Twenty-five dollars, and I still have notes
By Kenji Watanabe, Osaka ยท
Let me start with the price, because everything else follows from it. At 20 to 30 dollars, the MRW-200H costs less than a decent lunch set and a coffee in Umeda for two people. Judging it the way I would judge a Grand Seiko would be rude, so I will try to be fair.
Observations. One: the resin case is 45 mm across, which sounds enormous, but it is only 11 mm thick and weighs almost nothing, so it wears smaller than the number. Two: 100 m water resistance is more than this watch will ever need from me. Three: the bezel rotates both ways and has no clicks to speak of. As a timer for a parking meter it is fine. As a dive bezel it is decoration.
The day and date window is useful, and Module 5121 will simply keep going for years on one battery. The mineral crystal will scratch, and the resin strap will eventually crack near the buckle, usually at the worst moment.
Who is it for? Students, gardeners, anyone who needs a beater for a festival or a beach, and anyone who wants to learn whether they like a sporty watch before spending real money. I would not buy it for its looks alone. The dial printing is a bit busy and the lume is weak. But I own one in a drawer for exactly the days when I do not want to think about my wrist, and I have never regretted that.