Casio Duro Marlin (Hard Istiophoridae) review.
The Casio Duro, Marlin or MDV-106 (however you want to refer to it) has gotten a lot of airtime since its introduction in June 2011. According to Hodinkee, 600,000 have been sold worldwide.
So it’s reasonable to see so much hubbub about the model over the years. And why not? It comes in several eye-catching colorways, provides 200 meter water resistance, enjoys a tactically-pleasing ratcheting timing bezel, provides a diver-style watch heft and case size…in a package that is streamlined and unobtrusive.
it has a laundry list of pleasing features that benefits small, medium and large wrists:
44 mm x 12mm x 48mm…weighing 94 grams on the supplied rubber strap.
The handset is particularly nice with its handsome arrow-tipped hour hand. Plus its shiny silver hands, markers and useful lume complete a respectable overlay that brings to life its deep blue sunburst dial that glimmers outward in the noon-day sun like a Blue-crested Jay thrashing its iridescent wings to escape the high desert Juniper from which it was perched.
One gorilla in the room that I feel is nothing more daunting than a music box-cranking Marmoset, is the supplied rubber strap. So many people have declared their acidic loathing for it…and accuse it as a needlessly cheap accompaniment to the watch that somehow diminishes the product. Conversely (and adamantly) I think the strap is soft, pliable, attractive, and constructed for years of wear…and just as comfortable as any strap in my memory costing many times more. In spite of this, I feel no need to swap the strap and plan on wearing it intact…indefinitely.
So…am I happy with my purchase? Just as happy if I was Aqua man…riding the saline swells atop a swift Marlin…laughing at its sonar jokes it might be telling me of the Shrimp and the Haddock pulling themselves up to the Atlantis bar for a Squid ink daiquiri while I ride it sail-back to the setting sun toward the western horizon.
Casio Duro Marlin (Hard Istiophoridae) review.
Yes
No
- Hugs the wrist with its thin profile
- The hands, markers and depth of the dial make the watch look expensive
- It’s so inexpensive
- The hands hit the markers perfectly
- It’s only lost 1.5 seconds the last couple of weeks
- The bezel feels nice and clicky, but is a little hard to turn
- The date window is too small to see without my damn reading glasses
- Neither the strap buckle nor the crown is branded.
Time dictates my linear path to its bitter end. My watches keep me one step ahead of time…and one foot out of the grave.
Thanks for this vivid review! Agree about the strap: I don’t comprehend the hate at all.
Thanks for this vivid review! Agree about the strap: I don’t comprehend the hate at all.
Yeah…I’m a bit taken back by it.
I agree with everything you wrote.
That said, while I don’t hate the stock strap, I found it too blocky a design that looks cheap (IMO). So I changed it. “Problem” solved.
I also don't understand the strap haters. First, that strap does it's job and is comfortable (for me) to wear. It's softer and more pliable than the strap on my G-Shock 5610. I can wear both watches all day and even sleep with them on with no discomfort.
Second, it's a $50 watch. Is it realistic to expect Casio to supply a top tier rubber watch strap at this price level? I don't think so. If you don't like a strap, you swap it out. That's part of the fun. The Duro is a super great watch for the money.
The strap's not particularly bad, but not particularly good, either. It just 'is'.
I put mine on a very high quality, very soft nato strap, and it looks and feels a million bucks.
My MDV-102 is just fine.
Great review. Kinda got me fired up. It’s on my wrist today and possibly the next few days. I too have no problem with the strap but I’m really a bracelet guy so I am saving the strap for a rainy day. Cheers
Sorry, but I wasn't a fan of the Duro's strap and swapped it out shortly after purchasing the watch. I've owned mine for several years now and love it 😀 Here it is on a Casio bracelet, which is OK, but not great either to tell you the truth! LOL!
My bezel was tight out of the box, but after wearing it swimming a few times, it loosened up nicely. Yes, the date window is microscopic. I also don't mind the strap since it is tough and works well with "beater" duties.
I wore a Casio F-91W as a kid, all day, every day, everywhere. Swimming, playing, camping, bathing, and everything in between. I used to get red, dry, scales on my wrist from never taking the watch off.
Immediately after buying my two MDV106s, I got flashbacks of my irritated skin as a child, and opted to swap the rubber straps out for a steel bracelet and a vinyl strap. I may be being a little hasty, but rubber is known for gripping/chafing and being water-tight. Hoping to avoid skin issues, my thought was that steel slides on the skin, and vinyl mesh breathes. (and hopefully I have at least a tad more hygienic sense than when I was 7 😬 )
Personally, I've never cursed Casio's name for their default watch band. It's a dive watch. The rubber strap is literally perfect if you're using the watch for its intended purpose. On top of that, by Casio not spending a lot of money on the included strap, they keep the price (and therefore the barrier of entry) extremely low. Millionaires like Bill Gates wear a Duro, but it wouldn't blow your mind to see one on the wrist of a homeless person. It tough, it keeps good time... it's arguably the perfect watch.
I may not want to wear Casio's rubber straps, but I completely, 100% defend them. They are the exact strap that should come with the Duro. I just think it's great that the watch "looks the part" when embellished.
Sorry, but I wasn't a fan of the Duro's strap and swapped it out shortly after purchasing the watch. I've owned mine for several years now and love it 😀 Here it is on a Casio bracelet, which is OK, but not great either to tell you the truth! LOL!
I put my MDV-102 on a rubber strap.
I bought one for my brother but have yet to get one for myself. I'll get to it eventually.
I bought one for my brother but have yet to get one for myself. I'll get to it eventually.
Take the plunge…you’ll be glad you did.
Love the Duro. I have 2, black dial and a blue one. Strap is serviceable but I have a premium rubber strap that fits. Also looks good on a Nato.
The duro for the price is exceptional. Sadly I don't wear it much because of the size but it's a good lake watch not being afraid to drop it way deep...
My MDV-102 is just fine.
That's amazing! I'm definitely going to start hunting for one of these. How do you think it stacks up to the Duro?
It is a Duro.
I put the strap that came with my Duro on my Invicta Pro Diver and I think it works better on that watch because the PD is smaller.
For the hell of it I switched out the standard issue DURO strap-which as we all know is just ok(what can one expect at $60)-for a BARTON silicone strap which is infinitely softer,more pliable and comfortable-wouldn’t change back if you paid me.
Sorry, but I wasn't a fan of the Duro's strap and swapped it out shortly after purchasing the watch. I've owned mine for several years now and love it 😀 Here it is on a Casio bracelet, which is OK, but not great either to tell you the truth! LOL!
I wore my MDV106 on the steel bracelet from another Casio diver-style watch, MTD-1079D-1AVCF. It has a signed clasp and brushed outer/polished mid links. It added a nice touch of class to the Duro.
Sorry, but I wasn't a fan of the Duro's strap and swapped it out shortly after purchasing the watch. I've owned mine for several years now and love it 😀 Here it is on a Casio bracelet, which is OK, but not great either to tell you the truth! LOL!
Good choice , Nice and simple!