[ProTrek Review] PRW-6100-1A — carbon fiber and clear display

The range of ProTrek tourist watches is not as extensive as many others at Casio [G-Shock, Edifice, etc.]. If you still make a selection only for models with an updated triple sensor, then the fingers of one hand will be enough. The latest novelty, the PRG-600 series [PRG-600-1ER – advanced watches of a new style] was created for the gourmet mix of office and tourism, but before that there was another series that we did not consider due to the similarities with the PRW-6000. Well, it’s time to explore the truly tourist model PRW-6100-1AER.

PRW-6000 or PRW-6100? Judging by the name of the indices, the latter are definitely newer, but what is the peculiarity?

The blog already has material with a similar discussion: More durable PRW-6100 and PRW-3100, however this is not a reason not to say all the points again. Since I already felt both models, the PRW-6100 leaves behind a sense of elegance. What is only this blue line under the bezel and the purity of the background of the dial.

Sympathy and rushing, and only from the appearance and without understanding the entire internal strength of the module.

And now the actual advantage of the PRW-6100: STN LCD mini-window – improved readability of electronic information [better contrast and, therefore, easier to read information], a strap with a carbon insert is another plus for stability compared to the usual polyurethane version.

That’s all, gentlemen. In all other respects, the PRW-6100 series completely duplicates the older brother [PRW-6000]. Even despite the minimal advantage, the PRW-6100 for some reason is more delighted. Design does a lot.

I draw your attention to the bezel – it is not metal. Since the time of the PRW-3000s, I have developed a stereotype that any other coating on the bezel is easily scratched and worn out.

Will it be the same in the PRW-6100-1A? I doubt it. Bezel to the touch with dense plastic, and in PRW-3000 – glossy sticker + painted metal. A dense polymer should better withstand scratches, and they will not stand out so much when rubbed. The case itself and the “blue line” are metal.

The watch is very comfortable on the hand. Thin and even flattened, the tracks are ideally combined with both tourist equipment and the usual street style. You understand tourism as tourism, but in the ordinary world no one forbids wearing.

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I liked the effect of “approaching” the hands and hour markers to mineral glass: the dial itself does not fall into the hinterland [as is often the case in G-Shock-ahs], but on the contrary, approaches the glass.

Almost a feeling of depth, just the other way.

Non-shaded coating is found on the hands and at ALL time stamps [which is strange, as a rule they are limited only to hands]. Even with a full, cool backlight [dual LED: one for the dial and one for the hands], unshaven is also good. With sufficient accumulation, you can not use the backlight in the dark. Visibility of the current time at a high level. There is also an automatic backlight, however, I was not able to recreate its operation [failed to activate].

Hand Shift – works without your intervention in the altimeter, barometer, thermometer mode. A deliberate decision, because you do not need to close important information. Manual movement is activated by simultaneously pressing the backlight button + lower left button. Inconvenient combination.

Smart Access. I already forgot all the features of the functional head, so I had to renew the spaces using the instructions. So, at first you twist it like an ordinary screw [on yourself] – the process of transition to the functional mode is carried out. After that, the head rotates easily, but does nothing.

I was very confused by this moment. In this watch, the simple principle of “clamp adjust” does not work and the time is set with buttons, here you must use the head. To activate Smart Access, the usual “unscrew” is not enough, you still need to pull out the head with one click.

Now the installation of the time zone begins, separate work with the minute and hour hands. The rotation of the head is accompanied by light additional clicks – this is one division of a function. Reverse fixation works as follows: we press the head and at this moment we twist it.

Other functions [for example, timer, alarm] are also configured only with Smart Access. The usual push-button setup method in the PRW-6100-1AER does not work [except for the stopwatch]. I will not say that it is bad or good. At least unusual.

