Casio AW-80-7AV
A Lighter Take on a Practical Classic
The Casio AW-80-7AV takes the same practical ana-digi formula as the AW-80-1AV but gives it a noticeably different appearance thanks to its lighter dial.
It's still unmistakably an AW-80, with the same combination of traditional analogue hands and a digital display packed with useful functions, but visually I think this version has a character of its own.
And, just like my black dial AW-80, I've made one small change to mine – I've fitted it with a green canvas strap.
For me, that strap completely suits the watch.
A Great Everyday Ana-Digi
One of the things I like most about the AW-80 range is the balance between analogue simplicity and digital functionality.
At a quick glance you've got conventional analogue hands for telling the time, while the digital display handles everything else.
That includes world time, stopwatch, countdown timer, alarms, calendar functions and Casio's wonderfully old-school Telememo system.
Telememo allows you to store up to 30 sets of names and telephone numbers directly in the watch.
Is it particularly necessary in the smartphone era? Probably not.
Do I still like the fact that it's there? Absolutely.
Features like this are part of what makes older Casio designs interesting to collect. They're reminders of a period when manufacturers were constantly finding ways of squeezing more functionality onto your wrist.
The Green Canvas Strap
I've fitted my AW-80-7AV with a green canvas strap, and personally I think it's an excellent combination.
The lighter face paired with the green canvas gives this version much more of an outdoors or field-watch character.
It's still very obviously a Casio, but the canvas softens the appearance of the resin case and gives the whole watch a slightly more rugged and purposeful look.
It's exactly the sort of simple modification I enjoy.
Nothing drastic has been changed and the watch hasn't lost its original identity. It's simply a strap swap that changes the overall feel of the watch and makes this particular AW-80 feel a little more individual.
It also means that although I own more than one AW-80, they don't feel like I'm simply wearing the same watch in a slightly different colour.
Lightweight and Comfortable
Despite measuring approximately 46.8 × 40 × 13.5mm, the standard resin-band AW-80 weighs only around 34 grams.
That makes it an extremely easy watch to wear.
The case has enough presence that it doesn't feel tiny on the wrist, but there's very little weight behind it. Combined with the canvas strap, mine is the sort of watch I can put on and barely think about for the rest of the day.
That's exactly what I want from a practical everyday Casio.
More Features Than You'd Expect
There's a surprising amount packed into the AW-80.
World time covers 30 cities across 29 time zones, while there's also a 1/100-second stopwatch capable of measuring up to 24 hours and a countdown timer with the same 24-hour maximum.
You get three independent daily alarms, including a snooze alarm, an hourly time signal and an automatic calendar.
Illumination comes from an amber LED with afterglow.
Water resistance is 50 metres, making it perfectly suitable for the sort of normal everyday use I'd expect from a watch like this.
Ten Years From a CR2025
Another feature I particularly like is the battery life.
The AW-80 uses a CR2025, with Casio quoting approximately 10 years of battery life under its specified operating conditions.
That's a big part of the appeal of watches like this for me.
There's nothing to charge, nothing to connect and no app required. You simply set the watch, wear it and potentially don't have to worry about replacing its battery for years.
Simple, practical and dependable.
Which AW-80 Do I Prefer?
Having both this and the darker AW-80-1AV makes for an interesting comparison because mechanically and functionally they're essentially the same watch.
Visually, though, they feel quite different.
The black AW-80-1AV with its black canvas strap has a darker, more purposeful appearance, whereas this AW-80-7AV with the green canvas strap feels more like an outdoors or field watch.
I don't necessarily think one is better than the other.
They're simply two different interpretations of a watch I already enjoy – and the strap changes I've made help exaggerate those differences even further.
The Casio Collector Verdict
The Casio AW-80-7AV isn't going to impress anyone looking for expensive materials or luxury finishing.
But that's not what the AW-80 is about.
This is a lightweight, affordable and extremely functional everyday watch with a huge battery life and more features than most owners will probably ever use.
The lighter dial gives the 7AV a very different personality from my darker AW-80, and fitting the green canvas strap has only added to that.
For me, the combination works brilliantly. It gives the watch a subtle field-watch influence without trying to turn it into something it isn't.
I also love slightly quirky features such as Telememo. It might be outdated technology by modern standards, but as someone who enjoys collecting watches, that's part of what makes the AW-80 interesting.
Affordable, lightweight, practical and just a little bit quirky – another great example of what Casio does best.
Specifications
Model: Casio AW-80-7AV
Display: Analogue-Digital
Case & Bezel: Resin
Strap on My Watch: Green canvas
Glass: Resin / Spherical Glass
Dimensions: 46.8 × 40 × 13.5mm
Standard Weight: Approx. 34g
Water Resistance: 50 metres
Battery: CR2025
Approx. Battery Life: 10 years
World Time: 30 cities / 29 time zones
Telememo: Up to 30 sets of names and telephone numbers
Stopwatch: 1/100 second, up to 24 hours
Countdown Timer: Up to 24 hours
Alarms: 3 independent daily alarms, including snooze
Hourly Time Signal: Yes
Lighting: Amber LED with afterglow
Calendar: Full auto-calendar
12/24-Hour Format: Yes
Accuracy: ±30 seconds per month
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