Casio has released a ring in the form of its iconic watch
190 points
by prvt
8 days ago
| 21 comments
| theverge.com
| HN
myself248
8 days ago
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Six digit, not six segment. Each digit has seven segments.

I've seen this a LOT lately, when did everyone forget what segments were?

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hn92726819
3 days ago
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If you write code for the f91w you'll quickly realize you can't actually control every segment: https://www.sensorwatch.net/docs/wig/display/#limitations-of.... Some digits have only 4, 5, or 6 controllable segments.

But that's probably not what the author was getting at :)

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daghamm
7 days ago
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You don't need to read past the title for the first big error.

BTW, is The Verge sharing my browsing data with 855 partners? Folks, belive me, I am not that interesting!

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tomcam
7 days ago
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Don’t be modest. Your data is worth sharing with at least 1150 partners. I believe in you!
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agile-gift0262
7 days ago
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> Folks, belive me, I am not that interesting!

Several of the greatest fortunes of modern capitalism have been made through surveillance of people that "are not that interesting"

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yapyap
7 days ago
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> Folks, belive me, I am not that interesting!

you’d be surprised

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ok_dad
8 days ago
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Young people may not have ever seen a display like that.
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meowster
8 days ago
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They most likely see displays like that on microwaves.
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ok_dad
7 days ago
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I meant seen as in seen it named. Just because the seven segment display is there doesn’t mean it’s named that on the box, while in the past there might be more stuff with those displays and it would be a callout on the box design possibly.

I got ratioed here, for some reason, so I guess I didn’t communicate properly. Most people here are nerds who might know what this is called but the average person doesn’t.

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nefrix
8 days ago
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In grandma’s kitchen.
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saltcured
8 days ago
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I understand a grandma could have had a microwave. After all, I remember radar ranges with mechanical timers that were already relics when I was a child. But, now you've got me wondering what kind of VR/holographic microwaves kids are buying.

My latest bought a couple years ago still has a 7-segment vacuum fluorescent display. And a digital encoder knob and buttons rather than membrane controls. And a "cyclonic" inverter, which from the marketing diagrams, you would think can bend reality to your whims.

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kalleboo
7 days ago
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> But, now you've got me wondering what kind of VR/holographic microwaves kids are buying.

Our microwave has a fully graphic, monochrome LCD. And Wi-Fi. Of course. https://kalleboo.com/microblog/posts/109720164680381672.html

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SoftTalker
7 days ago
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> radar ranges with mechanical timers

Those were the best. Dead simple to operate. That said I still have the Goldstar microwave I bought over 30 years ago, which has a keypad and digital timer.

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dmd
7 days ago
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I'm 46 and my grandma had a microwave by the time I was cooking in her kitchen in 1984.
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01HNNWZ0MV43FF
7 days ago
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Did air fryers already displace microwaves? I've missed the last couple meetings
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emchammer
7 days ago
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One of my friends owns a normal-looking radar range kitchen oven. It can cooks with both the convection oven and the microwave at the same time. It is from the 1970s and has all mechanical dials. It has a metal rack inside and you can use any cookware, without a metal lid I guess.
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throwaway494932
7 days ago
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Microwaves are great a two things (and little else...): warm up liquids and make popcorn. Neither are properly done by an air fryer.

I have both tools and they have completely different uses.

edit: both sport 7-segment digits though

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jimmydddd
7 days ago
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I think maybe the original killer app for microwaves was baked potatoes? An hour to cook in a conventional oven. 5 minutes in a microwave. But maybe no one eats those anymore?
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acuozzo
6 days ago
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I eat one on most nights. I wouldn't without my microwave oven.
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Izkata
7 days ago
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I haven't tried that, but my guess would be the same problem as most solids in a microwave - uneven heating / cold spots. That's why liquids and popcorn work so well, liquids mix themselves up and the unpopped kernels fall to the bottom of the bag.
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CTOSian
7 days ago
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I have one (800w) that takes about 5min to cook a potato (200gr), the manual suggests "once the potatoes are cooked, wrap them in tin foil for at least 5 minutes to cook through" but I just cook one wrapped with baking paper.
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shrx
7 days ago
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Also defrosting
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wormius
7 days ago
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Tina's. Burritos.

I am a worm of class.

