The Casio Ocean T200 can be, perhaps reductively, classified as a “hybrid” watch, but that doesn’t actually seem to appropriately articulate what this watch has going for it. When I think of “hybrid” watches, I think of features such as step counting, device alerts, and other app-integrated controls. That’s not what we’re talking about here. The Bluetooth connectivity of the T200 serves to only synchronize the time and track the power reserve/charge of the battery. However, it is the focus on the time-keeping functionality of the Bluetooth features that make this watch less of a tech toy masquerading as a watch, and more of a beautifully designed timepiece with a few cool, convenient features.
The design of the T200 dial is a bit of a departure from other Oceanus models as it does not contain complications and features common to the line such as a stopwatch, day of the week, world time, etc. Rather, the T200 focuses more on a clean, captivating dial and marker combination. It does, however, keep some of the more critical features such as Tough Solar MultiBand 6 and an Auto Calendar that effectively makes it a “set-and-forget” experience.
Notable Specifications
- Case Size: 41.4mm
- Lug to Lug: 49mm
- Thickness: 10.7mm
- Crystal: Sapphire with AR Coating
- Water Resistance: 10 Bar
- Accuracy: Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
Why the Casio Oceanus?
This was one of those watches that has been a bit of an enigma in my mind since I started the hobby. One of the first cheap watches I bought was the Casio Duro* and I’ve invariably associated the words “Casio” and “watches” with “cheap” and “unrefined.” Don’t get me wrong, I love the Duro, as I still wear it and love it to this very day. But, it lacks any of the finishing, solid construction, and fine details of nearly all watches that surpass it in price.
From time to time I would come across a Casio Oceanus and I would immediately be captivated by the brushed surfaces, bold markers, and clean dials. At the time, I didn’t understand who these watches were supposed to appeal to because I couldn’t fathom any person shelling out $400+ on a Casio watch.
Since then, I’ve obviously learned a great deal about the various Casio lines. And while I’ve never gotten into G-Shocks, I am just about amazed every time I lay hands on an Edifice model. I do believe that if the rational side of my brain had control over my purchasing decisions and not the ceaseless consumerist side, I would own just 2 or 3 Casio Edifice watches and be done with it.
They function wonderfully, they’re incredibly well built with great finishing on the case and the designs are fantastic (for the most part). Well, they do leave a bit to be desired in the way of bracelets as they’re quite “jangly” and lack solid anything. That said, the bracelets are generally quite comfortable and if you can’t stomach them, a Barton Silicone strap is always an Amazon click away.
All this to say, the Oceanus line seems to greatly improve on what Casio already does extremely well as the watches feels premium in a way that’s commensurate with their asking price. While the T200 is not perfect, this watch has many things going for it that make it a bit different than other watches in my collection.
Why I Love The Casio Oceanus T200
1. The Floating Markers – The markers are actually cut into the chapter ring that sits just atop the dial, allowing there to be a visible separation from the markers and the dial floor. This gives the watch face a dimension unlike one I’ve seen before. The markers themselves have beautiful brushing, a beveled edge on the inner side, and a notch on the outer side. There’s just a lot going on aesthetically without seeming busy. In fact, the dial’s sterility is, and I’ll just say it, pretty sexy.
2. Blue-Tinted Crystal – This is an effect that can go awry if overdone. I had this Relic watch* when I was in high school that was a good example of this effect gone “off the rails”. Obviously, the Rolex Milgauss is an example of this being done incredibly well. I think that T200 nails it. The blue tint, that is mostly only visible on the very edge of the crystal, is set against the very dark blue dial (yes, the dial is actually blue) and presents as if the crystal is glowing in certain lights. It’s an effect that is hard to capture in a photo and is very fetching in person. I am not aware of many other watches that employ this effect with this level of success.
3. Bluetooth Connectivity – Yes, I know this is going to be hard for some people to hear but this is a major convenience that should not be overlooked. When this watch arrived, I was able to connect it to the Casio Oceanus app within seconds. It was nearly a magical moment when the watch’s hands synched with the app and swept to the perfect time, completely in lockstep with the diagram of the watch in the app. That’s just cool – I don’t care how big of a purist you are.
Top Three Nitpicks
1. Dial Text for Connectivity – While I love the Bluetooth and radio connectivity features themselves, I don’t care for the textual markers for them. While I can appreciate that the features require some sort of indicator as part of the functionality, I still have a hard time seeing these seemingly nonsensical alpha characters on the dial. The good news is that the indicators are less obtrusive than they are on other dials with radio, satellite, or GPS control. They’re nicely tucked in between the markers and aren’t really noticeable at first glance. I have a Citizen Satellite Wave that really calls attention to these in such an obvious way that there’s no missing it.
