Casio A-500-WEA-1EF - review

A perfect unisex watch that looks nicer on women's wrist!

Casio A500WEA-1EF

A men's watch that is perfect as a unisex watch, but actually looks much better on a women's wrist. As a Casio collector as I am, here is the definition that, in my opinion, best describes the Casio A-500-WEA-1EF, both silver and gold versions (if you want to buy the silver version on Amazon click here, if you want the gold one click here). A really fun model of the Casio vintage-collection, with a retro taste with the typical world time functions and, therefore, suitable for those who travel a lot. It's not as famous and hyped as the Royale, or the Casio F91W or A168, but it has all the features of its more popular siblings and, a charme all its own, with that look of first generation plasma TV. Small, slim and therefore elegant, our A500 can be worn with any outfit you want, and is a perfect gift for a couple who want to share it (my gf always steal it, leaving me the Royale or the 'F91W...women!).

Casio A500WEA-1EF

And let's start immediately with the size and shape of the case, which are such as to make the watch unisex, and also suitable for wrists of medium-large circumferences (but not extra large). The circumference of my wrist is 20 cm, and as you can see in the pictures, the watch doesn't look small at all. I can also assure you that it remains firmly on the wrist. The reason is very simple, because, even if the case measures only 39 x 34 x 9.6 mm, with a weight of just 50 grams, Casio has used perfect rectangle shape, and, therefore, together with its extreme thinness, the watch doesn't look small at all. First generation ultra-flat plasma TV effect, as I mentioned earlier. Furthermore, its unisex design is determined by the type of strap that Casio has used in this model. Unlike the bracelet of the A168, in fact, in order to make the watch very firm on the wrist (and increase its unisex appearance), Casio used its iconic bracelet with a locking clip, but using empty meshes, folded and incredibly tight and attached to each other.

Therefore, while on the one hand the bracelet is much cheaper than that of the A168, on the other hand the watch is even lighter and more stable on the wrist.

Casio A500WEA-1EF

Regarding the bracelet and in conclusion, thanks to the typical easily adjustable clip with the Casio logo engraved on it, the strap appears to be super light, solid, because the links do not move, and well fixed to the watch case. The only real criticism that can be leveled at this model, however, is the excessive use of plastic. More specifically, both the glass and the case are made of resin, but in reality they are made of a plastic that makes everything very fragile, especially if we consider that the watch is simply WT (it is not waterproof), but only resistant to some splash or drop of rain.

I want to be honest, you can break it with a simple push of your fingers. Both versions, silver and gold, have a shimmering and sparkling effect, but unfortunately, this is due to the paints used by Casio. Too bad, as a Casio lover and collector, I would have preferred a little more steel even at the cost of paying a few euros more. The back of the watch, on the other hand, is made of a very thin stainless steel sheet, and features the classic engravings of Casio watches. From top to bottom, we read the inscriptions: Casio, the module number 3437, A500WE, stainless steel back, water resistant, made in China and EA.

Casio A500WEA-1EF

And now let's move on to the beautiful things, so beautiful that only we Casio maniacs can understand, appreciate and enjoy. Let's see what this ultra-flat screen offers us. Four keys: adjust, mode, light and search. The setting is very simple, by pressing adjust once, with the mode key you scroll through all the elements arranged in a row: seconds, DST on/off, the main time zone you want to view (you can select up to 4 time zones), hours, minutes, 12/24H format, year (until 2099), month, day, duration of light (LT) which can only be one or three seconds (two seconds bring bad luck in Japan???). Still in main mode, you can choose 4 time zones that will be displayed by pressing the search key. This world time also has the hidden function of scrolling the selected time zones continuously, if you hold down the search button for about three seconds. Function that as usual serves no purpose except to make a bit of a scene and to drain the battery. From the main mode, on the other hand, if you hold down the mode button for about three seconds, you silence the buttons, causing the word mute to appear in one of the three rectangles located at the top left.

Casio A500WEA-1EF

By pressing the mode key, you move to the world time function. With the search key you can scroll through all the time zones of the world and see the country concerned scrolling on the blue map. Continuing with the mode key, you change to the alarm function. This model has 5 alarms lasting 10 seconds. The first alarm can also be selected to sound only once. If you activate the alarms, the initials ALM will appear in the second rectangle at the top left. Always in alarm mode, after the fifth, you will find 00, i.e. you can active or deactivate the acoustic tone that sounds every hour. If active, the initials SIG will appear in the last rectangle at the top left. Therefore, together with the world map, we have a rectangle which, if all the functions are activated, will display the initials MUTE, ALM and SIG. After the alarm function, there is the countdown (TMR), which can be set up to 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

Regarding teh TMR, if you select zero for hours, minutes and seconds, when you start the TMR, the countdown starts automatically from 23:59:59. Reason unclear to me. After the TMR function, we have the stopwatch or if you prefer you can call it stop time watch (STW). And finally, you return to the main mode or main screen. The battery of this model is a CR1616 type, with an approximate life of three years. In reality I have had this model for more than three years, and therefore, it is only an indication dictated by a principle of prudence. The same goes for its "accuracy", which is approximately +- 30 seconds per month. Also in this case, I can say that it is a value dictated by prudence, as mine does not lose more than a minute in a year. Finally, the last element to mention is the light, which can be activated with the "light" button located at the top right and which consists of an orange diode positioned on the left side of the watch, but which is able to illuminate all the items of the display in the dark. What to say guys and Casio lovers, it's an impressive model if we take everything into consideration, ie, price, functions, value, unisex, and that vintage look that pays homage to James Bond's Seiko with its world map and its rectangle with the indication of the functions activated. Not to be missed!

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