The WatchBox review: Casio MDV-102

[YayOrNay]

Im sold. Now just to find one where I live...

[roshabey]

Hey thanks for the review. it was really helpful. Wish there were more of these on the web for other watches. Great Stuff.

[ichris2011]

Great review. I have one of these, but with a stainless steel band. One of my favorite watches.

[wolfmann4moon]

Great value for money.I will buy one!

[cornerstone228]

Screwdown "backplate" provides greater water resistance.

[Andreas748]

It's kind of shiny. Any way to get a brushed finish on this?

[MuvoTX]

@Andreas748 I have seen other enthusiasts mod the finishes on their Seikos, so it wouldn't surprise me if it could be done.

[Andreas748]

@MuvoTX ....great review. Your Orca review has got me thinking of getting one of them too! I just don't like the integrated strap though. But I suppose you can get a replacement from Citizen if it breaks.

[ColtACP45]

@Andreas748 Took some modeling sandpaper (super fine) and sanded the sides. It looks much better.

[Andreas748]

@ColtACP45 ....thanks. I was thinking a piece of scotchbrite, but your idea is better.

[ColtACP45]

@Andreas748 Take some modelers sandpaper and take the shine off the sides. I did mine and really like it!

[zibonzuzezu]

Please, Can anyone tell me: why on the quartz watches second hand is not hitting the markers?

[MuvoTX]

@zibonzuzezu manufacturing tolerances. Not all quartz watch second hands miss the chapter ring marks. My Citizen orca has excellent alignment. There are a lot of Seiko quartz divers that also have very good alignment.

[swiss86watches]

awesome watch

[jlittleope1]

Does the second hand glow in the dark also? I'm thinking about using this watch as an emt and need a visible second hand in the dark.

[MuvoTX]

@jlittleope1 Theres a tiny little triangle at the tip of the second hand that glows.

[rogrwi1co]

Thanks for the good review. BTW, battery is supposed to be good for 3 years.

[dadaman404]

Thanks for the review, man! I appreciate being able to see the watch "in action".

[MuvoTX]

Holy moly... has it been 4 years already? This is a great watch, I still have it and it gets a lot of wrist time. Its a great basic timekeeping tool... its still one of my cheapest watches too.

[eg042680]

@MuvoTX thanx for the review! i'm seriously considering getting this watch right now and your review was really helpful. I'd prefer the steel band however and that seems unavailable (stock) right now. What is the band width at the case and do you think it's easily replaceable?

[MuvoTX]

@eg042680 I believe the strap lug width is 21.5mm. So any soft strap at 22mm will fit fine. I am not sure about a metal bracelet however. I imagine it would not be difficult to file down a tight fitting bracelet to get it to fit.

[entozoon]

Great review, thanks a lot. Kickass background music too :D

Not sure if I'll get a dive watch or not because I rarely dive and that strap looks a little aggressive for day to day wear. Is it easy to replace the strap do you know?

[MuvoTX]

@entozoon Thansk for the kind words!! The music you hear is "An evening with Jordan Rudess & John Petrucci", they did a live benefit a few years ago and this was one of the tunes.

[atwilliamst]

Thanks for the review. I have a question about ticking sound of the watch. I can't stand even slight level of ticking noise. Can anyone tell me if you can hear anything from the watch? I have a watch whose ticking sound I can only hear when I put it on my ear in a quiet room. I hope Casio MDV-102 works like that.

[MuvoTX]

@atwilliamst Hmm... I personally can not hear any ticking. But my hearing has been damaged over the past 3 years and at times I have tinnitus. So I am definitely not the right person to ask.

[MuvoTX]

I have had this watch for over 2 years now. It has held up fine in that time. I wish the strap were a little bigger. My wrists are about 7.5" around and I have to wear it on the 2nd-3rd to last hole. I am not sure if this watch will fit around an 8" wrist.

[RIGGS1220]

@MuvoTX: Thanks for this wonderful review. I was debating whether to buy this of the one from Orient. After seeing your review, my decision settled with the Casio. Thanks for informative and illustrative reviews like yours, prospective buyers like me can now make a decisive purchase. Take care!

[jeffaharper]

I have this watch, and have taken it to 60-100 feet on several dives with no issues. GREAT watch for the price!

[MuvoTX]

@jeffaharper Thats great to know. I have used mine in/out of the pool, water slides and the pacific ocean... surface swimming only.

[jeffaharper]

I have this watch and have taken it to 60-100 feet on several dives with no issues. GREAT watch for the price.