2. The Bracelet Jangle – You’ll find this criticism of this watch in nearly every review and it’s a weird one because the bracelet is actually pretty nice and well-constructed. For whatever reason, when not on the wrist, it sounds almost as jangly as a bracelet taken from the Edifice line. And whether or not this actually denotes any lack of quality, my brain can’t help but process it that way. The bracelet isn’t perhaps as nice as some of the bracelets that you might get on micro brand watches in the same price range, but it’s significantly better than any bracelet you would get from Seiko at this price point.
3. Pin and Collar Sizing – While this is still related to the bracelet, this had nothing to do with how it feels on the wrist. I flung the first collar that I tried to place into one of the links. Gone. Never to be found again. I had to place an order on Esslinger for all three pipe sizes because I have no freaking clue which size is needed. This madness needs to end. Full stop.
The Chance This Stays In The Collection
85% – This watch is unique enough that I don’t know what else could replace it with and, while I hate this term, it has an “x-factor” that I just can’t place. It’s just cool and exciting in a way that only a Japanese watch can be. Also, it’s a JDM product and there’s not a ton of them floating around the states. I suppose for that reason, it will actually hold its value decently well. There is a potential that I won’t wear the watch with a whole lot of regularity, and that could contribute to a future sale because ultimately wrist time is the only metric that matters here.
The Bottom Line
While I’ve only owned this watch for a few week or so, there are no regrets for having finally pulled the trigger on getting one. I bought this one second hand and I’m glad I did. Not only did I get a great price, but I also didn’t have to wait weeks to receive it from Japan or pay weird duties. The watch is a head-turner and seems to work well both on the bracelet and on a NATO strap.
I think this fills an interesting spot in a collection, as it’s not a true dress watch, though it can be dressed up. I could also see this being used as an everyday wear or GADA watch. For me, it fills the oddball or “just for fun” role in my collection. Simply put, it wasn’t filling any void in my collection but that doesn’t invalidate its appeal, beauty, or gratification that comes with finally owning one – available for $450 on Amazon.*
Casio’s are always so tempting! I’m not sure I could get past the US$450 for one, even with the movement, tech and sapphire crystal. This seems like a very solid offering that a lot of people will pass on because of comparisons to brands like Tissot, Hamilton and Seiko at around the same price point. Not to mention innumerable microbrands.
Sven, totally understand the hesitation, but once you lay hands on an Oceanus, I think you’ll quickly realize that this isn’t a typical Casio. The comparison to other brands that offer automatic/mechanical watches at similar price points is real. However, I’ll argue that few of those brands will offer a cool factor and case finishing that Casio does here. Nor do I think they’ll turn heads as the Oceanus does. Just 2 cents, brother.
apparently when linked by Bluetooth to your phone, it keeps the same time accuracy as your phone does. With the perpetual calendar to year 2100 it’s a set & forget that the other watches you mention can’t match. If you add in the (alleged) zaratsu polishing – for me its value exceeds the others. But like all watches, it’s a strictly personal thing?
Nice looking watch and beautiful pictures. I wish they had kept this one at 39 mm, like it’s predecessor. That blue and black strap looks great, is it a Chevron?
I couldn’t agree more. Really stunning but just too big.
I first saw an Oceanus about 11 years ago. Oh I might have seen them in Japan in the early 2000s but can’t be sure.
Anyway, I wanted one, but couldn’t understand why they were so expensive. I would have a look at the Premium Model case and not quite get it, then buy a Rangeman or whatever. I remember another customer looking at the case at the same time as me. He looked at the Oceanus, the the Edifices and said, “How can they be so much?”
I didn’t know.
I bought a OCW-T1000 about three years ago, after I had learned about finishing and the difficulties of dealing with titanium. After I understood.
I love mine. Absolutely love it.
To me it is at the pinnacle of “Japanese Tech watch”. Whereas GS are uber-traditionalists, Casio have gone their own way, to great success. I love the fact that few people, especially in The West would know what it is, would assume it was Swiss. But in fact it does something no Swiss manufacturer does. Total convenience and functionality in a discrete, adult package.
I paid just over 10,000 rmb for it in a Flagship Casio Boutique in Shanghai.
They treated me like royalty. It was a very pleasant experience. 😊
I was wondering about the strap too, having just bought the T200. I’ve never seen a strap like that. Doesn’t look like a Chevron to me though.
