Introduction – The Casio Has Evolved Into A Technological Wonder

I am currently in Melbourne and last Sunday (2nd June 2019) Myer was offering 25% off for all watches. Myer Melbourne Bourke Street Mall is an official G-Factory outlet. So I bought myself a G-Shock GW-B5600BC-1 Solar Powered watch.

FYI, I don’t really like the face of the GW-B5600BC because I found it to be too retro for my liking. I owned a similar designed Casio digital watch more than 35 years ago and I have no idea what happened to it. In addition to having to change batteries, my old Casio was “complicated” as I needed to memorize which button(s) for what function!

Like I mentioned in my recent article/review on the Casio Edifice EQB-900DB with Solar and Bluetooth, having owned a Citizen Solar Eco Drive watch for more than a year, I am super impressed with Japanese Solar Technology. And having played with my new Casio Edifice for the last  few days, I was overwhelmed with the ease of use whereby I can set the watch and its features using my Smartphone via Bluetooth. Therefore, I no longer need to memorize which button(s) I need to press for this and that.

Since Myer was having a sale, I decided to purchase the G-Shock GW-B5600BC-1 just to try it out and boy am I glad I did. Since my first Casio Standard Digital watch more than 35 years ago, they have evolved into something of a technological wonder! My new Casio G-Shock automatically adjusts the time wherever I am on earth based on radio signals sent out by certain base stations around the world! It will then also automatically adjust the 5 cities world time that I have chosen. The watch also comes with 5 Alarms!

Unboxing My New Toy – G-Shock Origin GW-B5600BC-1

 

In Australia, this model is referred to as GW-B5600BC-1DR whereas in Japan it is GW-B5600BC-1JF

Features of G-Shock GW-B5600BC-1

The reason I like the GW-B5600BC-1 is the composite stainless steel metal and resin bracelet which makes it super light but with the feel of wearing metal.

When I bought the watch, besides liking the bracelet, the other 2 reasons were that it has Bluetooth (so that I can use an App on my smartphone to adjust it) and it is solar powered.

I had no idea what 6 Multi Band Radio Controlled meant until I read the manual and was blown away. You see, this freaking cheap (compared to a Rolex) automatically adjust the time wherever you are based on radio signal transmitted from selected stations:

Multi Band 6 (Automatically adjusts time settings based on reception of one of six time calibration signals around the globe: Japan (2), China, United States, England, Germany).

Time Calibration Signals

• Station name: DCF77 (Mainflingen, Germany) Frequency: 77.5 kHz
• Station name: MSF (Anthorn, England) Frequency: 60.0 kHz
• Station name: WWVB (Fort Collins, United States) Frequency: 60.0 kHz
• Station name: JJY (Fukushima, Fukuoka/Saga, Japan) Frequency: 40.0 kHz (Fukushima) / 60.0 kHz (Fukuoka/Saga)
• Station name: BPC (Shangqiu City, Henan Province, China) Frequency: 68.5 kHz

Other features of this watch are:

• Smartphone Link (World Time setting for approximately 300 cities and user cities, auto time adjustment, simple setting configuration, reminder, time and place, phone finder, 7-segment battery level indicator)
• Tough Solar
• Five World Times
• Super Illuminator with Full Auto light (2-seconds/4-seconds duration switching)
• Days of the week in six languages

 

I tell you, I was further surprised to learn that the watch can go without light for 22 months!!!

Approx. battery operating time:

• 10 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after charge)
• 22 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)

 

Casio G-Shock Origin GW-B5600BC-1 LED Light

Below is a video showing the LED lights:

 

 

 

Casio GW-B5600BC-1 G-Shock Connected App

Last week while in Tokyo, I bought a Casio Edifice, mainly as a souvenir of My Tokyo Trip 2019; but I was blown away when I found out that all the Edifice’s features can be controlled/set with my smartphone via Bluetooth. Thus it made operating the watch a breeze.

The Casio G-Shock App is called G-Shock Connected App which can be downloaded from Apple Store or Google Play Store. With the App, setting the phone was a breeze including the world time and alarm (if necessary).

The watch can even record where I am on earth by pressing a button. I will show you in the near future this feature after I make more recordings.

Below are screenshots taken from my Smartphone when it was connected to my G-Shock.

 

 My Wife’s, Daughters’ and My New Toys

As mentioned earlier, the reason why I bought the above mentioned G-Shock was on impulse because Myer was having a 25% sale on all watches (but the thing is everything is generally more expensive in Australia compared to Malaysia). I could get the G-Shock model I bought for less elsewhere (online and in Melbourne too from non-authorized retailers) but I only buy my watches from Official Retailers. You see, just like Rolex, there are many fake Casio models too! My advise to you is the same, do not buy your watches online unless you are 101% sure that the seller is an Official Retailer. All you need to do to check if a retailer is an Official Retailer is just go to Casio’s (or Rolex’s) website and click on “Locate Store” or “Where To Buy” or “Locations of Retailers”.

Also, if you have purchased your Casio from an Authorized Retailer/Dealer, your Casio comes with International Warranty. I would suggest you avoid purchasing a Casio watch that comes with warranty by the seller. If you refer to some online websites, you can get really cheap G-Shock but when you check the warranty, it is stated “Local Warranty”. There is no such thing as Local Warranty by Casio as all their watches comes with International Warranty if you purchase it from an approved dealer.

And because Myer was offering 25% discount last Sunday, I also bought Analog Casio watches for my wife and 2 daughters for about AUD100 each. On the other hand, my G-Shock cost me AUD299 after 25% discount.  I offered my second son a Casio watch too but he was not interested (he has a Limited Edition Bell & Ross GMT and Half Gold Rolex GMT Master II), hahaha.

And below is a photo of my  new toys (i.e. Casio Edifice EQB-900DB bought in Narita Airport on 27th May 2019 and G-Shock bought in Melbourne on 2 June 2019) with my favorite Rolex Air King because I don’t need to adjust the date (bought in January 2017).

In Conclusion – I am now a fan of Casio Origin Retro Looking G-Shock 🙂 I am pretty sure that the G-Shock will evolve further incorporating more technology making the watch more fun and packed with more features. No more Rolex from now on…… unless Rolex comes out with a model I can link to my smartphone where I don’t have to adjust the date manually anymore, hahaha.

Now, not all G-Shock models are the same even though they look exactly the same! I am only recommending that you purchase G-Shock models or any Japanese watch that has both Solar (so that you do not need to waste your time changing batteries) and Bluetooth (so that you can easily adjust and set your watch with your smartphone). Oh yes, once again, just like when you are purchasing a Rolex, make sure you purchase from an Authorised Retailer/Dealer to ensure that your Casio is genuine and comes with International Warranty.

Like I have mentioned many times and once again recently in my Casio Edifice article, watches are history and purely a “shiok sendiri” thingy as our smartphone can do much much more. Having said this, I just started a Japanese Solar Watch Fan Club as Japanese watches are packed with technological features and affordable too which allows us to purchase a new one every year to play with new features. So, if you have been brainwashed to purchase a Japanese Solar Watch after reading my articles, you are most welcome to share a photo of your new toy with me which I will then post at my Japanese Solar Watches Page.

Click Here For More Articles and Photos Of My Friends’ And My Japanese Solar Watches