One Year With The Casio Duro ⌚ It performed perfectly except for one big, fat problem.

Casio MDV106-1AV 200 M WR Black Dive Watch
amzn.to/3XlZHB6
"Not another Casio Duro video!" Well, this one's different. I spent a year, uh.... 'NOT babying' my Duro and, in this video, offer Casio some unsolicited, 'average watch collector' advice on improving the world's most popular budget quartz diver. Your welcome, Casio!
Good ref on the Duro: "Hands-On The $50 Casio Duro Dive Watch Is So Easy To Love" www.hodinkee.com/articles/cas...
#casio #watchreviews #watches

[@AmericanFreeState]

Casio 200 M WR Black Dive Watch (MDV106-1A) amzn.to/3iLlDXo

[@mickeyjohnson1137]

Guys complain about the strap on the Duro, but I like it. It’s comfortable and is a nice-looking strap on my wrist.

[@AmericanFreeState]

Agree.

[@bidhrohi12]

I have weirdly big wrists, so I needed to change it. Got a NATO strap from blushark. This watch is REALLY good with a NATO. And it ends up looking exactly like the famous Rolex James Bond watch.

[@masudaharris6435]

I've been wearing an older Casio sport watch for over 10 years, and it's held up nicely, even after I took a spill on concrete stairs on a rainy day. The clasp has the scratchmarks to remind me of that awful day, but the watch still runs perfectly. As for the Duro, it's meant as a beater to last you at least 10 years. It's not meant to look pretty all that time. But you get more than your money's worth.

[@MrSitemaster2]

I think Casio have got it right, the only real complaint I've heard is that it's too big for some people. Sapphire crystal, Straps, Bezels etc can all be changed later if that's what you want to do.

[@Marty4650]

I like your idea, but I think Casio could sell even more of these watches if they did three things: 1. Make the case slightly smaller. A 40mm watch would sell a lot better than a 44mm watch 2. As you suggested, replace the mineral crystal with a sapphire crystal. 3. Replace the rubber strap with a stainless steel bracelet. Now you can price it at $100, and you will never be able to keep up with demand. There is absolutely no need to manufacture the case in Japan and assemble it there. China is capable of very high manufacturing quality (or very low ones, based on who you contract for the job.) It is wrong to assume everything made outside Japan or Switzerland must be junk. Some of the finest cameras and lenses are manufactured today in places like China, Vietnam and Cambodia. You get what you pay for. And for a $100 watch, you don't need e very best money can buy. There is really no need to maintain that $50 pricepoint, because thanks to inflation $100 today is worth about as much as $50 was when the Casio Duro was first introduced. By holding the price that low, you are assuring that cheaper materials and cheaper labor will be used. Instead, I say give the customer more, and charge a little more. My $100 watch would still be an incredible bargain, and be BETTER than the original Duro.

[@mrsaul3709]

This watch is popular because it offers so much for 50 bucks, at a 100 bucks it would be just a regular watch, even with some better materials.

[@AmericanFreeState]

Good news: Casio makes a 42mm duro. Bad news: it still has the same crappy dial window, it costs over $100, and is named after a globalist pervert. www.shoppinginjapan.net/bill-gates-mdv106 To add, after living in both Japan and China, I'm a snob for Japanese over Chinese products.

[@AmericanFreeState]

Agreed, but I still have to fund a change out of that beat-to-flip dial window before it's wearable again.

[@SlapShotRegatta22]

The two things that need to be changed are the case size and the lug width. A 40mm case with 20mm lugs would be absolutely perfect.

[@skd]

Adding a saphire crystal and manufacturing in Japan would more than double the price of the watch. Why not buy two and be done with it? :)

[@kato223]

Sapphire crystal for this watch goes for about $20, The Duro is going for about $45 right now, so you are still very sub $100 which was the biggest draw to me. Took me about 10 minutes to swap out my crystal on my own with a small watch press that cost me like $12 from Harbor Freight. If you do it on your own, make sure you have microfiber towel (to remove fingerprints) and a can of airduster to blow off the movement before you put it back into the case. Don't want to seal dust in there. :)

[@AmericanFreeState]

Thanks. I was going to have a jewler do it but will have a go at it, myself.

[@davidcrandall4958]

Good ideas,good theories! thanks!

[@Alwaysontime-dh1gz]

Love your vid and subscribed , just received my Duro and i think its absolutely epic

[@AmericanFreeState]

Cheers!

[@pabloorellana7631]

My only complain is the size of the date window, it is too small, it could be bigger for better readability. Also with 20$ you can get a sapphire cristal and for another 20$ a nice stainless steel strap and stills is lower than 100$ overall

[@AmericanFreeState]

Yeah, I'll have to swap out the stock dial window before it's even wearable again. As for straps/bracelets, I've abandoned both for nato straps.

[@kato223]

They make a cyclops sapphire as well for this watch.

[@bikeman9419]

Great video, no BS, I like that. I love my Duro’s. The strap is good but I have changed them out for Nato straps. I like Nato straps because you can change then easy and you can add color to your watch.

[@user-sz5dt9ih7f]

Well said. I like your idea of having a top notch Casio made exclusively in Japan with a sapphire glass front and assembled with all Japan made parts. Excellent idea. I would buy it for a premium pronto!!!

[@mlmperez1114]

I have a small wrist but this watch wears well on me. It’s my casual/dress watch. It’s a strap monster! Don’t sleep on this one. Best 45bucks I’ve spent on a watch

[@Marty4650]

I own two Duros.... One blue, and one green, and if I didn't know it was supposed to sell for $50, I would have assumed it was a $150 watch. The build quality and performance is that high. Absolutely no one else sells a 200m rated dive watch with a screw down back and screw down crown for so little. Yes, it could be better, but the question is how much more are you willing to pay? I know I would be willing to pay more for a better Duro, but I cannot speak for all of Casio's customers. So maybe you are onto something with your suggestion of having two Duros, one being the Lexus and the other being the Toyota. This shouldn't be a problem for Casio since they already have around a dozen dive style watches. One more won't stress them too much.

