cheap, even though it is thin it still appears to be robust enough to stand up to the rigors of diving.
This is a nice strap.
Dial
The dial is nice and simple with what appear to be embossed indices filled with luminated paint. A double hash at the 12 O’clock marker help distinguish it during low light operation.
I wouldn’t call it a sunburst dial, but it definitely has some elements of one when you move it around under the light.
It’s pretty simple with the printed logo, marlin image and WR 200M at the bottom.
The date complication is simple and easy to read.
Hands
As with much of this watch Casio kept is pretty basic and simple. It’s the same story with the hands.
I like the redsecond hand, it does add a little flair and style. Overall nothing great or terrible here.
Lume
The Duro isn’t going to get any awards for lume. At $50 this is to be expected. It’s not overly pathetic, but it’s not on par with a Seiko either.
Lume is usually the first place watchmakers skimp when trying to cut costs. I have seen much worse on a dive watch, so for the price this is about what I would expect.
Movement
The Casio Duro has a quartz movement. Hey, what do you want for $50.
Pros:
Cost
Strap
Cons:
No frills
Final Thoughts
For $50, I can’t complain about anything on this watch.
Of course I would like to see a lot of other things on this watch like a sapphire crystal, and an automatic movement? Of course, but each of these would be more than the cost of the watch.
For $50 you get a no frills dive watch that is rugged and durable. This is the watch I wear if I’m working on my car or doing yard work. I’m not too worried about getting oil or paint on it. I’m not going to wear a $300 watch while changing my oil or messing with a diesel engine.
Even if you destroy it, you’re not out very much.
I originally purchased this watch for my sub $100 watch shootout thinking I was going to sell it afterwards.
This is a keeper.
You can currently buy a Casio Duro on Amazon for just under $50 USD.
