CasioWomen Chronograph Quartz Watch with Stainless Steel Strap EF-527D-3AVUEF

This watch, part of Casio's Edifice line, has been around in various versions for over fourteen years, since 2008 according to the CasioFan website, pre-dating the current Edifice Concept around which current watches are designed. The EF-527D, which is an aviation computer style chronograph, is therefore a legacy product that Casio keeps producing variants for. This must stand as a testament to the popularity of this particular style. In fact on the black variant's Amazon UK page, the watch has over 2,700 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5 stars. This version has been available on Amazon UK since 7 April 2010. On Japanese Amazon Japan there are 1,070 reviews averaging 4.5 with August 30, 2010 as the date of first availability. Likewise, on Amazon US the EF-527D in black has over 1,130 reviews averaging 4.5 stars and has been available there since January 22, 2009.The current version is available in three dial color variations; black with red accents, blue with orange accents, and green with red accents. The black and blue versions are available in several markets with the blue having been released in October 2021, but the green version seem to be a UK, EU and East European market exclusive released around November 2021. In the past there have been other color variants but they are no longer current nor easy to find. The variant I have, the EF-527D-3AVUEF, is the green dial variant. This is a deep but vibrant green that reveals "sunray" flares in the light. Most pictures do not capture the visual impact of this dial. It is a stunning dial.This chronograph runs on Casio's 4369 movement which has been available since at least 2005. The long central seconds hand is the chronograph seconds hand which is read against a fully indexed seconds track markings for every 1/5th second. The minute indices on the same track are larger than the 1/5s indices for emphasis. The chronograph seconds hand is a red (or orange) baton with an uncolored counterweight for contrast. The minute hand is a lumed pencil, and the hour hand is a lumed sword. The hour index markers are applied double-batons with lume applied where the batons overlap the minute track. Because of the various other dial elements all but the two and four o'clock markers are truncated. Here perhaps I could put forward a design suggestion: if the hour markers had been a fifth shorter only the 3, 6, 9 and 12 indices would have been cut short. Or if they truly needed the indices to be that long then they could have given them arrowheads towards the center which would have allowed them to keep the length and still have greater uniformity of shape. Still it's far from ugly, just an idiosyncrasy.There are three sub-dials. At the 12 position is the 60-minute counter which is fully indexed with emphasis on the 5 minute marks and numbered for 15, 30,45, and 60. At 9 is the 12-hour counter which is indexed for half hours with emphasis and numbering for each hour. And at 6 is a multi-function sub-dial. When the chronograph is in use this is the 1/20th second counter, while in normal use it is the small-seconds sub-dial. This sub-dial is double indexed, the outer track for 60 seconds with emphasis for every 5 and with numbers marking every 10. The inner track is indexed for every 1/20th of a second and numerals for ever 2/10ths. The sub-dials have concentric engraved rings for visual contrast. The concentric rings of the 12 and 6 sub-dials are similar but work well for their differing markings. The rings of the 9 subdial are more uniform and differ from the other two. The minute- and hour-counter hands are pencil-style and painted white. The multi-function hand at 6 is a red squelette.Rounding out the standard dial elements, there is a framed date window at 3 with date in black on a white background. Between the dial center and the date window are four lines of branding text. The top two lines are the Edifice logo and text, below that is the single word Casio, and the last line is WR 100M.Circumscribed outwards of the seconds track two other tracks are marked on the dial and a third on the rehaut. These three tracks comprise the slide rule elements that make this watch an aviation computer. To be clear the slide rule is not a complication of the movement but rather a calculator physically embedded into the watch. The slide rule functions independently of the watch just as if you had a slide rule attached to your wrist. But for anyone who does simple computations as they go about their day, one might find having a slide rule on hand even more convenient than the calculator on your smartphone. To operate the slide rule on the EF-527D there is an unsigned crown at 8 o'clock on the case that allows the outermost track printed on the rehaut to rotate. Matching the markers on this track with the markers on two tracks inwards on the dial allows for simple mathematic computations and unit conversions.There's a lot going on under the display but the EF-527D's 43mm case gives the details a lot of room but doesn't feel oversized. That display by the way is a mineral crystal which given this Edifice's price is just fine. The stainless steel case with a screwed caseback is 11.4mm thick so it could still fit under shirt cuffs that aren't too snug, and the lug to lug distance is 51mm but the endlinks are female so it wears small. Aside from the crown for the slide rule on the right side are the standard crown and pushers common to most chronographs. The time and date setting crown is signed with Edifice logo. The bracelet is stainless steel and those endlinks are 22mm wide with the links tapering down to 20mm at the clasp. While the endlinks are hollow the actual bracelet links are solid. The bracelet is a three link with both brushed and polished surfaces. Four links on both sides of the clasp are held with cotter pins so the sizing range is huge. I removed two links for a just loose fit on my 19.5cm wrist. The clasp is a dual push snap closure with safety lock and is twice signed with engravings of both the Edifice text and logo. It is a pressed not milled clasp but is very nicely finished with polished and brushed external surfaces while the inner folding pieces are satin finished. And there are 3 adjustment holes for fine tuning the fit. This is a nice bracelet and remarkable given the watch's price.Overall, the Casio Edifice EF-527D-3AVUEF is a very nice watch. The dial is gorgeous and it looks very much the part for a steel sports watch. Even if you don't want or need either the slide rule or chronograph functions this would be a very handsome watch on the wrist. But looking this good, and with this build quality, for under £120 shipped halfway around the world, and with both chronograph and aviation computing functions included, then picking this watch is a value for money no-brainer. Whether you just need a nice everyday watch or you're a watch enthusiast the Edifice EF-527 is one to check out.

After I lost my sight, totally (to "shingles") - my watch, which I really liked, was of no use to me anymore - after a few months of treatment, by those geniuses in the medical world, my sight was restored (how did they do that) - My sight is not perfect, I needed a somewhat larger (dialled) watch - this is it! - to me this is a life-saver and I love it, it is a beautiful green, it is flash, I love it (and, I can see it).

This is a classy looking watch and the green dial works very well with a tan strap.