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silisili
7 days ago
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Technically popcorn is just warming up liquids as well. I'd say that's all it's good at, which happens to have a handful of usecases(some frozen meals, popcorn, melting cheese, heating leftovers).
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ok_dad
7 days ago
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Technically all microwave oven use is warming up liquid if you want to get down to the basics.
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meowster
7 days ago
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TIL I'm a grandma.
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lttlrck
7 days ago
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But they must have heard of the obvious word choice: "digit".

This is seems like "word I heard misappropriation".

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FpUser
7 days ago
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Those are everywhere. Many are in storefronts
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don-code
8 days ago
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The original announcement from Casio said they'd be making a ring version of the venerable DBC-611 calculator watch as well: https://www.g-central.com/casio-to-release-casio-watch-ring-...

It looks like they've instead made a ring version of the CA-53W, which - in the staggeringly few times I see someone wearing a calculator watch - is usually the one they're wearing.

I still wear a DBC-610 as my daily driver, and I do use the calculator and countdown timer features quite often.

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faangguyindia
8 days ago
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I am glad I learned abacus method to not rely on these gimmick watches with calculators.
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card_zero
7 days ago
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Possible market for a watch with an abacus? Doodles on napkin
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dylan604
7 days ago
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Wouldn't you need 10 rings; one for each finger?
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javajosh
7 days ago
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Actually, I think an abacus ring is a great idea or it could be multiple rings on the same finger where the main benefit is you could keep keep count of something. If you had three rows of small beads, you could theoretically keep track of up to a thousand things, all without a battery and with perfect accuracy. Additionally, you could keep track in a very low profile way if the beads were on the inside of the ring toward the palm of your hand and you manipulated them with your thumb. The beads would have to have a slight friction to them so they stay in place but are still easy to move. But in general I like the idea and it's at least as appealing as the op Casio watch ring.
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Cumpiler69
7 days ago
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I would wear 11 of them for the calculation functionality.
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ridgeguy
7 days ago
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Nope. One ring to rule them all.
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WorkerBee28474
7 days ago
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Don't forget to include a sundial to tell time
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CTOSian
7 days ago
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Darn Casio... someone pls nudge HP !!! We def need RPN ring calculators!
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ajsnigrutin
8 days ago
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The calculator buttons would probably be too small for a ring.
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Fluorescence
7 days ago
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So you're saying it retains the authentic Casio calculator watch experience?

It's 30+ years since I owned one but I recall having to press the buttons with the corner of a nail and cursing if I thoughtlessly cut them!

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kevin_thibedeau
7 days ago
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Touch screen with graffiti input.
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hombre_fatal
8 days ago
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Haha, I love it! I wear the gold calculator watch because it's fun and peculiar. I'd love to get a gold casio ring.
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awelxtr
8 days ago
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> The ring watch’s screen even has a light, and an alarm function that will flash the display instead of playing an audible sound

That is a bit... Underwhelming isn't it?

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kijin
8 days ago
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A vibration motor would have been even better, but I suppose there wasn't enough space inside for that. Nor for a speaker.

This is Casio, though. If they really want to, the next version could very well contain all of that and a solar battery.

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dylan604
7 days ago
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> A vibration motor would have been even better,

The best alarm clock I've ever had is a smartwatch that does this vibrating. No more stupid digital screaming. Just a nice gentle tapping pattern on my wrist, and then a fading bit of music. I'm usually awake and hitting stop before the music really starts.

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schwarzrules
7 days ago
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Same, except I wear this: https://www.amazon.com/Timex-T49950-Expedition-Shock-Vibrati...

It's a "dumb" Timex watch, but also vibrates. So you get that same nice gentle vibrating without any "smart" alerts.