I’m not sure if the dial is blue tinted or whether it’s just the blue metallic ring under the glass that catches the light and reflects throughout the glass.
The watch does look fantastic, yet for whatever reason it just didn’t blow me away when I opened the box and now I’m not sure if it was worth the money. I bought a very similar looking Edifice chrono (EFR-S567D-2AVUEF) and the dial on that is a lighter blue but shows off the sunburst effect better as a result. It’s also very well finished and a lot slimmer. I’m not suggesting the quality is as high, you can tell from the much lighter weight it’s not as good as the Oceanic – but it only cost me around £85, four times less than the T200.
My other gripe is that the Oceanic app doesn’t seem to be available in the UK, understandable if the watch isn’t and I can probably find it somewhere, not that big a deal. Not sure I agree with the comment about the bracelet, I have a Seiko SSB379P1 which was also a lot cheaper and I don’t think there’s much in it.
I’m not a collector and need to decide which one to keep, I’m not sure it will be the T200 though. A fine watch no doubt but I don’t know, it just feels like something is missing, it just didn’t light me up like I expected it to.
It is actually a Vario Weaved Twill Nylon. However, it doesn’t compare to the quality of the Chevron. I would spend a few extra bucks and get the Crown & Buckle.
Thanks, didn’t see this until after I’d posted the comment above.
I’m intrigued by the Oceanus brand. In truth, they tend to have all the features that should make a watch superior, ie unparalleled accuracy, world time with independent jumping hour hand, perpetual calendar, 20 year service intervals, etc, superb finishing and astonishing specs such as a chronograph that fits in a watch 9.5mm thick. However many will struggle to justify a Casio at this money. Me personally, although the higher level Oceanus will be a stretch, I see the S5000 in particular being a grail watch that I may reward myself with on a big occasion
Hi there, John. I recently purchased the OCW T3000 2AJF (as reviewed by Random Rob) online from a store in Osaka. WOW!!!!!! It’s absolutely STUNNING. Worth every penny, the finishing on this watch is to die for. 80g of Casio Titanium perfection! Never thought I would spend just north of $1000 bucks (New Zealand) on a Casio, so glad I did. This has to be seen in the flesh to appreciate (if you check out robs review it will give you a good idea, his shots of the dial almost do it justice. The slightly blue ultra-clear crystal is like nothing I have ever seen.
Save your pennies and get one, you won’t be disappointed.
Yes I have to admit the crystal is the clearest I’ve ever seen. I’m struggling to find a blue tint on it though and I think it’s just reflecting the light from the metallic blue rim under the glass.
Don’t let the ignorance and snobbery of others deny you a great watch. As I’m sure you know, Japanese companies take great pride in their versatility. Nobody would say “That car can’t be any good because Mitsubishi also make pencils”.
But they do.
Look at Yamaha. Started out as piano makers, went on to superbikes. 😊
Japan is its own World. If you live there, there really is no reason to buy anything made outside the country. And nobody doubts the quality of your purchase at all, never mind because of the logo. They trust their own manufacturers. When I was there, I saw products simply unavailable to The West. Hundreds of car models and phones, robots, toys… The list is almost endless.
Ditch uptight Western brand insecurity.
Buy what you know to be good.
I thought it was slightly odd that they chose to use the Casio brand given that it’s long been associated with the cheaper plastic watches. You can see the Oceanus is of a very high quality but I can’t help but feel they have shot themselves in the foot slightly and they would have been more favourable to Western buyers if they had just used the Oceanus brand. That said, if they’re only intended for their domestic market I don’t suppose it matters to them either way.
The bracelet on my OCW-T200S-3AJF (the green one!) does not “jangle ” when it’s off my wrist and, if it did, who cares? I mean, really, you go around shacking you watches to see what sound they make? I buy watches to wear. Never had a metal watch bracelet make a sound on my wrist, except when my clumsiness caused me to bump something hard with the bracelet, and then it was more of a “click” than a “jangle.” Reviewers are trying too hard to find fault.
Yep, jangle it right in their face. Power move.
(you’re going to want all that jangle)
Well said, i totally agree. Its just nitpicking for no reason
I own the green T200 and I absolutely love it. The crystal definitely has a green hue to it, which is beautiful by the way. There’s only one nitpick I have and it does concern (part of) the bracelet, which is for the most part excellent and does not jangle in the slightest. The upper (pressed) clasp however consist of two layers for some reason, and any and all jangling that might occur comes from it. Nitpicking I’m sure, but for no reason? I don’t agree.