- Casio plans to launch its own smart ring in December
- Although it cannot measure steps or sleep, it does have a built-in clock or alarm clock
- Unfortunately, it will only be available in Japan
Recently, in the segment of wearable electronics, the words smart ring have been inflected very often. Finnish company Oura has taken this small but interesting market by storm, with other players gradually joining the game, such as South Korean giant Samsung. Now, the well-known watch company Casio, which has presented its own take on the “smart ring,” is trying to make its case. Rather than the one from Oura and Samsung, however, it is intended to compete with Timex, which also introduced its own ring.
One ring rules them all
The Casio CRW-001-1JR, as the ring’s official name says, won’t measure your sleep, count your steps, or detect your heart rate, but it will tell you what time it is. Although the case of this watch is approximately 2.5 centimeters in size, Casio has managed to squeeze in an LCD display that can display hours, minutes and seconds. There are also three function buttons that can be used to control other functions, such as displaying the date or time in a different time zone, and a stopwatch, just like a classic digital watch.
Rather surprisingly, Casio’s ring also has a backlight and an alarm that flashes the display instead of making a sound. It is powered by a replaceable battery and according to the Japanese company, it can power the ring for approximately two years. Interestingly, the ring is also waterproof. With this ring, Casio wants to pay tribute to its watchmaking tradition, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. In order to accurately imitate the design and intricate details of traditional digital watches, Casio uses metal injection technology using metal powder. This results in a uniform size US 10.5 (inner diameter 20.4 millimeters), which simply has to fit you – Casio does include a few spacers for smaller hands, but if you have larger hands, you’re unfortunately out of luck.
This isn’t Casio’s first attempt at creating a “smart” ring. They already experimented with a similar design in Japan last year, but in their case it was just a design issue, which, unlike the current ring, was not functional. Who knows, maybe in the coming years we will also see a brush-up of the design with a calculator, which is an inherent part of Casio. The Casio CRW-001-1JR will be on sale only in Japan this December for the price 19,800 yenwhich is roughly 3 thousand crowns.
Author of the article
Michael Chrobok
Casio’s Smart Ring: The One Ring That Only Tells Time
In an electrifying twist in the world of wearable tech, Casio is throwing its hat into the ring—literally! This December, our nostalgic pals at Casio will launch their own smart ring. But let’s not get too excited; while the rest of the industry is racing ahead with fancy features like step counting, heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking, Casio is opting for a different approach: it will tell you the time. Yes, folks, it has a built-in clock! Who knew timekeeping could be this revolutionary?
- Casio plans to launch its own smart ring in December
- Although it cannot measure steps or sleep, it does have a built-in clock or alarm clock
- Unfortunately, it will only be available in Japan
One Ring Rules Them All (But Only Time)
Meet the Casio CRW-001-1JR, a name that sounds like a droid from Star Wars but is actually a smart ring that won’t help you find the lost socks in your dryer. While Oura and Samsung are out there flexing their health analytics muscles, Casio is bringing back the nostalgia of its glory days of *counting every second* like it’s 1985!
This can-do product, with its unimpressive ability to do nothing more than share the time, has an LCD display that, get this, can even show you the date in a different time zone. Could it get any fancier? Maybe if they added a *pause* button, we could really cancel out those sleepy mornings!
Casio has ensured the ring is also waterproof—a handy feature if you plan to wear it while swimming or crying over your Fitbit’s constant nagging. And, speaking of power struggles, this ring runs on a replaceable battery. I mean, two years of power means you’ll forget it’s there until your partner tries to rob you of that timepiece in your sleep!
Now, before you rush to Amazon or your local store, let’s address the elephant in the room: this marvel of engineering is only available in Japan! Yes, if you’re anywhere else, sorry, but you’ll have to keep using your *old-fashioned* digital watches, like a caveman.
Does It Come in XL?
As much as I’d love to tell you this ring will fit anyone, the harsh truth is—if you have larger hands, you might as well stick to fishing for compliments because you’ll be out of luck! Casio has catered to size US 10.5 with a few spacers for smaller digits, because, who are we kidding, this is all about tradition, right?
Now, here’s hoping that Casio ups the ante and follows up with a ring that includes a scientific calculator, because why wouldn’t you want to calculate the time remaining until your next calorie-laden meal?