[BobiliaFilms]

Between this watch and the mdv-302d, which one would you say is a better quality watch?

[MuvoTX]

@BobiliaFilms Honestly I am not a fan of Casio bracelets. In this price range they are usually folded stainless links, which is not to my preference.

[WhiteSlift]

What is meant by a "perpetually adjusting counter" ?

[MuvoTX]

@WhiteSlift A perpetual calendar self-adjusts for the different days in each month. Some months are 30, some are 31...etc... Some watches automatically adjust their dates. This one does not.

[watchcollector1968]

How is it holding up for you now? I found this review a few days ago and now have one of those watches on its way to me. Nicely done review!

[MuvoTX]

@watchcollector1968 Wow its been almost 3 years since I posted this review. This watch has held up fine in that time, although I don't wear it every day. I am careful not to turn the bezel the wrong way. The crystal has been durable enough too, although I am careful not to smack it on anything. The strap is on the small side. If your wrist is bigger than ~8 inches around it might fit a little snug.

[Hymanroth67]

thanks for the review! i just ordered one from amazon.com!

[M3lCHOR]

Nice watch! I was wonderng if the battery is easy to switch out?

And how does it light up under the dark With out the led's just the flourecent light? Can you please post a video of it?

[SuperRocky74]

I bought this watch in november 09 and find i great except for the strap. I might get a softer rubber strap.

[kilowogglc]

Hey Muvo TX, hows this watch holding up after all these years?

Just want to know since i picked one up a couple of months ago.

[BigMickeyMouse]

Thanks for posting this, after seeing it in action and not in pictures I considered purchasing this watch.

[sonofthedestroyer]

Looks exactly the OPPOSITE of what i always thought casios looked like. I always imagine the digital black rubber type design

[MuvoTX]

Yeah they have quite a few analog watches. My brother has a 43mm 3-eye chrono on rubber strap thats also a very good value IMHO. I think many of their Japanese movement chronographs use Citizen OS series movements.

[persev616]

the domed glass makes for some heavy light reflections. otherwise it is as good as it seems. i have the steel band version.

[TheWitcherChannel]

casio RLZ

[RamoneTalarico]

i saw this review and decided to buy this watch...after ordering ..i bought another..and i have it in the box now unused..the watch is so good ihad to have 2. The watch is beautiful SOLID stainless steel..very heavy and rugged...NOTHIGN on this watch is cheap, except for the plastic band. The dome mineral crystal is attractive and looks great, i prefer dome crystals because they resist impact better...but are prone to scratching more..so be careful. You can have a crystal replaced easily though

[Patrick3331]

If you hold the illumination button without releasing it, does it still turn off or does it stay illuminated?

[MuvoTX]

But I dont know just how durable it is since I do not wear it very often and I take extra careful care of my watches.

[MuvoTX]

Its definitely not plastic.

[Flippsen]

Is it mineral glas? I can't find any information about the material. How durable do you think this watch is?

[MuvoTX]

Good question.... I don't know exactly what meterial the crystal is made of. I am very careful not to scratch it though being that its scalloped and protrudes out quite a bit.

[MuvoTX]

Its definitely NOT plastic... glass of some sort.

I don't know exactly how durable it is. I don't wear this watch often enough and I am definitely not rough/abusive to it.

[RamoneTalarico]

It is mineral Crystal, there are advantages to mineral crystal over HIGH end sapphire crystals used in jewelry watches. Mineral crystal can absorb shock better but scratches easier than sapphire. Better for working environment actuality. i have slammed mine a few times on steel compactors and no scratches or cracks whatsoever. HOWEVER any collision with anything with comparable hardness will scratch it, granite counter tops for example. check the MOHS scale for hardness if your curious

[dzava]

Yeah, I scratched mine yesterday against wall....

the glass is really cheap. and the scratch is horrible....

is it possible to take it to nearest clockmaster and get that glass changed

[RamoneTalarico]

its not glass, its a mineral crystal, from what im told by jewelers theres a HUGE difference. Any jeweler can pop in a new crystal for you, a 3mm domed mineral crystal should run you around 28 bux. (depending on the jeweler)

[dzava]

So its not a problem at all.... just visit local jeweler

Will that crystal be higher quality than the original one?

Cause my dad has been having Omega Seamaster for 9 years and the crystal hasnt got one single scratch....

[RamoneTalarico]

Any jeweler can replace a crystal

a mineral crystal will be the same.

