Solar, sapphire, and a lot of polish
By Kenji Watanabe, Osaka ยท
Two things changed between the cheap Edifice and this one, and they are the two things that matter most in daily life. The EFS-S570D charges from light, so there is no battery change to think about, and the crystal is sapphire, so the scratches stop.
Numbered thoughts, as usual.
1. Module 5612 solar with chronograph and date is a good package for 250 to 300 dollars. You can leave it in a drawer for weeks and it will still be running.
2. At 45.6 mm by 12.4 mm on a steel bracelet, it is large. With a long-sleeved shirt it sits high and wide. On a 16 cm wrist it will look like a bigger watch than it is meant to be.
3. The finishing is busier than it needs to be. Polished bits next to brushed bits next to more polished bits. Under fluorescent light in a meeting room it flashes.
4. The bracelet is fine for the money but not memorable.
Against a Citizen Eco-Drive chronograph at similar money, I think it is a fair fight. Citizen's designs are calmer. Casio's has the sapphire. I would pick this if scratches bother you more than size.