Casio A700WEV Review | Has Casio Made The PERFECT $50 Digital Watch?
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This is just about the easiest type of review to make. An update to a beloved watch that’s arguably made it even better. Not in the way I expected, or perhaps hoped for, but the results are so good you won’t want to miss it.
So, here is the starting point: the Casio A700. This digital watch was introduced a few years ago by Casio, and based on the view counts for those reviews, it proved pretty darn popular, to say the least! This popularity was driven by one key factor...slimness. You see, while the classic Casio digital models are all pretty small, the A700 was the first to take things to the extreme, at least from side on. Indeed, it boasted a game-changing 6mm thickness, which gave an undeniably sleek appearance and a fit that’s as flush to the arm as a watch can get.
Also, it shipped with a slightly better selection of bracelets, a mineral crystal instead of acrylic and a decent night light, all for a price that was still very reasonable.
I think for most people, it pretty much made the older offerings obsolete, and I think it’s held its crown as the best-looking digital ever since (at least those which don’t cost the Earth).
Casio A700WEV Review
To be honest, with Casio firing out super expensive special edition watches like the CasioTron reissue for $500, I didn’t expect to see an update for the A700 line any time soon. However, I was thankfully mistaken. They’ve released two newer models under the A700WEV codename (silver and gold), each of which looked incredible from the stock images.
Unfortunately, neither of these incorporate the steel case and higher water resistance I was hoping for, yet they still managed to tempt me into purchasing.
Design
One of the reasons I liked the previous A700 models was that they were a little more subtle. They traded some of the retro charm for a more refined look, and this new version appeared to crank this up to 11, with a futuristic, minimalist appearance that I never expected to see from Casio. Dare I say, it looked like a better version of the highly-divisive PRX digital from Tissot, at least visually.
So, is it as good in person? Yes, actually, it’s better in person.
From a specification standpoint, it’s identical to before. It carries over the fan-favorite sizing you can see on screen and is again powered by the trusty 3472 module. The most meaningful changes are all up front.
The new A700WEV has had a massive facelift, and unlike most celebrity facelifts, I think this one has actually made it look better. Gone are the numerous rows of descriptive text, and in its place, we’re left with a dramatically sharp, minimalist design that oozes chicness and precision. Unlike the original A700, all the text, including the logo, sits with a perfect central alignment, maximizing symmetry and reducing unnecessary distractions.
The real star of the show is the gorgeous reflectivity of the display surround. Admittedly, at steep angles, it does disguise some of the delicately presented text, however, the mirror-like surface provides a sheen that imbues this watch with a sense of class it simply shouldn’t be capable of. It looks phenomenal both on the wrist and in the hands.
Does it look like an *expensive* watch? No, I wouldn’t say that, but it does look like a bloody cool one! Despite the heavily simplified presentation, it still boasts a retro charm, only from a slightly different perspective. To me, this feels like a fun and highly palatable watch that pays homage to a slightly earlier epoch, given the confident, high-shine aesthetic that gives me a hint of disco vibes.
Features
Despite the boosted flashiness, the visibility of the display beneath remains unhindered, and it still has the same great low-light system, which can be activated via the top-left pusher. Of course, you will have to remember what buttons do what with this A700, as the instructions are no longer baked onto the front of the watch. That said, if you can remember your A-B-C, you’ll have no trouble using these functions. The bottom-left button cycles you through the modes, such as the alarm and stopwatch, while you use the bottom-right pusher to make adjustments. That’s it, easy squeezy!
Each of these are as comfortable as the original on the arm, and I think the silver, in particular, is an absolute stunner. You can feasibly wear this with just about anything. I heard commenters online saying that the previous A700 was already semi-viable with a suit; I’d say this version makes an even better case for that, given the new changes Casio has made.
Aside from it being, rather predictably, a fingerprint magnet, the only issue of note surrounds the bracelet.
Bracelet
Both of these models ship with the same bracelet as one of the previous A700 watches; there are no mesh bracelets to pick from this time, which is a shame. Visually, I think this style of bracelet best-suits this design anyway, as the links coincide with the engraved line present on the hooded lugs. Still, the brushed bracelet doesn’t match the chrome case very well, and while a step up from the cheapest Casio digitals, the construction isn’t great, with folded links that have a tendency to occasionally pluck hairs. The slide rail adjustment system is reasonable but doesn’t permit the same fine-tuning as the old mesh option.
Additionally, the gold version, despite retailing for slightly more, has a buckle whose sides are silver for some reason.
Price
Despite all this, you can currently buy these at a starting price of under $50, which will undoubtedly decrease in the long run, as these are among the most readily available watches on grey market sites. As a result, these are simply the digital watches to buy if you’re after something stylish and snazzy on a Casio budget.
Final Thoughts
I suspect one or two of you will think the reduced text looks a bit boring, which I can totally understand, but I’d definitely urge you to try and get a look at these in a store, as they really do have that special sauce. The great news is if you don’t like the changes, you can still grab the old one at any time.
In essence, the A700WEV is the digital watch for people who don’t like digital watches. If you’ve never tried one before, you’ll struggle to find one as fun and sexy as this, for so few pennies.
Now, if only we could have this same watch but with a steel case, a better bracelet, and more water resistance, we’d have a perfect watch on our hands. If it were under 150/200 bucks, we’d be in all-time great territory!