Let's Talk About Alarms on Watches (...On G-Shock and other Casio Watches)

Are you pleased with the alarms on your watches? Are they loud enough? Are there sufficient options for when an alarm will sound or how it will sound (including how loud it is)? These are some of the issues which folks have been concerned about in the comments I've seen on some of my other videos AND in other online discussions about watches.
In this video I will give some of my thoughts about the alarms on my watches. And (spoiler alert), after having dozens of watches over the past few decades, I've come to the conclusion that I won't see a lot of changes in the way watch alarms work in the near future. But in this video I'll explore the topic AND I'll give you consistent audio samples comparing the alarm sounds on many of my G-Shock and other Casio watches. Be sure to watch the second half of this video for those audio demonstrations!
It should be noted that my watch experience and knowledge is generally focused on Casio watches which have "atomic time" reception and solar power. So I don't go into great detail about other brands of watches.
I also neglected to talk about "Smart Watches" which generally interact with iPhones and Android phones. Because these watches are effective accessories which expand the functions of the phones, they often offer lots of custom options for alarms, reminders, notifications and much more. I will address the topic of "Smart Watches" (including the Apple Watch) in an upcoming video and explain why I haven't chosen to get one yet.

[@nphare]

I’m not going to admit to my wife that I watched watches beep for 22 minutes. Was interesting though. The compounding effect for alarm volume was most profound when going from 1 to 2 watches. The pile of watches beeping in sync was obscene. Some of those clock alarms beeps brought back childhood getting up for school trauma. Keep up the unique and interesting content!

[@garyk4017]

I'm not even aware of any solar, non-Multiband 6 Casio watches that have a vibe alarm. I always thought it was due to the low peak current capacity and low total energy capacity of the small, rechargeable batteries like the CTL1616F. For example, the CTL-1616F has a total energy capacity of 13 mAh, while the CR2032 has a total energy capacity of 235 mAh. I believe the peak current capacity varies in a similar fashion, though maybe not as dramatically. This is why the GD-350, which has a vibe alarm, uses a CR2032 battery.

[@Daniel-kn3dk]

Greg Anderson ..."oh its six o'clock, did u hear that?" yeah, and your neighbours too. Having all those watches in your house must be a sound party every hour. Fantastic channel, i love it.

[@IlluminatingWatches]

Just love this channel. Love the specificity of your Casio preferences too. There is a fun Casio with an “alarm booster” (BA80?) - but no multiband at that time of course!

[@izilanir2115]

I was looking for this information on the alarms of casio watches. I think you are the only one to give it so detailed

[@thumperjdm]

Greg sets off 74 watch alarms at the same time... Every dog in the neighborhood: "Arrrrrrgggghhhhh!!!"

[@waiyayu]

Appreciate your effort to set all of those watches alarm

[@choogengnian2799]

like your detail explaination for the casio watches! keep it up!

[@tristandauod]

Good morning! Another great, informative video.🔥 Thanks for sharing!😁

[@gdwarbeck7374]

My F91-W has a louder beep than ANY of my other Casio's, none of which can be heard. Sad, especially when I need extra alarms too. Shame on you Casio. We should all write the Prez a letter...

[@fredminpin]

I had noticed early that none of the watch alarms are that much - as if you have to be awake and paying attention in the first place. Credit for time and effort to set up all the alarms, even if many of them are solar/ atomic and synchronized. And last, but not least I'm really glad & enjoying the many videos addressing so many aspects, ideas and issues of the various watches like using the Rangeman & A/B/C functions w/ details that nobody else explains 👍😀

[@blintorzabat5798]

Oh, that was hilarious (and one HECK of a lot of work, I'm sure) getting all those alarms synced!😂 Thanks!

