Casio Oceanus T200 Review

Casio Oceanus T200

Hi all, here is my review of the Oceanus T200, but to start with will give you some background as to why I bought this one…

I do like the finer things in life, Champagne, Porsches, Grand Seiko and exotic holiday destinations. Alas my wallet disagrees and hence I drive a Skoda, drink Aldi Cava, last holiday was to North Wales in a caravan and I got the Oceanus.

I have lusted over a Grand Seiko quartz for a considerable time but hence the above explanation.

I wanted something with quality and that little bit rare as they are Japan domestic market only. After reading all the reviews online and on YouTube, many have said that the Oceanus punches well above its weight, and in some areas is close to a GS. So here goes...

Specs first.

It is 41.4mm diameter, 49.5 lug to lug and 20mm lug width. All in on the bracelet it weighs 133 g. Its a 3 hander and has some tech. For a start its Tough Solar and a full charge should last 5 months or so. Its a clever thing and has a power save function that switches stuff off when its dark to save the charge. I am the same and when I get tired many of my human functions and facilities shut down also! It is also a Multiband 6, so if your in a part of the world that gets the signal the Oceanus will be spot on accurate all of the time. If your not then possibly emigrate, or use the Bluetooth function that syncs with your phone and its accurate as can be. 100 metres water resistance but no screw down (signed) crown. Last time I swam I discovered I am about 6ft water resistant for about 30 seconds before I swallow copious amounts of water, at said depth.

It cost me £340 (before shipping) from Japan, and lucky me, those awfully nice people at Customs decided to forget about me or decided I am a charity case and left me alone. If any of those fine professional and splendid Customs persons are on WC, then thanks, hugs and kisses your way. I curtsy in your general direction.

Dial & Handset and other stuff.

There are a few colours on the Oceanus, I chose the dark blue and its excellent. Indoors or dark it looks almost black and in bright light or outdoors the blue brightens a lot and with some sunburst. Try as I might I cannot see the solar panel. One of the bling things about the dial is that the indices look as if they are floating above the dial and are cut with angles etc. that catch any light and make them sparkle. They appear very high quality. The hour and minuet hands are the same with lumen in the centre. The second hand is blue with a white end that is so thin its hard to see without my glasses, as is the date window that is on the small side. I put this down to me, and my increasing decrepitude's in the eyesight (and other) departments. But as said the quality really seems up there with some of the big boys. Being critical the handset could be a ickle bit longer by the size of a Nats private parts. The sapphire really blows most watches out of the water its that good, on mine anyway. I have not seen better even on some of my expensive watches. Its flat with the prerequisite AR, but its party piece is it seems to glow blue all around the outside at certain angles, its a bit like ambient lighting for watches. Casio claims its 99 % something clarity, and I think they are right. At some angles it looks like there is no glass at all. I have compared the sapphire to my (5 years saving £20 a week! ~ imagine that ~ no new watches for 5 years!) Rolex and the R’s is ultra superb in every way, but the Oceanus beats it by a smidgen. As you can see by the photos there is some writing around the edge to tell you certain functions, in real life these vanish, you really need a camera or magnifying glass to see them. Lumen is best I have seen on a Casio and lasts quite a long time, blue loom of course. Seen better but for a Casio (I have 4) its head and shoulders above the rest by some margin. Finally it has a perpetual calendar, which is rather neat apart from the fact that I cannot read it without my glasses. Roll on February 28th, I am waiting until midnight.

Case and Bracelet.

Some people (not me) have compared the case and its finishing to the GS I mentioned before. I have no way of knowing as every time I go to a AD they wont let me in after I unconsciously lick the window of the shop. Its brushed then polished then brushed again, in the right places, and all in all is rather excellent. The angles and creases are cut with laser precision and are very nice to the touch. Its a great case especially for a Casio and at this price point its a 10 from me. Sorry take that back to an 8.5 as it has pressed in case back with indecipherable writing. Unfortunately, like my hair, things slightly recede when it comes to the bracelet. In fact not slightly, they go downhill a lot. On a positive note the brushing is great and they have high polish bits and bobs that catch the light well. I have never had a Casio bracelet that doesn’t jangle and the Oceanus jangles too. Its very solid and all that, but if the bracelet was like the case I might forget (probably not) about the GS. To heap on some more shame the gap after you close the (milled) clasp is about 2mm. If your one of those people who catches that on something regularly, then your in for some fun. It has two holes for micro adjustment but does have half links. To me, it just feels that it could do with a little more heft, as it were. To finish on a positive note its comfy as my favourite slippers, and no jangle on wrist.

Final Thoughts.

I think I can sum this watch up with an analogy, and who doesn’t love one of those.

So your on a flight, London to Tokyo say, in one of those fabulous A350s or Dream-liners and your in economy at the back right of the plane, shortly before take off. Its a nice seat, seems plenty of room and spotlessly clean. Up pops the steward and asks if you would swap seats for a family, and there might be a possible upgrade. You casually get up, adjust your cuffs and say “Of course, it would be a pleasure to help out” like James Bond. In reality you jump up like a jack in the box and say the same thing, but rather in the manner of Kermit the Frog on helium.

So you follow the steward up the isle and spot Premium Economy. Wow you think, look at the size of those seats and that screen is massive, but you walk right past them, through the partition into Business Class. You spot the even bigger seats and say to yourself “looks like nappa leather” as you marvel at the passengers eating canopies, putting on noise cancelling headphones and starting up a screen bigger than the one you have at home. The steward just keeps on going and you approach First Class. Your heart skips a beat. You look through... is that Tom Hanks chatting to Jodie Comer? Looks like I might be next to Stephen Fry! Then the steward does a sharp left then left and back you go, stymied at the last moment. All is not lost and your shown to your business class seat. So you sit down and realise the seats folds flat, as the steward hands you a glass of chilled sparking wine and some pistachios. As you reach for the glass the steward says “nice watch sir”.

The initial disappointment of almost getting to first class fades quickly. You think about that you paid economy fare and here you are in business class, as you rifle through the free amenities pack, not realising at that time its free, and you wonder what items could accidentality end up in your bag.

You almost rubbed shoulders with the great and the good, but all in all you are happy as can be, and don’t feel too much out of place.

A bit like the Casio Oceanus T200.

Any thoughts on the T200 and any other Oceanus appreciated, especially if you have one, or in general, and thanks for taking the time reading my review.