- 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. Casio CRW-001-1JR will be on sale only in Japan this December at a price of 19,800 yen, which is roughly 3 thousand crowns.
Author of the article
Michael Chrobok
Casio’s New Smart Ring: An Interesting Misstep?
Ah, Casio – the brand synonymous with functionality and a perpetual love affair with the digital age. They’ve now jumped into the wearables market with their smart ring, intriguing as it is baffling. After all, the last time I checked, rings were less about smart capabilities and more about making promises. Unless, of course, you’re promising never to take this gadget seriously!
Let’s Talk Features – or the Lack Thereof
So, what can this shiny new ring from Casio actually do? (Wait for it…) It tells time! Yes, you heard that right. We’re in the age of smart everything, and Casio’s big contribution is the ability to glance at your finger for the time, just like a classic watch. Who knew that a wristwatch was just too passé?
But here’s the kicker: while competitors like Oura and Samsung are out there tracking steps and monitoring sleep (because who doesn’t want to know how long they’ve been unconscious?), Casio has thrown its hat in the ring—pun absolutely intended—with features that scream ‘1995.’ It can’t measure your steps or sleep, but it can light up and alarm you! Because nothing says ‘smart’ like a backlight and a silent alarm that makes you squint in confusion at your ring at 3 AM. Perfect.
Only Available in Japan – Sorry, Rest of the World!
Now, brace yourself for this exclusive tidbit: it’s only available in Japan. Because when you’re trying to make waves in the tech market, limiting your audience to one country is the move! I can just hear the boardroom discussion: “Let’s go niche. Who needs a global market when we can serve a very selective community of wristwatch enthusiasts in Japan?” What a strategy!
Price Tag and Design
The ring will set you back 19,800 yen, which is about 3,000 crowns. That’s a steep price for something that’s essentially a glorified watch. At least it’s waterproof, so when you start crying from realizing you’ve spent that money on a digital hula hoop, your tears won’t ruin it.
Casio claims to have celebrated its 50th anniversary of watchmaking with intricate designs mimicking traditional digital watches. What’s next, a smart tiara that tells you when it’s royal to panic? Honestly, I’d rather wear a 20-pound vintage calculator around my neck – at least it would make me look like a tech-savvy genius.
You’ve got to admire the dedication, really. The effort they’ve put into creating a ring that suggests you look at your hand for information probably won’t compete with the decades of innovation we’ve seen from the likes of Apple and Samsung. Casio’s next big product? A Bluetooth-enabled piece of string that connects you to nothing.
In Conclusion
There you have it! Casio’s CRW-001-1JR might just be the smart ring nobody asked for. It might not count your steps, it can’t track your heart, and it certainly can’t cure your loneliness. But hey, at least you’ll know the time when you’re frantically wondering why you spent money on this digital knuckle-duster! Here’s to hoping they include a calculator next time – because we all know that’s the real smart feature we’ve been missing all along.
Cheers to you, Casio! May your timepieces forever remind us of the glory days of digital watches, even if they are now being used to prop up other digital devices on our overflowing tech desks.
Until next time, stay smart or at least look like you are!
- Casio is set to unveil its innovative smart ring, the CRW-001-1JR, this December in Japan.
- While it lacks the capability to track steps or monitor sleep patterns, it comes equipped with a reliable built-in clock and alarm feature.
- Regrettably, this new wearable will be exclusively available to consumers in Japan.
As the market for wearable electronics has grown, the concept of the smart ring has gained significant traction, particularly with the notable success of the Finnish company Oura, which has captivated consumers with its sleek design and functionality. South Korean tech giant Samsung has also entered this burgeoning sector, further heightening competition. Now, Casio, a renowned name in watchmaking with a legacy of durability and style, is making its foray into this niche, aiming its sights on rival Timex and their recent offerings in the smart ring space.
One ring rules them all
The Casio CRW-001-1JR, as the ring’s official name implies, will not track your sleep patterns, tally your daily steps, or monitor your heart rate; instead, its primary function is to provide users with accurate timekeeping. With a compact case measuring approximately 2.5 centimeters, the company has expertly incorporated anLCD display capable of showing hours, minutes, and seconds. The ring also features three functional buttons, allowing wearers to easily toggle between different features, including viewing the date and converting to various time zones, along with a built-in stopwatch reminiscent of classic digital watches.
Another notable feature of Casio’s ring is its innovative design elements, including a backlight and a visually distinctive alarm that activates a flashing display instead of emitting sound. Powered by a replaceable battery, the CRW-001-1JR boasts an impressive lifespan of around two years. In a nod to its storied watchmaking heritage—celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year—the ring is also waterproof. To achieve a design that mirrors the refined aesthetic of traditional digital watches, Casio employs advanced metal injection technology utilizing metal powder. This process produces a uniform size of US 10.5 (with an inner diameter of 20.4 millimeters), ensuring a comfortable fit for most wearers. Although spacers are included for those with smaller fingers, individuals with larger hands may face sizing limitations.
This isn’t Casio’s maiden venture into the realm of “smart” rings; the company previously conducted experiments with a similar design concept in Japan last year. However, that earlier iteration was merely a design showcase devoid of practical functionality. Perhaps in the future, consumers might also see a return of the quintessential Casio calculator in a refined ring design. Scheduled for release this December at a price point of 19,800 yen (approximately 3,000 crowns), the CRW-001-1JR will be available exclusively in Japan.
Author of the article
Michael Chrobok
How does the backlight feature of the Casio CRW-001-1JR enhance its usability at night?
Rated an LCD display that clearly shows hours, minutes, and seconds. Additionally, the ring features three functional buttons that allow users to display the date, switch between time zones, and utilize a stopwatch, much like a traditional digital watch would.
One of the notable features of the Casio CRW-001-1JR is its backlight, which adds a touch of convenience for night-time viewing, and it has a silent alarm that flashes the display, which could certainly be an acquired taste. Powering the ring is a replaceable battery that promises about two years of usage. On top of that, it comes with a waterproof rating, ensuring that it can withstand splashes or even brief immersions in water.
Casio is keen on honoring its legacy as it celebrates its 50th anniversary in the watchmaking industry. The CRW-001-1JR aims to evoke the aesthetic and intricate designs of classic digital watches, utilizing modern metal injection technology for a uniform size (US 10.5 or an inner diameter of 20.4 millimeters). While Casio includes spacers for those with smaller fingers, larger sizes are regrettably left out, which may alienate a segment of potential customers.
Looking back, this isn’t Casio’s first venture into the realm of “smart” rings. The previous year, the company experimented with a similar concept focused on design rather than functionality. Who knows, they might pivot back to a more advanced offering in the future that includes features like a calculator, something that would stay true to Casio’s roots.
For now, those interested in the Casio CRW-001-1JR will have to wait for its December release in Japan, at a price of 19,800 yen (approximately 3,000 crowns). Whether this smart ring will resonate with consumers or serve as a quirky piece of nostalgia remains to be seen.
Let’s just say if there was a competition for the dumbest smart device, this would definitely be in the running. I mean, who needs to stay fit when you’ve got a ring that’s waterproof and tells you the time? Fantastic, if you’re planning to drown your sorrows in the ocean of bad tech.