The CASIO AE-1200WH-1AV World Timer is probably my favourite best value for money that beats any other GMT watches out there including luxury ones!

This is my honest noob opinion of this watch. First let’s jump into the specifications –

➡️ Case Diameter: Approx. 42mm
➡️ Lug Width: 40mm
➡️ Thickness: 12.5mm
➡️ Lug-to-Lug: Approx 45mm
➡️ Water Resistance: 100m
➡️ Exterior: Resin Glass
➡️ Battery Life: Approx. 10 Years on CR2025
➡️ Accuracy: ±30 seconds per month

When I first saw the watch, oh man, memories of my childhood came back. Although I did not like the World Timer back then, now I’ve grown to appreciate this gem and why this is the watch you should buy if you are looking for a digital watch or simply one in your collection to rotate with.

The display looks confusing at first but when taken a closer look, they are actually segregated neatly into “sections” with the time, date and country at the bottom, the analog seconds hand on the top left and the world map towards the top right of the watch. As a Casio Illuminator, there is LED backlight (with selectable illumination duration) bright enough to see the time at the press of the button on the top right corner. That orange, or amber, backlight it was what we used to have back then as a kid and will like try to see if it can shine like a torchlight.

Okay sorry, I digressed liao.

The watch material splits into 2 type with the case and bezel being Resin and the bracelet in Stainless Steel. There is nothing much to comment on the Resin material but to those who wore Casio watches before, you know how durable this case material is. This is my first time getting a Casio in Stainless Steel and I say it isn’t the best quality out there, I don’t have any issues with it because this is about SGD$37 during a sale and having a stainless steel bracelet is already very good lo. Of course don’t compare to Seikos or Rolex lah and the jingling of the bracelet, if you don’t wear like loose loose like uncle it won’t have that sound but…

…the bracelet link is damn difficult to remove at first. Some links are easy some can vomit blood to remove but overall, once you know the trick it’s relatively easy but don’t forget it has quite a significant amount of micro-adjustments to play around with. The clasp is a Triple-fold Clasp and again for the price, I have no complains about it though it may feel cheap to some. 

(The above 2 photos are not from the Casio AE-1200WH-1AV World Timer but rather the SNK381K1 I was removing the links on both watches the same time and forgotten to take photos of the bracelet links removal. Both are using Friction-Pin type of bracelet links.)

Different strokes for different folks lah. No right or wrong.

Like the usual digital Casios, it comes with Countdown Timer, Stopwatch and Alarm function and the beep sound is sure pretty loud…as it always has been since back in the 90s. They are easy to use, no fuss, just set and go. It also has this hourly time signal like those grandfather clock as usual when every hour it beeps.

Moving on to the Time “section”, it displays the hour, minute, seconds, month, date and day (and country) that quite large enough to see. I have a little presbyopia (老花眼) so I struggled a bit on the month and date at times. Haiya, last time young no such problem leh…..anyway, it’s still legible lah especially for the ones still having healthy eyes. The World Map near the top right corner, that one is very cool you can see it change as you set the international time, the country you are going to be in or curious what time Tokyo is right now. Although it’s not specific like smartwatch, we must remember this one is really just “seven-segment display” kind of digital tech. 

The World Time is probably the best GMT watch for your money, I say. Setting the time for individual country and looking up respectively country’s time is easy. Totally no fuss. There are quite many countries preset into the watch and though it may miss out some directly, you can set the time to the nearest country with in the same time zone. 

If I’m not wrong, the time is automatically set according to the time set in your home country or the time zone you are in. I don’t really use the GMT function, just merely played with it so if you know, please let me know in the comments.

I won’t dive into how to use the individual functions presented in this watch.

It has 100m water resistant so this watch definitely can go places with you. In the “fashion” department, I say if you want to wear this watch but do not want to be passed as an Otaku or a geek, get the Stainless Steel version instead of the full black resin type. Of course, if you are the outdoor kind like sports or serving the military, the black resin is the go-to. I feel the Stainless Steel version goes well with any wear lah especially for the gym or any workout after work.

The case back of course is a closed one with engravings of Casio brand name and model number etc but maybe Casio can consider making one with open exhibition case…or is there one already I’m not aware of ya? 

The watch is very light at 91g and wearing it felt a bit nothing on the wrist. Yes, it is stainless steel but in reality, this is how I felt. Don’t get intimidated by the watch dimensions because my wrist size is 16.25cm and it fits well on my wrist with no overhang whatsoever. I prefer to wear it slightly tight on the wrist although there may be some who would prefer a little loose.

In summary, the CASIO AE-1200WH-1AV World Timer is a stylish Stainless Steel watch that is versatile for any occasions whether for work, play or workouts. The silver colour may not work out for some, though I wish Casio can consider having a black stainless steel versions of it otherwise the black resin is probably the only option. Display is legible but those with presbyopia may struggle a bit with the smaller numbers and the world map but time shouldn’t be a problem.

Setting of the time, local or international, is easy with no fuss and of course referring to them on and off during the day (or night) isn’t difficult at all. Backlight is bright and ample, looking at the display in low light or even in the dark totally no problem at all. Versatility is unparalleled with Stopwatch, Countdown Timer and Alarm functions – all comes with a loud beep. Wearing it is easy, doesn’t feel heavy or cumbersome on the wrist.

The only drawback I can say is that the adjusting the stainless steel bracelet does need a significant amount of patience to get used to.