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Cumpiler69
7 days ago
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I have the smaller older variant of the Timex Explorer and is still my most worn out of my whole collection despite its ugliness since it's by far the most useful due to the vibration alarms, great UX and features. Shame they don't make it anymore and has only been replaces with this gigantor edition.
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Rendello
7 days ago
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A vibration motor on the index finger could make it... multifunctional.
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numpad0
7 days ago
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No Casio watch owners know how to turn on/off alarms and it's annoying, so IMO it's only sensible that this does not have it. I've turned it off on my F-91W but frankly have no recollection as to how.
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stackedinserter
8 days ago
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I hope they included the iconic worst-in-the-world backlight into it.
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wkat4242
8 days ago
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True, their EL tech was one of the best in that day and age though. Weird how they pivoted from so bad to so good.
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ycombinatrix
4 days ago
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Why is this so true for every casio lol
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petesergeant
8 days ago
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This feels like something you’d win at a carnival
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resoluteteeth
7 days ago
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Yeah, I actually got an extremely similar looking (but presumably more cheaply made) digital watch ring as a prize at an arcade type place that had games that spat out tickets that you could redeem for prizes around 30 years ago
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fatfox
7 days ago
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It looks a bit silly but also a lot of fun!
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Rinzler89
7 days ago
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I want one Casio watch ring for me and each of my friends and with our powers combined we are Captain Nerd.
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xanderlewis
7 days ago
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It looks utterly stupid. I’ll take three, please.
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ezekg
8 days ago
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What is this, a watch for ants?
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danans
7 days ago
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What kind of monster ants have legs are as thick as human fingers wherever you are? God help you if so.
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p1mrx
8 days ago
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bloomingeek
7 days ago
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OMG, put it on a chain and wear it around my neck!
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ycombinatrix
4 days ago
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Flavor Flav walked so you could run
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generalizations
8 days ago
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That could actually be really useful. I'd love to wear a dumbwatch again, and if it's that much smaller then its that much better. Will be keeping an eye out for one that isn't nostaliga-themed.
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hunter-gatherer
8 days ago
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I have a gshock 5600-e that was passed down from my brother who wore it for uses in a metal fab mill. This watch is amazing. Definitely get a gshock
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hermitcrab
7 days ago
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I love my G-shock GW/6900. It is pretty bulletproof. Apart from the strap - annoyingly I have to replace that once every ~3 years.
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franczesko
7 days ago
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There are g-shocks with bracelets. I have a model with a plastic one.
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hermitcrab
7 days ago
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I have the plastic/resin strap. They don't last. They crack and the strap holder breaks.
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dukeofdoom
8 days ago
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A wrap around display ring would be cool.
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naruhodo
7 days ago
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21st century mood ring!
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franczesko
7 days ago
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Digital watches in general have their charm https://youtu.be/mDVmdgao3RE?si=sfpEEkri1mmOvdAV
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wkat4242
8 days ago
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Cool and functional. I hope this comes to Europe too.
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bookofjoe
7 days ago
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blackeyeblitzar
8 days ago
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This is the type of thing I would not purchase for myself, but I’m happy to see exist. Brilliant design.
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gherkinnn
8 days ago
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Not for me but I love the idea.
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schneems
8 days ago
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In Japan. The price is high but I still like it.
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0cf8612b2e1e
8 days ago
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$128 is really pushing the limit for what seems like a kitsch novelty. Were it a third of the price, I could see myself picking it up for my watch aficionado friend.
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GeoAtreides
7 days ago
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> kitsch novelty

you mean limited release collectable?

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sss111
8 days ago
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Blame Inflation :/

That said, Casio novelties do hold their value surprisingly well. For example, just by wearing my Gravitymaster, I’ve already “earned” $130 as the resell value has shot up.

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Cumpiler69
7 days ago
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>Blame Inflation :/

N'ah mate, I feel Casio is also quite cheeky with their pricing for what is essentially mass produced budget commodity 80's tech made in China from cheap plastics.

Here in Europe most of their basic watches (excluding the F91W) are over 40+ Euros and all they do is show time/date on a cheap LCD display with poor viewing angles in a plastic resin shell who's paint rubs off after a couple of years.

Meanwhile for that price you can get an Xiaomi smart band with OLED display, gorilla glass, Bluetooth, vibration, heart-rate sensor, and it even tells time. Casio's profits must be crazy good on those watches.

I wish they would sell more models in metal casings like in the 80's and with updated internals with more functionality.

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michelb
7 days ago
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You should see what the Timex limited edition ring goes for now. I bet you can flip this Casio for a nice multiple as well.
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0cf8612b2e1e
5 days ago
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Then you are playing the limited edition collection game. Which is a game of no interest to me.
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laweijfmvo
7 days ago
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gorilla glass i hope, otherwise its scratch city for my clumsy hands
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hereme888
7 days ago
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No....nope. Don't like it. Why would someone spend $128 for that?
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ThouYS
8 days ago
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hillarious
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