[@jeremylynch83]

Excellent content as always

[@Oleg__]

Thank you for such a high-quality analysis of the topic. There are few people who are so immersed in topics. This is what real enthusiasm means. For me, too, five alarms in G‑Shock are very convenient as reminders (both daily, at the same time, and for some irregular events). G‑Shock is also good for me as an alarm (I don't sleep soundly, as it seems to me, and I wake up even from sounds that are not too loud, at least the sounds of alarms). I like that unlike some older G‑Shocks, the beep duration has been reduced from 20 seconds to 10 seconds. This means that I don't need to reach for the watch to turn off the alarm (if it's not on my hand; I sleep without watch, if it's not a short rest in bed). I also like that Snooze Alarm repeats after 5 minutes, which is ideal for me. In iPhone or Apple Watch, this interval is a strange 9 minutes, which is already a lot for me.

[@forthefunofit5487]

Thanks Greg. You do a great job.

[@SniperKing029]

Phew! Greg great show but if 75 Casio watch alarms went off at once it may attract the aliens 👾

[@billlyl3725]

Enjoyed the Casio Chorus. Looking forward to your thoughts on smart watches. 👍

[@wisnutimbul]

I like your watch collection, the Casio watch especially

[@gabormagyar487]

that's the problem with Casio...in 30 (40) years they couldn't develop a beeper in the watch that you can hear

[@traviswalker8933]

There is a vintage Casio with a pretty loud alarm as it came with an alarm booster which you'd install to amplify the alarm sound. It even has a morning mode for it. It's called the BA-80. You should check it out.

[@kinguin7]

Just get a longer strap for the watch. Strap around head, directly over ear.

[@GoodTimekeeper]

That could become the next fashion trend. I can also imagine kids wanting to wear watches on their heads just to be cool. Hmmm.

[@content4now]

I think the '"reminder" alarms are OK. Currently, I use the Bose Sleepbud IIs to lull me to sleep and wake me up without disturbing my wife. I have to say that prior to the Sleepbuds, a Timex Ironman could wake me up, so I would hope that Casio would consider listening more to this customer concern and just try to up their alarm sound. Keep up the great GTS content Greg. Note: I really enjoy several multiband 6/solars as a result of the Good Timekeeping Show. 👍

[@aldoabad]

amazing video

[@marcuslieberman3577]

Very informative, Greg. Like your take on Casios!! Alarm Clocks l will always sound louder. You mentioned Atomic clock reception, I have a MTG-900, I love it. I was living in NC had the watch on my window facing SW. Every morning the Atomic Reception Icon was on. I recently moved to NJ, and my window faces NE, I do not get the Icon at all. Manually it does not get signal. I am very "depressed". Thanks for "Time" and effort in your channel. :-)

[@gusthesailor4885]

Thank' ... you are THE CASIO MAN of youtube !! :)

[@lukeg2091]

I've worked in radio as well. You really learn to appreciate a digital Casio watch. Alarms, countdown timer, stopwatch - use them all. And staying on time to the second.

[@GoodTimekeeper]

If your radio station does any kind of coordination with a national network then you know how important it is to know “atomic time” while you work. Some folks just don’t appreciate that down-to-one-second accuracy.

[@lukeg2091]

@@GoodTimekeeper Oh, indeed. Gotta be on time for the hard TOH and BOH network. I also really like the easy Casio way of rounding up to the minute when setting the time manually on the non-atomics.

[@bluebillys.7673]

Good job in setting another great demo video! Must took a long time setting all those alarms?

[@frankgerace5997]

Interestingly (at least to me), the loudest alarm on any of my Casio watches is on my F91-W-the cheapest watch Casio makes!! The alarms on my G-shocks aren’t nearly as loud..interesting that you worked for a radio station that carried Paul Harvey..in my radio career (35 years so far), I’ve worked for 3!! And now, you know..the rest..of the story..

[@GoodTimekeeper]

The amazing thing about Paul Harvey is that he always sounded like someone from a long-ago era of radio. Even when I heard him in the 1970s it sounded like a recording of a guy from at least 15 years earlier, until I realized he was taking about up-to-date news stories.

