Hi everyone, thought I'd start my second post off on MWF with something productive; a review of the Casio MDV102-1AV "Super Illuminator" (a little more on the name later
). This watch is one of my favourites and with good reason, too. It's an absolute beauty coupled with the features to substantiate it. The watch comes on a rubber band, although Casio does do a metal bracelet variant too.
This watch is meant to be a diver's and it walks the talk. The body of the watch is made of polished steel, whereas the rubber strap's buckle is brushed (steel).
It's water resistant to 20 Bar (200 metres) and has a very secure screw-down crown. The watch itself is not too large, measuring in at 42mm excluding the crown and 45mm including. Lug-to-lug, the watch measures in at 50mm, making it very presentable.
In addition, there's a uni-directional bezel which allows for a very secure-sounding 120 clicks. The bezel is also knurled, allowing for slippery divers' fingers purchase on it (bezel). The whole watch is very well put together and is not something you would be afraid to drop or rough up a little. Having said that, however, it does seem to be particularly susceptible to scratches. This happens mainly on the body and isn't really noticeable unless you look very closely, but it does irritate me to no end to see even the smallest of scractches
The watch also features a date which is always a deal-breaker for me. The most magnificent aspect of this watch would be the light which powers it and gives the watch its nickname. There are two LEDs at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions. One touch of the pusher above the crown and the whole watch lights up spectacularly. You may think I'm exaggerating but when I say bright, I mean bright! I can actually illuminate a whole room with it and it is really handy at night. The lume is great too and with a good sun-soak, it can last through the night.
The only complaint I'd have of this watch would be the rubber strap which can be VERY stiff when first bought. That said, it softens with use and is now fully formed to my wrist, making it a pleasure to wear. Needless to say, timekeeping is spot on. She's lost 2 seconds over 2 months, timed against an atomic clock.
All in all, it's a very enjoyable timepiece at a very competitive price. Hats off to Casio and a 4.5/5 potential stars for me.
Thanks for reading and do let me know what you think!
All the best,
Gavin
