Watch Review: Casio Waveceptor WVA470 Solar Atomic Wristwatch

The Casio WVA470 Solar Atomic Watch never needs batteries or time setting. The watch relies on a solar cell for power. In addition, the watch is able to set itself each night by listening for a radio signal that broadcasts time information from Colorado. Casio has created a watch that requires virtually no maintenance.

The Casio WVA470 Solar Atomic Watch is slightly larger many fashionable watches on the market, measuring in at 42 mm across the case. However, many fine men's watches have been expanding in size to keep up with fashion trends. Therefore, the Casio does not present itself as an overtly large watch when it is placed on the wrist.

In the time that I have owned the Casio Waveceptor watch, the battery power level has always been at a high level. The watch is able to charge itself using standard indoor lighting, or natural sunlight. Charging efficiency is enhanced with natural sunlight.

The watch will make four attempts each night to lock in on a 60Khz WWVB signal to set its time automatically. As long as the Casio Waveceptor is able to lock into that signal, it will keep its time to within one second of the official NIST time. However, even if the watch does not catch the time update in the early morning hours, its Japanese quartz movement is still able to provide adequate time keeping, with a gain or loss of about 30 seconds each month. This is comparable to other watches with quartz movement.

The Casio Waveceptor WVA470 is available with either a silver metal band, or a black resin band. The Casio Waveceptor watch does have a plastic back with a stainless steel bezel. The plastic on the casing may seem like a drawback to some watch aficionados.

I noticed that all the Casio Waveceptor models have plastic of some sort on the casing, and I have concluded that this must be an engineering requirement. The watch has a radio receiver, and antenna inside, and if the receiver and antenna are completely surrounded by stainless steel, silver, titanium, or gold, then it would not be able to obtain its time update from the WWVB signal.

Radio Controlled Time Synchronization
In the United States, the watch will synchronize itself with the NIST radio station WWVB from Fort Collins Colorado. This station broadcasts time information that is synced with NIST's atomic clocks. The centralized location of the Fort Collin' transmitter allows for reception across much North America. My watch is able to update it self nearly every night from West Virginia. However, according to the Casio watch user manual, as well as user reviews from Amazon.com, those living closer to the east coast receive more sporadic updates.

The Casio Waveceptor WVA470 Atomic Solar Powered Watch has a versatile design that allows you to wear it for casual everyday use or more serious occasions. The watch will be ready to go each time you place it on your wrist.