wave ceptorCasio Wave Ceptor Tough Solar MULTIBAND6 Men's Watch WVA-M630B-3AJF (Japan Import)

I'll admit it. I'm obsessed with Casio watches. In fact, I've purchased Casio watches exclusively for almost 50 years; all the way from a 4 function chronometer to a database/calculator watch to solar and atomic watches. In that time the only other watches I've owned are ones someone gave me as a gift. They have just about everything one could possibly want in watches, but the features I'm totally sold on are solar charging and atomic clock. In other words, never having to set, wind, or replace batteries. I now have two of this type, one for dress and one for casual/light work; both hybrid analog/digital. Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve to use some functions not regularly accessed, so for most who are not total geeks the manual needs to be accessible for not-so-often used features. I have the manual on my PC and on my phone. You can get the English manual off the Casio website. Enter 5161 for the watch module number.What I really like about this particular watch is that is is so easy to read. The numbers really jump and if your eyes are getting on the older side you will likely have no problem reading the time.Some reviewers have complained about the band being really stiff... and it is. But you can greatly speed up the softening process by folding the band flat and 'rolling' the fold down the length of the band a few times. I was almost going to buy another band but I tried this technique first and it seems to work pretty well. Try keeping this band and be patient during the break-in period. It looks great and appears to be high quality.Others have complained about the night light. It does not light the digital window well enough to see easily, but more than enough for the rest of the face. I guess if you like to use the stopwatch or timer functions in the dark this may not be the watch for you. All of my Casio watches have had lights with the job being done to varied extent. Even if I hated how this light works I wouldn't be too disappointed as I very rarely have a situation where I must depend on a watch in pitch black darkness. If you're CIA or a Seal you're probably looking at something else anyway. I just look at my always-on time on my phone.Some reviewers have also complained about the body of the watch being a sandwich of metal, plastic, and metal. In my opinion if you're wanting this watch to serve as your only watch don't wear it when your climbing a rock face or framing a house. Casio (as well as some other brands) has an abundance of other watches that can more than handle those situations. There are watches Casio makes that are titanium, sapphire crystal, can dive to 300M, and have all the bells and whistles but you'll pay way over a grand for them.Watches vary in price according to features, whether they can take a beating, what kind of metal they have (if any), and the type of crystal. And you might think that this watch is a little pricey when you pick it up, as it is pretty light. I can't vouch for ruggedness but for me if I get in a really rugged situation I'll take the watch off. Also for me, the atomic clock and solar charging features make it worth it despite possibly not being so much for mountain climbers and others who like to get lost or otherwise risk getting killed. Any Casio watches not having these two [essential] features together can be a lot cheaper, or much more expensive. And Casios designed for rugged use can have these features, but all of them are for a larger wrist as far as I've seen.I chose this watch over a smart watch. Smart watches are expensive and have to be charged almost daily. And besides, for me at least, smart phones have all the necessary functionality except heart monitoring to catch arrhythmias, etc. And that function can be done with other devices that are much cheaper than a smart watch, have reliable results and are doctor recommended.I am a real watch live Amazon purchaser that just happens to love the practicality and functionality and smart design of Casio watches. I highly recommend this watch.

I have wanted a few things from a wristwatch since I was a kid: solar charging, atomic time, and something that doesn't look like I strapped a 1990s-era PDA to my wrist, or doesn't look like I think I'm a rapper. After literal years of searching/researching, I finally found this watch. Or should I say it found me?It is a simple field watch with a twist! It does solar charge and pick up 6 different atomic time stations across the world, just like I wanted. In addition, because it uses the Casio 5161 module, it has five alarms, a 1/100 sec stopwatch, a 99min timer and a second time zone! These days, larger watches seem popular, making this one feel a little small, but it feels (and looks) fine on my wrist.As a (tiny) bonus for me, this is a Japanese market watch. To me, that brings a cool factor. To every American (including me), it means the included manual will be useless, and you will need to find the English equivalent online (just search Casio 5161 manual). This is my first Casio, so learning to run it without a manual wasn't gonna happen.I got the watch in sleep mode, with the battery at "MID" level (it came in a black box, so makes sense). As soon as I opened it, the hands started spinning around, until it read what it thought was correct time. Again, the manual being written only in Japanese, I turned to YouTube to first learn how to set the time manually, then from WWVB, the atomic time station (this info is also in the English manual). Within 2 days of normal use, the watch had charged itself to "HI" and has been there since. As long as you point the 12 toward a window at night, and keep it within a few feet of the window, it picks up WWVB (in the upper Midwest) and automatically sets itself. The one day it didn't, I had placed another piece of electronics RIGHT next to it.The dials are glow-in-the-dark, plus there's a little LED under the 6 for illumination. I charge the glow off a halogen light for 20-30 sec. For the next few minutes, it's stupid bright, and it still glows enough to read the next morning, 8ish hours later.I have only a few small negative remarks (which I knew about before buying): first, the strap is a bit stiff out of the box, and it's a bit short for some larger American wrists. Second, the buttons and back of the watch are made of plastic (there's a stainless plate on the back too). Given what you're getting in this watch for the insanely cheap price, I understand the plastic. (And by the way, it doesn't look bad-bad.) It's just that I can't imagine a metal back driving the price that far up. And since its closest competition (at least that I could find) costs a solid $100 more than this watch, I would have gladly paid the few extra dollars for a metal back. Lastly, none of the illumination options light up the LCD very well. Not a deal breaker for me, could be for you.Last comment: Casio use the 5161 movement in a LOT of watches (and a lot of international market watches). If you don't like this particular watch's looks, hunt around. There are Wave Ceptors (like this one), along with Lineage watches, in many different colors and styles, which use the 5161. You'll likely find one you'll like! I LOVE mine!