[@GoodTimekeeper]

We used to take snippets from Paul Harvey’s news and commentary in the 1990s and re-arrange the words to amuse ourselves. His speaking style made it very easy to isolate words and phrases. Of course, we couldn’t broadcast the stuff we made from scrambling his words. But I also caught things he really DID say which would get him instantly cancelled by today’s standards. And all he was doing was quoting rap songs... saying things an old white guy should never say. But it was quite jarring to hear those things in his one-of-a-kind voice.

[@frankgerace5997]

@@GoodTimekeeper whenever I think of Paul Harvey, I think of the sponsor of his show at the first station I worked at-“Frank Burton and Sons, on the Shiloh Pike in Bridgeton(NJ)”. That, and the Bunn…..o’ Matic..and the Schwinn….air…..dyne…….

[@hal4192]

My f91w alarm is easily heard across the room. My g shock square is only audible with my ear within 4" of the watch.

[@johnfountain8588]

Great vlog Which Casio in your opinion has the best alarm Square preference Thanks in advance

[@911_dan2]

Great video idea, my type of nerdy

[@fubaralakbar6800]

Casio watches aren't really designed for bed-time use. The alarms are useful for reminding you of appointments, when to take your medication, etc--things you do while you're awake (I hope!). For bed side use, an alarm clock is really a better choice.

[@Habib-eb1he]

happy birthfay will! :D

[@AlandGalvez]

Is there a watch in which you can program different alarms that go off at different times, different days of the week with a specific message?

[@coolcastfull]

If you're looking for the loudest G-Shock alarm sound, G-7700 / G-7710 and G-Mix-GM-100 model are the loudest... ⏰⏰ 🔈🎶🎶🎶

[@oklahomahank2378]

The vibration alarm is a nice addition. The gd 350. It’s a big watch.

[@freequest]

On a side note, I have an old Pioneer Quartz LCD Chrono with a very loud beep and alarm. It does this by having the backplate have a hollow indent and inside it has a plate then lays over this indent that turns the whole back of the watch into a small speaker very ingenious really. But man, does that thing chew batteries a Battery only last 6-8 months on it.

[@jpnjpnjpnjpn]

nice sound..

[@traviswalker8933]

You should check out the Casio BA-80. It might outdo most of the shortcoming about the alarms. 7:42 the GW-400 is the watch you're looking for. But the vibration on that was pretty faint. Casio has done a square with a vibration alarm. It was the GB-5600.

[@yogiyoda]

I love the vibration alarm on the gd350. I don't mind resetting the seconds every week or so. Just takes a minute

[@log1x07]

I have had the same watch. Good watch with great negative display but timekeeping was really bad compared to other Gs. I think in combination with atomic timekeeping, this would be a great watch. Good to know, that yours looses seconds really bad as well.

[@yogiyoda]

@@log1x07 - it's not bad. I just like it to be exact. I think it uses the same quartz as other Gs. It might gain a couple seconds a week. Don't know if Multiband will work with vibration but sounds like Bluetooth could. If I could change anything about the watch though, I'd make it a bit slimmer first

[@andrewmarriott4033]

I use a Casio w214h alarm every work morning goes of at 5.50am I find it loud enough Certainly one of if not the best of the Casio/ G shocks I own in the case of loudness 👍

[@garyk4017]

Many solar Casio watches have relatively weak alarm sounds compared to similar battery-powered models. Two solar Casios I own that have louder alarms than my others are the GW-9110 (Gulfman) and the W-S210.

[@TriantafyllosThessaloniki]

Hey Greg, i am the first to post a comment on this one... Well done once more. 😊👍

[@chrisgillam224]

I know my comment is late but onlt just seen the video, the problem I have is I suffer from Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), and i could not hear a sound from any of the watches you tried (I heard the clocks). When I bought my Rangeman B-1000 I sent it back twice to complain that the alarm was not working, it was only when a friend happened to be there when I was going on about it not working and he turned around and said it's working fine i can hear it no problem, that was when I relized it was me that was broken not the watch. Now I to also want the multi band 6 and solar powered feature, i think the only think that would work for me would be some sort of flashing on the screen or flashing light. Hopefully they will work something like this out one day to go onto all watches with alarms. We can only hope. Great video by the way, saved me a lot of time trying to find one that I could hear. Now I know it is pretty unlikely and I now need to look for some sort of flashing alarm G-shock.

