The Duro Shines in Person
When the Duro arrived, I was surprised when I opened the simple Casio box and found a watch that looked much more expensive and far less elementary than its humble price tag would suggest. The dial has an attractive sunburst effect that instantly grabbed my attention and invited me to contemplate the watch as an object of relative beauty over and above simply being a tough diver.
This is not the first time Casio has exceeded my expectations. I’m a big fan of their rectangular-faced digital G-Shocks. Indeed, I didn’t expect to wear my G-Shock as much as I do, but it’s so lightweight and resilient that I find myself wearing it almost daily. Cracking open the Duro similarly put a smile on my face, as if to say, “Casio, you’ve done it again!”
Before receiving the watch, I saw plenty of photographs and video reviews of the Duro. It had been on my radar given its status as a value proposition: a truly capable dive watch with a classic dial design that gives Rolex Submariner vibes.
However, I’d always felt the Duro lacked an identity of its own based on what I saw online. On the wrist, it’s a different story altogether. It wears light and thin at only 12 mm high and, in true Casio form, it offers excellent quality for an accessible price.
The Duro is Good Enough for a Tech Billionaire
The Duro has been spotted several times on the wrist of none other than the co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates. The fact that one of the wealthiest people in the world wears a $50 Casio when he could afford the most coveted Patek Phillippe speaks volumes of both the Casio Duro and Gates.
Gates is famously unpretentious, just like the Duro—a true do-it-all watch that quietly gets the job done. It is a highly practical timepiece. The Duro’s Japanese quartz movement is accurate to within a handful of seconds a month and its tough, stainless steel construction, with 200 m water resistance, means that the watch can withstand almost any activity a human being can put it through.
Taking the watch out of the box, all you have to do is set the time and date, and then replace the battery every three or so years. Unlike an automatic or mechanical watch that needs servicing, the quartz Duro should last many years with little to no maintenance.
Bracelet & Strap Alternatives
As previously mentioned, the supplied resin strap is not particularly impressive. It is rigid, meaning that it is difficult to get a snug fit around the wrist. However, the bright side is that with a 22 mm lug width, there is no shortage of strap alternatives for the Duro.
I would recommend popping the Duro on one of Barton’s Elite Silicon Bands, of which there are many color variations. For a traditional and conservative look, you could opt for black. Another idea would be to complement the Duro’s second-hand arrow with a red band.
All of Barton’s Elite Silicon Bands come with quick-release spring bars and two options for strap length to suit a variety of wrist sizes. From experience, these bands are extremely supple and a joy to wear. The keeper even locks the end of the band in place: a neat touch that stops the excess from flapping about. This band definitely has a premium feel about it, especially considering its cost of $21.99.
Archer Watch Straps Silicone Bands are excellent value and come with quick release spring bars, making it very easy to change out bands. If you’re after something fun for a weekend at the beach or in the mountains, you could go for Portland Orange. It really makes the watch pop on the wrist. For the price, at $14.99, these bands offer great quality and durability, though they are slightly lower quality and not as supple as the Barton Elite bands.
For an even more rugged and utilitarian look, you could throw the Duro on a NATO strap, such as Archer Watch Straps Classic NATO. The Khaki color variety adds a militaristic and outdoorsy feel to the watch. For only $13.99 this band is a bargain.
Price/Quality Ratio
For $50 it would be unreasonable to expect the Duro to have the exact same quality as a luxury dive watch. Yet, instead of making the watch look and feel cheap, Casio has designed a timepiece that is extremely functional with a minimalist and yet appealing aesthetic.
Sure, you are not getting a sapphire crystal, super bright lume, high-end finishing, or a fantastic strap as standard. But you should take these factors with a grain of salt, since you simply cannot have it all when paying so little. All things considered, the Duro is by far the best value quartz diver on the market. If you get a thrill out of a great bargain, you’ve got to add a Duro to your collection.
Do we recommend the Duro?
In short, yes. The Duro is an absolute steal. To keep the cost low, Casio has chosen a quartz movement that has two advantages over automatic movements: accuracy and thinness (autos are much thicker).
However, after testing out the watch for a week, I encountered a few small issues. First, the bezel is quite hard to turn. I lost grip easily and had to dig my nails into the coin edges to make it rotate.
Second, the mineral crystal is prone to smudging. I took the Duro out for a few runs and it performed well, feeling super light, but the crystal got quite steamy and required frequent wiping to read the time clearly.
Also, the watch might wear large on smaller wrists, although the average lug to lug length helps with wearability.
If you’re willing to overlook these minor details, which—let’s face it—are a consequence of the fact that the Duro costs about the same as dining out these days, then the Duro is a phenomenal prospect. It’s a super tough, handsome, and affordable Casio diver. There’s a lot to love here.
Specs & Features
| Case diameter | 44 mm |
|---|---|
| Lug-to-lug distance | 49 mm |
| Lug/strap width | 22 mm |
| Movement | Japanese quartz; three-hand plus date |
| Case material | stainless steel |
| Strap material | resin |
| Crystal | mineral |
| Bezel | 120 click, unidirectional |
| Water resistance | 200 m |
Take a moment to look at this.
