As you know, the Casio Edifice brand is positioned as an auto racing brand: such is its aesthetics (for example, the design of the indicators on the dial resembles the dashboard of a car, in some versions the colors of racing teams are used, etc.), such are the functional features (stopwatches, timers, memory for a large number of circles, special possibilities for processing this information in a smartphone synchronized with the clock). However, among the numerous collections of Casio Edifice, there are those in which "automobile" recedes into the background.
Yes, the chronograph function, high precision of the stopwatch, sometimes the tachymeter scale, in conjunction with the stopwatch, allows you to determine the average speed of overcoming the measured distance, also sometimes the built-in memory - all this undoubtedly gives the watch a sporty style. But automobile-sports is purely conditional. Except for design elements reminiscent of supercar dashboards or textures associated with racing car details.
General characteristics of watches Casio Edifice ERA
This is, in general terms, the series of wrist watches Casio Edifice ERA. Casio ERA models are equipped with neither solar panels nor the ability to sync with a smartphone. In this respect, they are quite simple. At the same time, Casio ERA watches have quite wide possibilities; some of them "invade" the territory of another Casio brand - tourist "tracks". You will read about this in this review dedicated to the Casio Edifice ERA-110, Casio Edifice ERA-200 and Casio Edifice ERA-300 models.
All Casio Edifice ERA watches are offered in buildings in stainless steel, with or without ion plating (Ion Plating). Glass is mineral. impermeability of these buildings reaches 100 meters, that is, the watch is not afraid of splashes, or rain, or swimming on water and under water, or diving - but just not too deep, without scuba gear. The indication of the Casio ERA watch is the so-called ana-diji, from the English ana-digi - analog-digital, that is, analog-digital: there are also hands (central - hour, minute, sometimes second - as well as small ones on the sub-dials), and electronic digital windows.
Let's move on to considering the above models: before us are Casio ERA watches - Casio Edifice ERA-110, Casio Edifice ERA-200 and Casio Edifice ERA-300.
The right course: Casio Edifice ERA-200
Casio Edifice ERA 200 first appeared in 2013. They represent exactly the case that we mentioned above: it seems to be an auto racing series, and at the same time the model is equipped with a double sensor (on the dial, under the logo and markings EDIFICE and CASIO it is written: TWIN SENSOR), which sensor will show with high accuracy the air temperature and will orient you to the cardinal points. In other words, this dual sensor includes a thermometer and a compass - in fact, this is organically characteristic of the Casio Pro Trek watch, but for Casio Edifice ... well, it is somehow difficult to imagine the role, for example, of a compass during a car race. Perhaps at the Dakar rally, and even then ... However, what is, that is, and this “what is” works very well.
To activate the thermometer, press the lower right button in the current time mode. TEMP will appear on the display, after which the measurement will begin, the results of which will be updated every 5 seconds for one to two minutes. To exit thermometer mode earlier, you need to press the lower right button again. The thermometer works in the temperature range from -10 to +60оC, its accuracy is 0,1оC. Be aware that correct temperature readings may be affected by body temperature, direct sunshine, or moisture ingress. You can calibrate the thermometer by activating it, press and hold the upper left button until the temperature value on the display starts flashing.
After that, using the lower right button, you can increase the indicated value, and with the upper right button, decrease it. At the end of the installation, press the upper left button again - the job is done. You can also go from Celsius to Fahrenheit. To do this, again with a pulsating temperature display, press the lower left button - the Celsius or Fahrenheit symbol will appear, after which it can be changed by pressing the lower right button. By the way, the accuracy of the Fahrenheit thermometer is 0,2 degrees.
As for the compass, its activation is even easier: it is enough, being in absolutely any mode, to press the right middle button. After that, the second hand will begin to play the role of a compass needle and point to magnetic north. Naturally, in compass mode, the watch must be positioned horizontally. The watch has a notebook, thanks to which your previous course will be shown on the display.
To exit the compass mode, just press the lower left button. The compass, like the thermometer, can be calibrated for declination (that is, the difference between magnetic and true north) and for the deviation of the reading from magnetic north (so-called bi-directional calibration). You will find detailed instructions on how to do this in the watch manual. Such instructions are attached to the watch when you buy it, and it is also easy to find it on the Internet.
The instructions also contain detailed instructions on how to use this built-in compass to determine your own position on the map, how to determine the location of your target, how to maintain and correct the course to the target (if the route is not perfectly straight). In general, a good and reliable tool. We repeat: not so much for a motorist as for a tourist through forests, mountains and other nature. However, you can, of course, and around the city, but is it necessary? Well, funny, of course.
What else is there in the functionality of the Casio Edifice ERA-200? Actually a lot of things. Three central arrows; split-chronograph for 24 hours with a stopwatch with an accuracy of 1 / 100sec; automatic calendar (date, day of the week, month), which does not require adjustment until 2100; world time (31 time zones, 48 cities); 12-hour and 24-hour formats for displaying the current time; 5 alarms, one of them with the Snooze function (the signal will sound 7 times every five minutes until you turn it off), there is also a mode of sound indication of the beginning of each hour; enable / disable sound.