[@rt_pedrojr5111]

Hey Chris You should look into G-Shock Vibrating Alarm !! Instead of Sound they are really neat as well , one series I know forsure that's Vibrating Alarm Is GD-350 G-Shock series

[@chrisgillam224]

@@rt_pedrojr5111 Hi, thanks for the reply, I will take a look at it, i was thinking about the DW5600E as it has a flashing alarm but not had time to have a good look on you your yet, but I will add the one you mentioned to the list, thanks for your reply. Much appreciated. 👍

[@freequest]

Used to snore, got really fit, lost some weight, cycle lift weights snoring gone also eat one meal a day. As for me never needed an alarm on a watch; I just wake up when I need to. But the hourly signal and the countdown timer are the best things on a Casio/ G-Shock watch.

[@milesgaddy3323]

Greg, please tell me how to turn off the alarm on the casio 3507. Please and thank you!

[@oklahomahank2378]

The full case sounds like cicadas on a summer night. The table sounds like a traffic jam. You should add one of the Stop2go watches to the collection. I have the watch, but you might enjoy the wall clock more. Mondaine makes them. They are lots of fun.

[@kennnethbrown7582]

I do not hear my alarm or my hourly single chime beep and I have it set on the indicator is on I see it on the watch display on my Casio watches

[@salvofailla3400]

I just bought a 9610 I tought it was broken and returned what the SIG use if I can't hear it? Nobody in youtube tell that I will be prepared , but the 6 band work great.

[@michaelswertfager813]

For you watch experts, (while an odd request) I am trying to find if there was ever a watch released before 2010 that had an increasing alarm on it? Like an a wake-up alarm, where the sound starts soft but got louder until turned off. Or a beep that got faster. Or a haptic notification that grew.

[@7775Kevin]

With tinnitus I cannot hear the high frequency these alarms put out.

[@mikeboux]

What if the alarm goes on but I can't remember what the activity I programmed ?

[@Watercooledguy]

I have both an atomic solar g shock and a regular g shock and the chime, key beep and alarm on both of them are so quiet that you can't even hear them over normal conversation let alone a dead sleep. If you need an alarm to wake you up, you're better off using your phone or an alarm clock.

[@humbertocejudo7617]

The gbx-100 has a vibration alarm, bluetooth and is a square G-Shock.

[@ccooper8040]

How can Timex alarms be so much louder?

[@derstreber2]

Yeah I discovered the same thing with magnets and the multiband 6. I do wonder if it there would be a way to put the vibration motor in the band. You would need to run wires out of the casing and through the band. It would make the band more costly and more of a pain to replace. Hopefully it would not kill the water resistance. If possible, that is the only way I see a multiband 6 watch having a vibration alarm. Either that or they would need to figure out some other low power, compact way of creating vibration without using a magnet.

[@kinguin7]

There's muscle wire, and perhaps other materials that expand or contract enough for the job when electricity or heat is applied. Probably more realistic to shield the magnets, but that adds bulk and weight.

[@LB-np5zv]

The F108WH is pretty loud for anyone looking for a sub $20 square. Might be better options out there but I’ve been using it as my wake up alarm for a while now.

[@Ronin228]

Missing from the test was the DW-5600E with a decent alarm

[@Giorgionsen]

The GBX-100 also vibrates, with the snooze function its impossible not to wake up!!

[@elvisonstage]

Will you please tell me...what model Casio men's watch has the loudest alarm? I have a WR Watch (from Walmart) that I have used for YEARS! The watch has a LOUD alarm! In Feb,. 2023, I had a severe case of Vertigo...and THAT resulted in damaging my hearing! In short, I can no longer hear that exact same alarm! I NEED HELP PLEASE!!! Please tell me ANY BRAND of a man's watch with a SUPER-LOUD ALARM PLEASE!!! Thank you VERY much and God bless you!!! As to this video, I listened to Paul Harvey EVERY DAY! I LOVED his news show!!! It CRUSHED me when I heard Paul had passed in February, 2009! Thank you again!

