When I was young, CASIO was the go-to watch brand. It was stylish and had an affordable price tag. Although pressing each button caused a slight pain and left a small mark on my fingers (you know what I mean), the satisfying beep feedback assured me that my command was acknowledged.
As technology has advanced over the years, the memory of CASIO watches has slowly been pushed further into the back of my mind. With the rise of smartwatches in the current era, the demand for CASIO watches has diminished.
These memories came flooding back when I stumbled upon a couple of CASIO watches on Lazada. These watches continue to offer affordable options, with prices ranging from S$30 to S$85. Intrigued by the nostalgia, I decided to purchase one that resonated with me, as a way to bring back those forgotten memories.
Introducing CASIO GENERAL LF-20W
The CASIO GENERAL LF-20W is small compared to watches in this day and age. It measures 3.78 cm by 3.37 cm by 0.86 cm and weighs only 23.8 grams. When placed next to my Apple Watch Ultra, the difference is clearly noticeable.
This variant of the watch has likely been updated to use environmentally conscious materials. The main component of the watch, its urethane band, is made from bio-based resins. CASIO states that these resins are produced from renewable organic resources, which helps reduce environmental impact by reducing CO2 emissions.
Features
As expected, the CASIO GENERAL LF-20W is not as feature packed as smartwatches. But it has essentials such as:
- Time (duh)
- Date
- Alarm
- Back Light
- Stop Watch
- Calendar
- World time across 48 cities
If you have been using smartwatches or analog watches, it may take some time for you to familiarise yourself with the functionality of each button and properly set your watch. However, the watch manual can assist you in this process.
Key Selling Points
Three things stood out to me when I purchased the watch. Firstly, the digital analog clock caught my attention. Despite the presence of a digital time display, it evokes nostalgia with its resemblance to clocks from the past. It is sure to attract attention.
Secondly, the battery life is remarkable. In today’s world, long-lasting battery life is a luxury. The CASIO GENERAL LF-20W offers up to 3 years of battery life, which means you can go almost 1,100 days without needing to charge the watch.
Lastly, the weight of the watch is worth mentioning. Weighing only 23.8 grams and having a small form factor, the watch is barely noticeable when worn. It also means that when you rest your wrist on a table while working on your laptop, it doesn’t feel cumbersome.
A Great First Watch
I purchased the CASIO GENERAL LF-20W to reminisce about my forgotten memories. However, the impact was short-lived due to its lack of features. It did serve as a reminder of how much watches have evolved and progressed over time.
In comparison to the feature-packed watches available today, it is difficult to persuade most people to purchase this timepiece unless they are collectors and enthusiasts. However, there’s another group of audience that this watch will be best suited for, and that’s children. It will make a great first watch for your child, where they can focus on time rather than the other distracting features of smartwatches.
The CASIO GENERAL LF-20W retails at S$45 and you can get it from its Lazada store.
