A tiny finger-mounted timepiece is inherently considerably of a novelty, and slightly than being conceived as useful gadgets, ring watches are primarily meant to enchantment to humanity’s inexplicable fascination with miniaturization. Nonetheless, Casio is the model accountable for creating the G-Shock (arguably probably the most sensible watch in existence), and it initially makes useful merchandise. Subsequently, when the well-known Japanese producer created the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 to have fun the Fiftieth anniversary of its first timepiece, it didn’t simply produce a time-telling ring, however slightly it made a finger-sized model of a digital G-Shock, full with the entire identical modes and features that you’d look forward to finding on one of many model’s full-size wristwatches.
Today, Casio is most well-known for its watches, calculators, and musical devices, however there may be really a slightly shocking historic precedent for ring-based merchandise within the Japanese model’s catalog. Shortly after Casio was based in 1946, the primary invention it introduced to the general public was the “yubiwa pipe” ring, a finger-mounted cigarette holder with an built-in mouthpiece that was meant to offer folks entry to each of their palms whereas smoking. You may see a photograph of the “yubiwa pipe” in our authentic information story in regards to the CRW001-1 Ring Watch, and evaluating Casio’s very first product to the high-tech creations it now produces actually provides you an appreciation for the evolution of this multifaceted producer. Though it’s essentially a novelty, a digital ring watch additionally appears like a slightly applicable option to commemorate 50 years of Casio timekeeping, and it pays tribute to the model’s very first product, whereas concurrently reimagining the idea to mirror its fashionable catalog.
From a visible perspective, the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 is actually a finger-sized G-Shock GMW-B 5000 D-1, which is the full-metal model of Casio’s iconic square-shaped digital watch. The phrase “iconic” is so extremely overused nowadays that it virtually pains me to write down it, and I typically want it may very well be completely eradicated from our vernacular. Nonetheless, some designs actually are deserving of the time period, and the basic 5000 Collection G-Shock is without doubt one of the few watches universally acknowledged by members of the final inhabitants. Most individuals can’t title a single Rolex mannequin, they usually actually haven’t heard of Gerald Genta or the ultra-expensive “iconic” timepieces he designed for manufacturers like Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. However, everybody and their mother has seen (or seemingly even owned) a humble “Sq.” G-Shock, and the revolutionary mannequin has made an indelible mark on the higher panorama of contemporary tradition.
Most of Casio’s entry-level wristwatches are predominantly constructed from numerous varieties of resin, though the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 makes use of stainless-steel and mineral glass for the whole lot of its exterior building. The case and band (or slightly ring) are crafted from a single piece of stainless-steel, and three small buttons are positioned alongside the facet of the case, with a flat mineral glass crystal closing up the highest of the watch. A particular kind of glass adhesive attaches the crystal to the case and creates a waterproof seal; nonetheless, no depth ranking is listed for the Ring Watch CRW001-1, which signifies that it’s only assured in opposition to transient cases of incidental contact. That stated, Casio actually is aware of easy methods to correctly seal a watch in opposition to moisture, and I’d think about that the Ring Watch CRW001-1 is greater than able to standing as much as the trials of day by day hand-washing or getting caught exterior within the rain.
With none connecting screws or perhaps a caseback, the one option to entry the internals of the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 is thru its entrance crystal, and this can require some mastery of the adhesive approach that the model makes use of to safe the small piece of mineral glass to the case. Casio states that the Ring Watch CRW001-1 is serviceable to permit for routine battery replacements, though I wouldn’t precisely contemplate its design to be “user-replaceable” (no less than not for the typical particular person). That being stated, “glass adhesive” seems like some kind of glue or double-sided mounting strip, and I can’t think about that changing the battery within the Ring Watch CRW001-1 is past the capabilities of the typical watchmaker. Even nonetheless, this element could be my least favourite side of Casio’s ring watch design, and I think about that some people will probably be barely irked by the notion of probably requiring help to execute a easy battery substitute.
Typically simplicity is achieved by means of a extremely complicated course of, and that is significantly true for the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1. The precise building of the miniature timepiece is blatantly easy, as a single piece of stainless-steel varieties the whole lot of its case and band. With that in thoughts, the form of this metal part is extremely complicated, and cost-effectively producing its intricate construction required Casio to discover alternate manufacturing strategies. The one-piece stainless-steel housing of the Ring Watch CRW001-1 is produced by a steel injection molding (MIM) course of, a know-how sometimes favored by the firearms, electronics, and medical industries. The first benefit of MIM is that it permits producers to create extremely complicated solid-metal constructions that might in any other case be not possible or extremely costly to provide on conventional CNC machines.