[@spacemanschannel6380]

There are Casio watches with vibration alarm. This might help you better.

[@dameinjomtup-jaywalter8468]

There was a watch when you placed them all that was louder! What was it please. Making me crazy

[@davidclark9086]

I own a GS 2100 and can't hear the alarm when wide awake and thought this video might help in some it. I'm already 5 1/2 minutes in and nothing of importance yet. I'm gone.

[@yogiyoda]

Why didn't you use decibel levels?

[@vinnividetti]

i have a timex expedition Easy alarm and sound louder than my CASIO h-1000 ,

[@simba9725]

I have the GW-9400 Rangeman like the one in your video, love the watch, alarms are useless. I use the countdown timer, but like the alarms it's so soft it's useless, have to use my Iphone.

[@karlzum123]

Maybe you can help me: I’ve been searching for decades for an 80’s watch that has a bezel that you rotate/ turn and it changes it’s features or modes. It Looks VERY similar to: Casio RW-100 Seiko A826 The screen was digital and round, but not octagon like the Seiko A826 Alarm was VERY unique and did NOT sound like any of the Casio watches you featured. The letters on the bezel were green and red and I believe white as well. Brand could have been something else for all I know. Had four buttons; two on each side. The bezel you had to press on it and then rotate (wasn’t easy for a kid). Searching it has been impossible for me. I was too young to have that watch, and I would love to have a second chance to have one and take better care of it.

[@GoodTimekeeper]

I’m afraid I’m not familiar with such a watch.

[@goldgeologist5320]

It is a function of power available, volume of air that can be moved and available space. There is only so much you can expect from this type of watch.

[@frankschroth1919]

24 watches going of at the same time doesn't particularly make it louder, rather than make it more annoying!! It's like nails scratching on chalk board!!! Lol!! Now that Seiko alarm clock would make me fall out of the bed!!! :)

[@russellharris5072]

I think its more a case of frequency rather than volume,I had a Casio in the mid 80's and I'm pretty sure that it had a lower frequency than the current offerings AND could be heard clearly in a noisy situation from twenty feet...............................

[@patricko9170]

One word.....Timex. Their alarms are very LOUD.

[@lukeg2091]

Yep, my old Timex Ironman would actually wake me up. Casio, not a chance. Still love Casios though.

[@ionciobanu5524]

GW-B5600 it is definitely the loudest Casio I own, louder than Gw 9400 and way louder than EQW-M710-1A

[@Oleg__]

Probably, all models with the index "5600" are so loud. Thus, my DW‑5600 is noticeably louder than my GW‑9400 Rangeman and GW‑M5610U.

[@asfsfas2435]

i wonder how long did it take you to set all the watch alarms

[@GoodTimekeeper]

About half an hour. Almost all of them were set to “atomic time” already, thanks to Multiband 6. Then all I had to do was set the alarms.

[@ob4149]

all 24 watches alarms sounds like bunch of crickets lol

[@jerryharris1022]

Dang, that Sangean is a rude awakening 😂

[@GoodTimekeeper]

Ever since I got this Sangean alarm clock I have used it as my primary alarm clock every day. The “humane” way it starts quietly and then gets louder is actually working well for us.

[@sameralghawi216]

I think the loudest one of these is gw- s5600

[@freequest]

Yeah, turn of loudness equalisation in your sound settings.

[@ssnerd583]

I bought myself a GWM5610-1 on sale for Christmas last year and the ONLY-ONLY-ONLY thing that I cannot stand is THE DAMNED ALARM IS TOO DAMNED QUIET!!! I have excellent hearing and I have 5 or 6 old GW-56xx-x G-shocks that ARE MUCH-MUCH LOUDER!!! I need one that is: Solar and alarms and count-down timer.....etc.....AND LOUD!!!!! HELP ME!!!!