Pretty rich, isn't it? Note that the accuracy of the stopwatch and the presence of the "split" option (that is, the ability to measure two time intervals at once) nevertheless brings the character of the watch closer to that of an auto racing one.
The presence of a tachymeter scale on the inner bezel brings it even closer to the sport of high speeds. Here we turn to the description of the general appearance of the Casio Edifice ERA-200 watch. Just don't forget to mention backlight dial: it is LED, very efficient and, one might say, spectacular.
So, about the appearance. The diameter of the watch case is 46,7 mm, the thickness is 13,1 mm. There are a number of options. So, the version of Casio Edifice ERA-200D-1A is the case steel and bracelet and a black dial with blue accents, price - 19 rubles. In the Casio Edifice ERA-290B-200A version, the dial is also black, but the accents on it are red (a very impressive combination), the bezel is black IP-coated, and the watch is held on the wrist by a black polymer strap.
Flammable: Casio Edifice ERA-300
The Casio Edifice 300 watch debuted a year after the “two hundredth”, that is, in 2014. To be honest, they do not differ much from their predecessors in terms of functionality. It is not very clear why the authors reduced the accuracy of the stopwatch from 0,01 to 0,05 seconds, and the duration of the chronograph measurements from one day to one hour. Perhaps, by doing so, they additionally "shaded" the automotive component of character in order to emphasize the tourist component. And not only for tourism by nature, but also for what is called civilized (or, if you like, cultural): the “three hundredths” do not have a tachymetric scale, instead of it on the inner bezel there are the names of cities. Thus, the world time function is visually enhanced.
Another important change: the button for activating the compass of the Casio Edifice ERA-300 is located not on the right side of the case, but on the left. Perhaps left-handed people who wear a watch on their right hand will be more comfortable this way ...
Case diameter is 46,9 mm, thickness - 13,4 mm. And the word “flaming”, which we used in the subtitle, refers to the color scheme of the dial of the Casio Edifice ERA-300DB-1A model: numerous fiery red elements against the background of the black dial make just such an impression. At least impressive! The price of these Casio Era 300DBs on a steel bracelet is about 300 euros. Slightly more expensive (320 euros) is the version of Casio Edifice ERA-300DB-1A2 with blue accents on the black dial: these shades of blue also associate with flames, but cold ... Both hot and cold fires are present on the dial of Casio Edifice ERA-300B-1A on a black plastic strap for 250 euros. But significantly more expensive - a limited edition model Casio Edifice ERA-300RB-1A, made in the no less fiery (and, moreover, complex) palette of the Red Bull Racing team - 380 euros.
Difficult simplicity: Casio Edifice ERA-110
Oh, everything is completely different here! Despite the smaller serial number of the model, the Casio Edifice ERA-110 watch appeared later, namely in August 2018. And outwardly they are more laconic, seem simpler. But the impression is deceiving! Yes, this watch does not have a Twin Sensor with a compass and thermometer, as well as a central second hand. But there is something else.
The very first and, perhaps, the most important thing is the battery charge, which lasts as much as 10 years. What is honestly indicated on the dial: 10 YEAR BATTERY.
Further: there is a notebook with 30 memory cells for recording names and phone numbers. Each entry can include 8 letters and 12 numbers.
The fact that the second hand is missing is not a problem, since the current value of the seconds is correctly displayed in digital form. But the fact that the creators returned to the accuracy of the stopwatch 1/100 sec. and the duration of measurements of the split-chronograph up to 24 hours - it pleases. As well as the 24-hour potential of the countdown timer. True, the alarm clocks have become not 5, but 3, but this, as it seems to us, is not at all scary.
What else is the difference? Well, perhaps the lack of electroluminescent backlighting is saddening. Replacing it with Neobrite on the arrows and labels is quite effective, but the LEDs in the previous models are very good ...
Let us recall the other main functions of the watch: automatic calendar (date, day of the week, month), which does not require adjustment until 2100; world time (29 time zones, 30 cities); 12-hour and 24-hour formats for displaying the current time; the ability to enable / disable summer time. The procedures for setting the modes and the clock in general can be found in the instructions supplied with the watch.
The case of the Casio Edifice ERA-110 has a diameter of 47,6 mm and a thickness of 14,2 mm. Bezel It can be IP-coated in various colors and without it, various dial colors are provided, the watch is offered on a steel bracelet or a leather strap. Casio Edifice ERA-110D-1A and 2A models (steel bracelet, black or blue dial respectively) will cost 140 euros. The same amount will be supported by versions with a leather strap and a colored bezel, for example, Casio Edifice ERA-110GL-1A. And, as usual, the limited edition is a little more expensive, this time it is dedicated to the Scuderia Toro Rosso team: the Casio Edifice ERA-110TR-2A watch costs 220 euros.