To create the single-piece housing for the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1, powdered stainless-steel is mixed with a bonding agent, and the combination is injected right into a mildew to type the preliminary form of the part. After the injection course of, the bonding agent will get eliminated, and the remaining construction is sintered, which fuses collectively its molecules and creates a stable piece of stainless-steel. The part that varieties that case of the watch is high-polished, whereas the perimeters of the band are brushed, and the tiny recessed sections virtually seem to have a matte sand-blasted end, though I may simply as simply see this being the pure look of the fabric after the sintering course of. Whereas the ending on the Ring Watch CRW001-1 isn’t going to win any awards, it’s considerably extra detailed than what you’ll usually look forward to finding on one thing of this dimension, and the contrasting surfaces present the piece with a surprisingly elevated general look.
Relating to its dimensions, the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 measures 19.5mm in diameter, and if it had been a wristwatch, I’d usually say that its case has a lug-to-lug measurement of 20mm. Nonetheless, because the band is built-in into its construction, the full vertical measurement of the ring is available in at 25.2mm when measured from both facet on the apex of the miniature strap. The part of the case that sits on prime of the finger measures 6.2mm thick, and the band is 9.5mm vast the place it meets the case with a gradual taper that brings it all the way down to 4.5mm for elevated consolation. As for its weight, the Ring Watch CRW001-1 is available in at 16 grams, and the inside diameter of its band measures 20mm (62.8mm in circumference), which equals a United States/Europe ring dimension of 10.5. For these with smaller fingers, a set of rubber sizing spacers is included with the CRW001-1, they usually clip onto the underside fringe of its band to scale back the ring’s dimension.
Numerous effort and engineering has gone into the case of the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1, however its miniature digital quartz motion is arguably the one most spectacular side of its design. Contained in the case resides Module 3573, and regardless of being scaled down by an element of ten, this tiny motion nonetheless features a 7-segment LCD display screen, together with the entire identical modes and features that collectors have come to anticipate from Casio’s digital watches. Working on a single SR621SW energy cell with a battery life of roughly two years, Module 3573 features a stopwatch, alarm, dual-time characteristic, computerized calendar, and even an LED backlight. When you don’t get photo voltaic charging or Bluetooth connectivity, the capabilities of this pea-sized motion are undeniably spectacular, and the Ring Watch CRW001-1 really presents a good higher diploma of performance than Casio’s venerable F-91W wristwatch (which lacks a dual-time characteristic).
The Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 is an immensely enjoyable product, however one of many key takeaways from this launch is that the model now has a fully-fledged miniature digital motion that’s 1/tenth the dimensions of its commonplace modules. Given the analysis and growth prices related to producing a brand new micro-sized motion, I can solely think about that Casio has plans for Module 3573 that stretch far past this commemorative Fiftieth-anniversary launch, and it stays to be seen whether or not these plans embody extra ring watches, or if we’ll see this motion seem inside different varieties of merchandise. All issues thought-about, it’s virtually shocking that the CRW001-1 is Casio’s very first ring watch, and a tiny finger-mounted timepiece appears like a very pure match for the Japanese producer’s catalog. Moreover, given the overwhelmingly constructive response to the CRW001-1 (a few of it merely as a consequence of its cute issue), I can solely think about that fairly just a few folks will probably be serious about proudly owning a Casio ring watch, and I’d be shocked if we didn’t find yourself seeing extra ring-based fashions in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later.
People appear to have an inherent fascination with the idea of miniaturization, and that is exactly why the Casio CRW001-1 is such a profitable expression of the ring watch idea. Relatively than simply being a hoop that occurs to inform the time, the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 presents each the looks and performance of a full-size wristwatch and this immediately speaks to our species’ inexplicable curiosity in miniature variations of acquainted objects. Moreover, no matter their supplies or degree of execution, all ring watches are destined to be seen primarily as novelties, which implies there exists considerably of a worth ceiling for what most individuals are prepared to spend on a whimsical horological trinket. With an official retail worth of $120 USD, the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1 is pricey sufficient to current homeowners with a top quality product, though it nonetheless manages to stay within the attainable section of the market, the place collectors can fairly justify the expense within the title of getting some good outdated watch-related enjoyable. For extra info on the Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1, please go to the model’s web site.