[@blintorzabat5798]

Casio WS-210h: Solar, 5 LOUD alarms (one with Snooze), CDT (its alarm is also VERY loud, several long beeps). My loudest audible Casio alarm. The Timex Expedition Vibe alarms are also pretty loud, but are not Solar. The XL is HYUUUGE.

[@ssnerd583]

@@blintorzabat5798 Yes, thanks....I found the WS-210H to be quite satisfactory and it fills all the requirements I have, other than the 'radio time' thing which is an acceptable compromise and the price was very reasonable for a watch that could continue to function beyond my life expectancy.....lol the only gripe I have is, when on the countdown timer screen, there is no current time shown. I use the countdown timer almost continuously at work as a reminder to check an often repeated operation....and I space things out when the pace of the job gets hectic.....I have to switch back to the current time mode to check the current time and then back to the countdown timer function....or look at the clock on the wall(that I put up) to keep me on track....lol Thanks again :)

[@webherring]

Digital watches used to have melody alarms in the 80s. We should still have that.

[@Oleg__]

Only if as an option, since melodies can get boring over time, and the usual signal is neutral. Even on my iPad, I eventually came to a standard "beep" signal.

[@simba9725]

The volume of most of Casio's watches are way to faint to hear while wearing, your wrist has to be at the right angle, and the watch not on too tight as to smother the sound. Casio should make all their alarms louder, and a set standard across the entire product line. I love my GW 9400, but the alarm is so weak, I use my Iphone, on my Pro Trek PRW 30, it's a bit better.

[@kanhaiyaagrawal5421]

There is no meaning of giving alarm beep sound of 10 seconds only , it should be of 60 seconds.

[@microwaveoven2]

I only use one of my 12 or casio's as a secondary alarms. my phone nukes my ears, but my casio's make me go "OMG IM REALLY LATE"

[@cerealfibre6938]

A neighbour's dog? What's next a Police Siren? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@petsateesh]

Hai friend I am from India I want multiple alarms digital watch Please suggest one Thank you

[@GoodTimekeeper]

The “Casio Royale” is a great watch, AE1200. Similar models are the AE1000 and AE1400.

[@petsateesh]

@@GoodTimekeeper Thank you sir Any other in low price

[@nishantpatel173]

@@petsateesh w96h casio

[@FoxMulder78]

Casio F-201

[@elvisonstage]

Oh yes, I just want a simple, battery-operated watch please! Nothing high-tech or a watch that performs 100 tasks!!! Thanks!!!

[@alantheloneranger]

The alarms on g shocks are completely useless, even as a reminder

[@hal4192]

I can only hear mine if it's within 4 inches of my ear . Completely useless.

[@conned]

Same wz Seikos..

[@roadgent7921]

Yeah right...has the missus turfed you out of the house? Was it the snoring or 38 alarms going off at 4am?

[@ZERUBARIEL]

Chicago.. ZNAJDZIESZ MNIE-??

[@kenshinkarate3463]

Times Ironman is far louder. Disappointed in my Casio.

[@reviewsemfolha8470]

🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@bruc33ef]

The alarm on my Casio Royale is too faint to hear unless you're already awake and listening for it with your ear up against the watch. In other words, worthless.

[@FoxMulder78]

I can hear the alarm on my Casio AE-1200 just fine and I'm 44 years old. It's louder off the wrist, of course.

[@threadripper979]

Not everybody can Schwarzkopf their watches 🤣

[@marcogennaro4303]

Casios and g shocks alarms dont do their job at all¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

[@Oleg__]

Thank you for sharing your experience. My experience is a little different: for several decades now, G-Shock alarms have been doing their job perfectly for me.

[@hal4192]

I agree. Utterly unusable.

[@dringo6168]

So Casio make watches with chewing gum straps and useless alarms. Buy a Timex!

[@GoodTimekeeper]

If Timex made a watch with an atomic time receiver I would try it out. But I don’t know of one.