Ultimate Gambit

Recently, my cheap Casio watch which I have had for the last 2 years broke, and I was forced to get a new one. I decided that I wanted to get something a little more fashionable, but didnt really want to lose out on any of the features that I used on my previous watch. After scouring the internet, i came across the KDX 5404G, and after checking the returns policy on the Kahuna Website, I decided to take the gamble, in the knowledge that I could return it if I didnt like it. For a bargainous £29.95 this watch looked excellent value for money in comparison to some other similar style watches.
Since when I was looking I was unable to find any reviews, I thought I’d write a brief review so that others who may be thinking of buying one of these watches may have more of a clue and feel like they were taking less of a gamble!

My first impressions of the watch were as expected – its a nice looking watch, and quite different to anything else on the market. The strap width is not too big, and it fits quite nicely on the wrist. The leather is high quality, and sturdy – i dont see this breaking any time soon! The only problem somebody may find with the strap is that it isnt that long. I dont think i have a particularally big wrist, but i only have two more holes remaining on the strap, so somebody with a big wrist may find this a problem!
The interface is fairly simple – there are three buttons – the first shows the date, the second is the alarm, and the third changes the mode between standard and chronograph. The third button is also used for changing the time and date by holding it in for a few seconds. This was quite different to my old watch, however after a day or so of wearing it i got used to it.

As well as telling the time and date, the watch has an alarm function which can be set relatively simply, and the alarm sound is relatively satisfying It can also beep on the hour.

The final main feature on the watch is the timer. The timer unfortunately only counts upwards (contdown timer was a feature i used to use on my old watch), however this isnt the end of the world.

On the whole, the watch is incredibly sturdy and robust, and works like a dream. It’s also comfortable to wear, which is a must for any watch that is going to be worn every day. The only thing lacking from my old watch is the light, which would be useful – especially with the black screen. However, the fact that it has a black screen means that in the dark, you can just about see the figures and tell the time (so long as you’re at least a bit awake!!). The only other problem is the fact that the screen is quite easily marked by fingerprints etc (as you can see from the photos about). Again, this isnt the end of the world, and certainly shouldnt put you off buying this watch! My final ‘issue’ with the watch is that while it is waterproof to 5 ATM, i would be unhappy taking it in water because of the leather strap. My old watch NEVER used to come off, and i used to wear it in the shower and to bed. This one however comes off every night. I suppose thats probably a good thing really!!

So, in summary:
Pros: Nice design, strong build, simple interface
Cons: No light (hard to read screen in the dark), easily marked screen, wouldnt fit somebody with a small wrist, no countdown timer.

[rate 4]

Overall, this really is a top watch and I would definately reccommend it as an affordable option for somebody looking for a skate/cuff style watch

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 25th, 2006 at 17:05 and is filed under Life, Review, Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.