Casio has gone for a double dose of green with the latest addition to its Pathfinder collection. The new PRG110C-3 comes in an out-there shade of green (pretty close to Wilderness Retreat green on the Color Systems International color chart, or sickly green on my personal color chart) and sports eco-friendly credentials including solar technology and recycled packaging.
Part of the company’s “Go Green” spring collection, the watch incorporates Casio’s Tough Solar Technology, which uses an ultra small solar panel on the face of the watch to generate electrical power from sunlight for its rechargeable battery. And before you start worrying about how much time you’ll have to spend standing in direct sunlight with your arm out to keep the battery charged, the Tough Solar tech can also generate power on cloudy days or under fluorescent lighting – although charging speeds will obviously differ depending on the light source.
Casio says in optimal circumstances - outdoors on a sunny day (50,000 Lx) - the solar battery can generate enough power for a day's operation in just 5 minutes. A fully charged Tough Solar watch will also keep running for a minimum of approximately five months, even if it's worn in places with no exposure to light.
Casio says its Tough Solar Technology is aimed at reducing the number of watch batteries that make their way into landfill and add to the presence of heavy metals and toxic contamination in the environment.
In addition to the environmentally-friendly solar self-charging the PAG110C-3 comes in recycled packaging that reduces the carbon footprint, eliminating the use of energy and resources in its creation.
Aimed at the intrepid outdoorsman the PAG110C-3 also includes a digital compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer. More mundane features include five daily alarms, a stopwatch and world time in 30 cities. The watch is also water resistant up to 100 meters and low temperature resistant, to withstand extreme climates.
“We’re very excited to welcome this new eco-friendly timepiece to the Pathfinder line,” said Shigenori Itoh, vice president of Casio’s Timepiece Division. “Casio is a company dedicated to supporting eco-friendly initiatives and we are very proud to introduce this solar-powered watch in conjunction with the celebration of Earth Day.”
Casio’s PAG110C-3 is available exclusively on Amazon.com with an MSRP of US$250.