[@JR-gp2zk]

Also it need to be smaller. If you change the battery you will be amazed how small the movement is. Casio could easily make a 40mm version. 44mm is big, and the reason why it is easier to scratch.

[@AmericanFreeState]

They made a 42mm version for a while, it appears. www.shoppinginjapan.net/bill-gates-mdv106

[@rogerauclair1670]

@@AmericanFreeStateI’m pretty certain that Casio never made a 42mm version of the Duro. It has to be a typing error as I’ve seen almost every review of the Casio Duro and there has never been a mention of a 42mm version.

[@alanaliyev456GT]

Its not a 316 L but DUPLEX STEEL .Duplex is Softer than 316 but lot of over in matter of chemical corrosion even in salt moisture hot ambiant exactly like Rolex 904L....(but withouth the mechanical endurance) Its one of secret of this low price.. Duplex is a steel very easy to machine with relatively few tools removing.

[@briandd27]

I have now three versions of this watch, one of which I received in the mail a day ago. The first two I've had for several years and I have yet to scratch up the crystal.

[@AmericanFreeState]

The crystal on mine wouldn't be scratched and chipped had I stayed out of the woods and mountains with it.

[@avenueb]

good ideas

[@FiremanFrach]

An improved version sounds like a great idea.

[@GaryHelle]

I like your recommendations. I would like to see a smaller Duro for women. My wife would love one. I’ve been looking for a dive watch for my wife and have not found anything similar.

[@PrashantKumar-rn1ey]

Congo now they have a 38.5 mm casio duro but with only 50 m water resistance

[@folksurvival]

The Citizen Promaster Eco-Drive Diver is available in a smaller women's size.

[@mellow-jello]

Not meant to exude looks, just kept materials at minimum to keep the price low. Keep it away from JDM, want to get it anywhere with ease.

[@hennies9509]

You can buy a screen protector for the watch.

[@vladut89bb]

Lol, i have a Doxa Trofeo since 2011, crystal looks brand new and those dents!

[@bird718]

with a nice band and sapphire, better build quality its a no brainer but then it gets close to the seikos in price

[@Ubermentsh]

Keep production the same. And use the sapphire coded Crystal to keep costs down but improve wear.

[@AmericanFreeState]

Just changing the dial window to sapphire would be enough for me.

[@Ubermentsh]

@@AmericanFreeState they have mineral crystals that are coated in Sapphire that are cheaper but more durable. My one complaint with the Douro is the mineral crystal. I've scratched two out of my four within a relatively short amount of time. But they're a pretty big bang for the buck

[@AmericanFreeState]

@@Ubermentsh I don't know if I'm going to replace it now. There are some good stories behind most of scratches in the dial window, so I might keep it as is and just move on to a more upscale dive watch (with a sapphire crystal).

[@Ubermentsh]

@@AmericanFreeState just be careful with the crown pin removal and reinsertion

[@AmericanFreeState]

@@Ubermentsh Will do, thanks, if it comes to that.

[@ronnyb9416]

Watch is great though a bit big for my smaller wrist. Looks great for about $50. As the watch is almost free, once it gets scratched up or not attractive I give the watch away and buy a new one.

[@AmericanFreeState]

Should Casio make a JDM Duro with a sapphire crystal? How much do you think it would cost and would you pay up for one?

[@cartero391]

The first mod to my Duros was to replace the straps. After watching a couple of KZbin videos, I bought the required tools from Amazon and then replaced the mineral crystals on all four of my MVD 106’s with DD sapphire AR crystals from AliExpress. Fun project for a reasonable investment. I have the Black, Blue, Pepsi & Kermit. The Batman is on my wish list.

[@AmericanFreeState]

@@cartero391 Thanks for that. What about maintaining water resistance? Is it still 200m WR with the new sapphire dial window?

[@cartero391]

@@AmericanFreeState Don’t know. I don’t consider the Duro a true dive watch. For that sport get a certified dive watch.

[@DerekMcCoyMusic]

I’d pay way more than it’s worth probably. Haha. That would be a killer watch.

[@luismasanchez9367]

By definitition a DIVER WATCH cannot wear a sapphire crystal, due to hazard if break suvmerged.

[@AmericanFreeState]

At what depth would a sapphire crystal break on a dive watch?

[@theotherside8258]

I was wondering about a scratch protecting coating like you can get for mobiles but I'd always know it was there and i think it would compromise the look as much as any scratch. There is a video where these crystals are tested and another that shows how to remove case scratches. In real life I have seen similar watches on people where the paint on the bezel is the weak point for scratches

[@rondejean7668]

@@AmericanFreeState Rolex has sapphire on the deep sea challenge which is rated 11 thousand meters. Sapphire isn’t an issue.

[@jakenasz3428]

you gotta work on your camera focusing

[@AmericanFreeState]

I've got to work on my focus focusing!

[@dennisvillacorte4122]

If you paid ten dollars for a good watch and complain the 1 percent bad about it , means you won't be be happy about anything

[@user-mo1re1fs4p]

I feel bad for his wife

[@AmericanFreeState]

You're complaining about my little watch video and calling me a petty complainer? Let that sink in. BTW, Casio duros are $50, not $10.

[@AmericanFreeState]

You should feel bad for all those having to read your extremely unoriginal comment.

[@roberthuth7493]

Like

[@PrashantKumar-rn1ey]

Sir, why is ur sentence framing like that ? Have u been fighting a case lately in court or u urself are a lawyer or something ? 😂