However. an Omega is an entirely different thing, HIGH end watches use Sapphire crystals, which are pure synthetic sapphire. Which is lab created and identical to sapphires mined from the earth. Only difference is that they are perfect. On the mohs scale sapphire and ruby are 9 with Diamond being the hardest substance on earth at a 10 rating.

Sapphire crystals are more resistant to scratching..but easier to CRACK

[RamoneTalarico]

You can have a jeweler put a sapphire crystal in this very watch, but it will cost about 100 bux

It wouldn't get scratched easily...BUT..some things can scratch a granite kitchen countertops or even synthetic granite have silicon carbide in it which will scratch a sapphire crystal, so be careful around surfaces like that.

for a work or sport watch, Mineral crystals are generally used over Sapphire because they withstand impact better and wont shatter as easily.

Something to think about

[simplyseven007]

For some reason I really like this watch. It's just a cool design. Next time I come across one I'll pick it up just for fun.

[punksnotdead543]

Casio makes amazing watches cheap but very good quality

[RamoneTalarico]

because of your outstanding review i bought this watch months back, i HATED the band ..it literally WORE OFF THE SKIN form my wrist just like you explained. I bought a very..VERY nice silicone diving band for it that feels buttery smooth on the skin. This watch when put next to the high end seiko watches really looks just as good and feels just as solid. I have not found anything in the price range that can compete with how SOLID this unit is, and as good as it looks.

[RamoneTalarico]

Day 1 i screwed off the case back and popped in a fresh new battery, and lubed the Oring with silicone grease, i shower with this watch every night for months, and no leaks whatsoever. i have actually used the LED lighting as a flashlight, works great. I use the rotating bezel many times daily, when working out, when singing/warming up/cooling down and when on the job. i would say i use it 15 times per day and it STILL clicks smooth and doesnt wobble or feel weakened.

[Zw1d]

thx for helpful opinion, I think about purchasing

[Konraden]

Just became open water certified this past weekend. One of the requirements my instructor told me to have for the open water diving was to have a solid dive watch. I can't afford $200+ dive watches from Seiko or Citizen, so I opted to find an alternative. I saw this MDV102 at Meijer. Not regretting it at all. My only problem is that the band is too small to fit over a dry-suit and gloves. My watch was clipped to just the last hole, and it made me nervous. I'll have to find a longer watch band.

[hanzosan]

Thanks for that!

[hanzosan]

I was wondering who the eBay seller you received this from was?

Will it be valid for the warranty?

Please link me!

[MuvoTX]

I have seen this watch at Wall-mart for $59. That is your best bet if you want a full warranty. I doubt Casio would warranty my particular watch. It was brand new but the casio packaging/box was severely damaged. So the seller re-packed it in an Armatron box. Thats how I got it for around $45. It did come with the manual though. I can't remember who I bought it from. I looked back through all my 2006-07 ebay transactions, and I didn't see any of my past sellers selling this watch.

[chrisw40]

first time i saw this one i love that watch!

[kargo27]

Where can replacement bands be purchased? Do they make a stainless band for it? I would be interested in buying one.

[MuvoTX]

Its a 21mm, single pin. So just about any 21mm strap/bracelet should fit. You could get a 22mm to fit easily if you trim the bracelet or strap a little with a dremel or exacto knife... depending on manufacturing tolerances.

[yesus00]

Very cool Watch you bought, i like the most, is the light,i want one !!!

[MAG315]

I got my MDV-102 yesterday and it was pretty much as you described it. One thing I like is the rounded shape which slides under the cuff of a long sleeve shirt much easier than some of my other dive watches. The dial LED's are VERY bright and could prove useful if you were ever in a situation where you needed a light and didn't have one on you. For fifty bucks, it should make a pretty good beater/everyday watch with a few tricks up it's sleeve.

[MAG315]

It's funny I ran across this review today as I ordered one of these watches yesterday. Looks like a good value for the money.

[MuvoTX]

Its a pretty good value overall. I have had this watch since late November and continue to be pleased with its performance. Fairly accurate for a Chinese quartz movement. After a month it is about 8 seconds faster than my Atomic G-shock. The second hand and dive bezel don't exactly match up to the dial indicators, but they are very close. I can forgive it for these last two flaws, given its price. Timex also has some new 200M divers out that I think are an equally great value.

[MuvoTX]

I am not sure. I have never seen one up close. With any Casio, generally you are going to get a lot of watch/bracelet for the money. Chances are it will be functional and durable... while leaving any bling and flashiness behind, typical casio.

[mavericksf16]

I'm thinking of getting the stainless steel version.What do you think of it?