So, what’s the damage to your wallet? The ring will be priced at ¥19,800 (which translates to about 3,000 crowns). For this kind of money, you could probably invest in a real clock, an entire smartwatch, or perhaps even a trip to Japan, where the ring itself will be available!
With its 50th anniversary in the watchmaking arena, Casio is proving that it still knows how to make time-telling cool. It’s just… not this time.
- Casio is gearing up to launch its innovative smart ring, the CRW-001-1JR, in December 2023.
- While this smart ring lacks capabilities to monitor physical activities like steps or sleep, it boasts a built-in clock and an alarm function.
- Unfortunately, the smart ring will be exclusive to the Japanese market at launch.
In the burgeoning market for wearable electronics, the term “smart ring” has gained significant traction recently. Finnish startup Oura has spearheaded this niche, captivating consumers with its sleek design and features, while tech titan Samsung has begun to explore similar avenues. However, Casio, a renowned name primarily recognized for its watches, is now stepping into the mix with its own interpretation of the smart ring, aiming not just for a place alongside Oura and Samsung but rather positioning its offering to rival Timex’s recently introduced smart ring.
One ring rules them all
The Casio CRW-001-1JR, as it is officially designated, departs from traditional health monitoring functionality. It will not track sleep patterns, count daily steps, or measure heart rates, but it does excel in showing the current time. Despite its compact dimensions of approximately 2.5 centimeters, the ring features an innovative LCD display that presents hours, minutes, and seconds clearly. In addition, it houses three function buttons designed for easy navigation of features like displaying the date, time adjustments for different time zones, and a stopwatch function that echoes the classic digital watch experience.
Adding to its impressive array of features, Casio’s smart ring includes a clever backlight and an alarm that uniquely flashes the display rather than issuing a sound—ideal for discreet notifications. The ring is powered by a replaceable battery, which is projected to last around two years under normal use, ensuring longevity. This sleek accessory also boasts waterproof capabilities, an essential for active lifestyles. With the CRW-001-1JR, Casio pays homage to its rich heritage in watchmaking, marking half a century of innovation in the industry. The design intricacies reflect traditional digital watches, utilizing advanced metal injection technology with metal powder for precision manufacturing. The ring is available in a standard US size of 10.5 (with an inner diameter of 20.4 millimeters) and comes equipped with spacers for smaller fingers; however, those with larger hands may find it a challenge to fit comfortably.
This isn’t the first venture for Casio into the “smart” ring domain; the company experimented with a prototype last year in Japan that was more of a conceptual design lacking practical functionality. Looking ahead, there’s speculation about future iterations that may incorporate elements like a calculator—a nod to another iconic Casio product. Priced at 19,800 yen (approximately 3,000 crowns), the Casio CRW-001-1JR will make its debut exclusively in Japan this December.
Author of the article
Michael Chrobok
How does the design of the Casio smart ring pay homage to its 50-year watchmaking legacy?
Playing the date, switching to a different time zone, and activating a stopwatch, reminiscent of classic digital watches.
Additionally, Casio has introduced a few unexpected assets into this timepiece. The ring comes equipped with a backlight for visibility in the dark, and an alarm function that opts for a flashing display rather than an audible sound—perfect for those who prefer subtle reminders. It is powered by a replaceable battery with an impressive lifespan of about two years, ensuring minimal maintenance. Plus, its waterproof feature makes it suitable for various environments, whether you are a swimmer or simply have an active lifestyle.
As part of its commitment to quality and craftsmanship, Casio pays homage to its watchmaking legacy, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The production involves precise metal injection technology using metal powder, achieved to present a uniform size of US 10.5 (inner diameter of 20.4 millimeters). Although some spacers for smaller fingers are provided, individuals with larger hand sizes may find themselves out of luck and unable to wear this unique piece.
Interestingly, this isn’t Casio’s inaugural endeavor in the smart ring segment; they previously experimented with a design in Japan that lacked functional capabilities. However, this latest model indicates a shift towards practicality mixed with nostalgic design. While the initial offering may seem limited, it opens up the potential for future enhancements, like the addition of a built-in calculator, which would further blend tradition with innovation.
The Casio CRW-001-1JR will hit the shelves in Japan this December, retailing for ¥19,800 (roughly 3,000 crowns). With its distinctive features and nod to the historical roots of timekeeping, Casio aims to carve a niche for itself in the growing competition of wearable gadgets—even if it may not be the most technologically advanced smart ring on the market today.