“Specifications of PRW-6100”]

• Case / bezel material: Resin / Stainless steel
• Resin Band
• Mineral Glass
• Neobrite
• 100-meter water resistance

• Double LED light
  LED light for the face (Full auto LED light, selectable illumination duration, afterglow)
  LED backlight for the digital display (Full auto LED light, selectable illumination duration, afterglow)
• Solar powered
• Low-temperature resistant (-10°C/14 °F)
• Time calibration signal reception
  Auto receive up to six* times a day (remaining auto receives canceled as soon as one is successful)
  *5 times a day for the Chinese calibration signal
  Manual receive
  The latest signal reception results
• Time Calibration Signals
  Station name: DCF77 (Mainflingen, Germany)
  Frequency: 77.5 kHz
  Station name: MSF (Anthorn, England)
  Frequency: 60.0 kHz
  Station name: WWVB (Fort Collins, United States)
  Frequency: 60.0 kHz
  Station name: JJY (Fukushima, Fukuoka/Saga, Japan)
  Frequency: 40.0 kHz (Fukushima) / 60.0 kHz (Fukuoka/Saga)
  Station name: BPC (Shangqiu City, Henan Province, China)
  Frequency: 68.5 kHz
• The auto hand home position correction
• Digital compass
  Measures and displays direction as one of 16 points
  Measuring range: 0 to 359°
  Measuring unit: 1°
  60 seconds continuous measurement
  Hand indication of north
  Bidirectional calibration
  Magnetic declination correction
• Altimeter
  Measuring range: –700 to 10,000 m (–2,300 to 32,800 ft.)
  Measuring unit: 1 m (5 ft.)
  Hand indication of altitude differential
  Manual memory measurements
  (up to 30 records, each including altitude, date, time)
  Auto log data (High/low altitudes, cumulative ascent and descent)
  Others: Relative altitude readings (±100 m/±1000 m),
  Selectable measurement interval: 5 seconds or 2 minutes
  *1 second for first 3 minutes only
  *Changeover between meters (m) and feet (ft)
• Barometer
  Display range: 260 to 1,100 hPa (7.65 to 32.45 inHg)
  Display unit: 1 hPa (0.05 inHg)
  Hand indication of pressure differential
  Atmospheric pressure tendency graph
  Barometric pressure tendency information alarm (beep and arrow indicates significant changes in pressure)
  *Changeover between hPa and inHg
• Thermometer
  Display range: -10 to 60 °C (14 to 140 °F)
  Display unit: 0.1 °C (0.2 °F)
  *Changeover between Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F)
• World time
  29 time zones (29 cities + coordinated universal time), One-touch UTC Time Zone Access, daylight saving on/off, Home city/World time city swapping
• 1/100-second stopwatch
  Measuring capacity: 23:59’59.99”
  Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
• Countdown timer
  Measuring unit: 1 second
  Countdown range: 60 minutes
  Countdown start time setting range: 1 second to 60 minutes (1-second increments, 1-minute increments)
• 5 daily alarms
• Hourly time signal
• Hand shift feature (manual or auto (during altitude, barometric pressure, and temperature measurement))
• Battery level indicator
• Power Saving (display goes blank and hands stop to save power when the watch is left in the dark)
• Full auto-calendar (to year 2099)
• 12/24-hour format
• Button operation tone on/off
• Regular timekeeping:
  Analog: 3 hands (hour, minute (hand moves every 10 seconds), second)
  Digital: Hour, minute, second, am, pm, date, day
• Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month (with no signal calibration)
• Approx battery operating time:
  6 months on rechargeable battery (operation period with normal use without exposure to light after charge)
  23 months on rechargeable battery (operation period when stored in total darkness with the power save function on after full charge)

The analog window at 9 o’clock identifies the operating mode of the clock [“Baro” – barometer, “AL” – alarm, etc.]. The usual and familiar implementation.

Strap. The inscription “PUR-CF20” immediately indicates the presence of polyurethane and carbon fiber. If you look closely at the side view, you can see two layers of material. The carbon insert is located on the back side and this step is logical – sweat and stench come from the side of the wrist. The strap holder does not contain polyurethane. Very pleasant to the touch and several times stronger than ordinary polyurethane.

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I will not linger on functions and technologies for a long time, I will list the main ones: ABC sensor, timer, alarms, stopwatch, solar power, radio synchronization, world clock, calendar and others.

Conclusion

PRW-6100-1AER are created for tourism, although they are presented in ana-Digi format. I couldn’t get to know all the charm of the STN LCD – the inverse type of the display at first glance is no different from a conventional LCD. The carbon insert on the strap is a powerful and beautiful solution. The watch is lightweight, compact and very beautiful. And yes, the PRW-6100 series is practically no different from the PRW-6000. The first, as for me, will be prettier.

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Firstly published, but we carefully translated into English.