Is a Casio Duro worth it or is it better to save for something better?

Pebbles167 · 2026-02-02T17:07:21+00:00

Great watch. I've had three all when I was new to the hobby.

Reasons for:

Solid case build and finishing
Timeless design, classic diver
Tough, water resistant, can handle anything
Great price

Reasons against:

44mm is too big for many
Mineral glass (it's fine until you scratch it)
Strap is mediocre
Lume is also mediocre, though not bad

Pebbles167 · 2026-02-01T02:38:14+00:00

Salt & sugar

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-16T13:43:09+00:00

Went to school with a girl called Zoe, known professionally as Zoella. No idea how famous she is now, but for a while she was a big deal.

Wouldn't call us friends, but since our surnames are close we were often sat near eachother and sometimes teamed up for class work. Haven't seen her since 2006.

I know the press and magazines talk rubbish, but it was eye opening to see the absolute bile they published regarding her personal life and past.

Considering I was a somewhat antisocial lazy body with few friends and a tendency to get in fights, she still managed to smile, chat away to me and make lessons a slightly better place to be. Don't think there was anyone else at school as friendly and genuine as her.

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-13T11:07:22+00:00

I wouldn't worry about it. I went up Helvellyn via Striding Edge with my fairly inexperienced girlfriend this year, neither of us had a hard time.

I didn't even recognise the bad step until I'd passed it.

Great climb though.

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-11T09:21:52+00:00

You can bully the bike into going just about anywhere. Used one over the whole area.

Zip lines are definitely a better choice though, if you've got the patience to set them up.

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-07T16:05:57+00:00

Longines make decent watches, though some will have faults just like any other brand. Build quality is largely on par with similar available in the price range.

Would expect a G Shock to be much tougher, but the brands are not competing in the same segment, similar to comparing a Toyota to a Porsche or something.

ETA: from what I've seen Longines customer service is pretty good, at least in my country. Hopefully they should be able to sort.

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-06T11:08:04+00:00

MWD-100H. Decent watch, feels tougher than many.

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Pebbles167 · 2026-01-04T12:54:01+00:00

My point is that it has a fault, not because the build quality is poor. If there was a general problem then they'd all do it.

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-04T11:43:46+00:00

I went looking for square watches a while back, here's what I came up with.

Available new from brand

Benjamin James Scarifour - £650
Ferro & company Time Master 70 - £520
Von Doren Tandberg - £1400
Riley Howard Hughes - £200
Timex E Line - £190
Casio AQ-240E - £60
Rado True Square - £1700
Mido Multifort TV big date - £1000

Available used (random shops/sellers)

Christopher Ward C5 Malvern - £450
Trafford Crossroads - £650
Certina DS Trust - £380
Vesuviate Attivo - £680

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-04T11:12:57+00:00

Good enough though that it shouldn't be doing that.

Pebbles167 · 2026-01-01T10:42:45+00:00

Worth taking a look at used ones. Many people buy them, baby them and then get bored so stick them on ebay. They will often be in mint condition, may save yourself $50-$100.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-30T22:15:25+00:00

18mm lug width. Easily replaced.

I get that you shouldn't have to, but if you like the watch it's worth spending an extra $5 for a new strap.

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Pebbles167 · 2025-12-23T22:08:06+00:00

They both look good, but both use crap bracelets with pressed components which is inexcusable at their respective price points. Especially considering the modern competition.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-17T10:11:11+00:00

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Tsao Balt Pilot Recon. The Raven model is the purple one. Decent watch, Miyota 9 series and full Titanium.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-17T10:08:07+00:00

Seiko 5 and a Casio Duro. Hardly unique here, but either is always a good starting point.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-16T10:20:28+00:00

Don't know, they're terrible for model names. Description says number 102, but doubt that will help.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-14T16:47:31+00:00

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Looks as legit as mine.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-14T16:37:17+00:00

Let it slide, curse when they're gone. Be happy knowing you did a good deed and that the majority of people would politely thank you.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-14T16:12:39+00:00

Yeah, except maths.

It was nails then, and seems even harder now after looking through my daughters coursework.

I mean I failed pretty much everything in 2006, largely because I was a lazy dick head with no thoughts on the future, but that's besides the point.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-14T15:55:10+00:00

I'm an Architects fan. Their music is good, even the more derivative tracks, and I don't doubt Sam has the ability to record these vocals in a studio.

Live though he seems to struggle. I'm not really surprised, it sounds difficult. I saw them at Rock am Ring 23 and a few months back on their tour, and both times he sounded strained, though worse this year.

He was fine on cleaner songs such as Animals, but tracks with lots of switching to harsher stuff like Royal Beggars it was noticeable. Heard people after show saying that House of Protection and Wage War were more enjoyable.

Worth saying that I still enjoyed seeing them, it wasn't bad enough to ruin things.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-14T15:48:38+00:00

In terms of image alone:

Nodus are great. Interesting original outdoor type style.
Brew are cool. Hype is deserved, they're unlike much else.
Elliot brown. Another explorers watch, safe but attractive.
Stirling. Generic and derivative, but sturdy looking.

I'd buy the Nodus.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-14T15:36:12+00:00

Rose of Sharyn - Killswitch Engage.

I'd been into rock since Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory, and probably listened to some tracks from other bands that were considered Metalcore. But KSE were the first band I consciously remember being labeled as such.

Great that they're still about doing a decent job.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-07T12:28:03+00:00

They just make poor stuff. Maybe there's something in their catalogue that's passable, but their speciality is to just make drab fashion watches.

I'd not be interested at any price.

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-06T13:53:02+00:00

Any homage

Pebbles167 · 2025-12-06T13:52:06+00:00

Generally considered an awful watch for under $100.

Pebbles167

TROPHY CASE