The Casio Pathfinder Project
Posted on 12. Oct, 2009 by zevmo in Technology, Wearable Tech
I have had the TAG Heuer for close to 18 years. Wow! It has held up pretty well, despite the pricey battery replacements, and the issues with my date stopping at 29, each month. So, I decided, my birthday gift will be a new watch.
Now, I can’t just get any watch, I have to get a tech watch full off lots of options I will never use, but simply increase my geek cred. I did consider another TAG, Alterra, Tissot, Citizen, and Casio. I decided to save the buttload-o-cash (between $300-1200), and go with the Casio for less than $200. My interests in the specifics (how many clocks/altitude stages/etc.) were less important to me than look and fit. Most importantly features I needed were:
- I never want to replace a battery
- Setting of the time automatically
- Backlight
- Deflecting bullets
My first look was to the PAW1500 line, specifically the PAW1500-1v. This looked like a super-beefy, high-tech, testosterone watch that shielded me from laser beams. I tried that on, it is cool looking, and really big. The first thing I thought was, I don’t really need to know what the tides are in Monaco. Also, as neat as it was, the height was troubling b/c I figured that I wouldn’t be able to wear it with long-sleeve shirts. This model had the “resin” band, which isn’t the classiest look, but I knew that the watch wouldn’t be worn with my tux (that is what my TAG is for). I considered to dress it up a little with the PAW1500T-7V titanium model, but from what I have read the band is scratch-prone (surface coating rather than solid titanium). I nixed the titanium as a choice based on that reason.
The PAW-1300-1V was my next product to look at. It seemed smaller, not significantly, but enough to appreciate the difference in reference to the long-sleeve criterion. 
I wish there was just an option to have the whole watch in flat black (not with reverse face), but there isn’t. The size and options on this model was worth the $60 in savings. I think that the PAW1300 would suit most people who would like a watch like this, and the new PAW2000, which is selling for around $100+ dollars more, will be the solid choice once the price comes down. And I really did like the sunrise/sunset option on that model.
What kept surprising me was how much less you could get this watch online for. Every time I go into a retail store I think to myself, why do people shop here? The cheapest price, with all of the coupons, was from Kohl’s (300 – 25% SALE= 225 – 15% COUPON= 191.25; 204.63 w/tax). I picked this up from Amazon, complete for $186 shipped, no coupons. Without the special coupon, that’s a ridiculous $39 difference.
FInal note: I ordered the paw1300-1v from Amazon today. Once I get it I will give a more in-depth review. I hope I made a good choice, but let’s face it, I didn’t spend $2000 on another TAG, so I am still ahead for the next few years while I explore and examine this new class of watches. The most difficult thing I noticed was navigating Casio’s website and myriad of models to choose from. When I write the first-look of the watch, i’ll get more specific about that experience as well.
