Product Review: Casio Baby-G Jelly Watch, Baby-G Sweet Poison and Oceanus

Posted July 20, 2007 at 11:50 AM by Bridget Sullivan

Section: Her Fitness, Her Gear & Apparel, Special Features, HAL Reviews

I have a working theory that watches don’t like me.  In almost 20 years of turning circles around the track – the last 10 of those years much more seriously – I have managed to kill at least half a dozen top rated sports watches.  It’s not surprising, then, that I often find that expensive watches lack durability and toughness.  So when I received some sample Casio Baby-G watches and the Ladies Oceanus to review, I was intrigued, but cautiously skeptical, of their eye-catching tagline: “Withstands the impacts and abuse that only you can deliver.” Sounds like the perfect line of watches for any serious watch-wearer whose active lifestyle demands a fair amount of impact and “abuse.”

Casio’s Baby-Gs did not disappoint.  While I abstain from referring to any person, place, or object as “perfect,” I will say that these watches live up to their hype and that they are incredibly durable, reliable, tough, lightweight, and comfortable.  Greater still, Baby-G watches come in a range of styles, colors, and even shapes to suit both your technical and inner-fashionista needs.  This is definitely a refreshing case where function meets fashion – allowing active women with a feminine flair to combine chic and classy with tough and sweaty. 

Baby-G 1001 Series: Baby-G Jelly $79.00

The Baby-G 1001 Series is for the serious athlete whose active adventures require an easy-to-read chronograph, unparalleled water resistance, and durability.  The “jelly” (or, in technical terms, “resin”) watchband itself is its most alluring feature right out of the box: lightweight, flexible, and extra comfortable. The face of the watch is solid and attractive; the Baby-G Jelly features a digital dial code, tanning timer, world time, and a backlight with afterglow.

The one difficulty that we found with the Baby-G Jelly and the other Baby-G watches is that they are not the kind of watches that you can pop out of the box and onto your wrist without familiarizing yourself with their many features and technical specifications.  It will take some time to learn all of the features, but once you get everything down, it’s as easy as riding a bike.

In the Baby-G line, this is definitely the watch that I would recommend for the most active women.  It’s sportier and more athletic than the other watches, and it features the best and most easily readable stopwatch. 

Technical Specifications:

• Tanning Timer; Measuring unit: 1 second; Preset start times: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 minutes; Other: remaining timer graphic • Shock Resistant • 200M Water Resistant • EL Backlight with Afterglow • World Time: 29 times zones (48 cities), city code display, daylight saving on/off • 4 Daily Alarms / 1 Snooze Alarm • 1/100 second stopwatch: Measuring capacity: 59’59.99”; Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times • Hourly Time Signal • Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099) • 12/24 Hour Formats • Accuracy: +/-30 sec

Baby-G 2001 Series: Sweet Poison $79.00

The Baby-G Sweet Poison 2001 Series offers straight-line designs, wide bands, a square watch face, and looks that wed elegance and maturity.  This isn’t necessarily the watch that you want to run track intervals with (purchase the Baby-G Jelly for that), but this is definitely the kind of watch that showcases such a versatile style that you can be just as comfortable wearing it to the gym for a session with your personal trainer as you can wearing it out on the dance floor to accessorize your new summer dress. 

This is the watch that surprised me the most:  when I initially received it, I wasn’t sold on its square, 80s influenced flavor.  But when I actually put it on my wrist, I didn’t want to take it off.  In fact, after a couple of months trying out the Baby-Gs, this is the watch that I keep returning to for my everyday activities. 

My only criticism, however, is that the numbers are almost too tiny to read with just a quick glance; to get an accurate read of the time requires a closer look. 

Overall, this is a funky and hip, yet durable and robust, fashionable timepiece. 

Technical Specifications:

• Shock Resistant • 100M Water Resistant • Auto LED Light with Afterglow • World Time: 29 time zones (48 cities), city code display, daylight saving on/off • 5 Independent Daily Alarms • Countdown Timer • Measuring unit: 1 second • Countdown range: 1 minute to 24 hours • Auto Repeat • 1/100 second stopwatch • Measuring capacity: 59"59.99" • Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times • Hourly Time Signal • Button Operation Tone On/Off • 3 Alarm Patterns • 5 Main Display Area Styles • 00-Second Animation on/off • Button Tone Operation On/Off • Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099) • 12/24 Hour Formats • Accuracy: +/-30 seconds per month • Battery CR1616 • Approx. battery life: 2 years

Baby-G 191 Series: Sweet Poison $89.00

The Baby-G 191 Series boasts modern and contemporary styles that make this watch sophisticated, technical, and attractive.  This series comes with all of the traits that make the Baby-G a blend of function and fashion, but this particular watch is more suited for your post-workout activities than your jaunts in the gym.  While the Baby-G 191 is arguably more attractive than both the Jelly and 2001 series, its stopwatch - since it functions in a very limited space on the face of the clock - is nearly impossible to read. 

That said, there is no getting around the fact that this is a stylish and chic timepiece.  All of our wear-testers raved about its look, its feather-light watchband, and its overall comfort.

Technical Specification:

• Shock Resistant • 100M Water Resistant • LED Light with Afterglow • World Time: 29 time zones (48 cities), city code display, daylight saving on/off • Daily Alarm • Countdown Timer • Measuring unit: 1 second • Countdown range: 1 minute to 60 minutes • 1/100 second stopwatch • Measuring capacity: 59’59.99” • Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times • Hourly Time Signal • Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099) • 12/24 Hour Formats • Accuracy: +/-15 seconds per month • Battery CR1220 • Approx. battery life: 2 years

Oceanus $380 - $400 The Oceanus is the most sophisticated, elegant, classy, and technical watched that we reviewed from Casio. Just as Casio promises, these watches are definitely “built with style, functionality and technology in mind.” For those looking to splurge and tastefully combine “sporty” and “elegant,” then this is the watch for you.

The Oceanus is the world’s first atomic solar chronograph watch.  Not only can you enjoy the pinpoint accuracy of atomic timekeeping and classic chronographic movement, but you can also enjoy a tough solar powered watch that flaunts its ability to energize itself through even the lowest level of illumination (natural, solar, or artificial light). 

The Oceanus features Sapphire Crystal, the most valuable and scratch resistant glass crystal available, and it comes in a choice of Titanium or Stainless Steel.  Titanium is stronger and more durable than steel, yet lighter in weight; it is also hypoallergenic, nickel free, and corrosion resistant.

Finally, the Oceanus is also the first watch to offer “5 motor technology” combined with Atomic Solar technology. Each motor controls a movement on the watch face (second hand, chronograph, dual time, and 24 hour time). 

If you’re looking to indulge your adventurously athletic and fashionably sophisticated palette, then look no further than the Oceanus.

Technical Specifications:

• Multi-Band Atomic Timekeeping (US, Japan) Receives time calibration radio signals which keep the displayed time accurate Auto receive function (6 times per day) Manual receive function Signal:  WWVB, Frequency:  60kHz US, 40/60kHz Japan • Tough Solar Power • 50M Water Resistant • Dual Time • Daily Alarm • 1/20 second chronograph • Measuring capacity: 23:59’59.95” • Measuring modes: Elapsed time • Auto Calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099) • Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month (with no signal calibration) • Storage Battery CTL1025 • Power Saving Function • Approx. battery life: 4 months on full charge (without further exposure to light)