Casio’s newest solar-powered chronograph, the EFS-S650DC-1A, is finally showing up in full detail, thanks to a fresh set of high-resolution renders via Casio’s new official listing for the timepiece. Part of the EFS-650 series revealed earlier this month, this particular black-ion plated model goes for a sportier all-black aesthetic that is expected to be a huge hit, especially for Edifice and chronograph fans. 

Compared to its green or navy siblings that secured official listings on the 1st of July, the black model looks the most understated. The vertical pattern dial is barely visible under certain angles, and the overall finish gives it a clean, modern appeal. But this also makes it visually flatter, especially in low light, where the contrast between the indices, subdials, and hands is slightly muted despite the polished accents.

From the renders, we can also notice that the subdials share the same radial pattern as the dial background, tying the whole design together. The central seconds hand, which is painted in a contrasting copper tone, adds a much-needed pop of color to the otherwise monotone design.

Case size remains at 46.7 mm long and 40.9 mm wide, with a thickness of 11.7 mm. That puts it on the slimmer end for an Edifice chronograph, and definitely more wearable than some older models like the EFS-S570 series, which had chunkier bezels and less refined lugs.

Feature-wise, it’s standard Edifice fare – 1-second stopwatch, 3 subdials, solar-powered movement, 100-meter water resistance, and a 5-month battery reserve from full charge. But the black model does lose some of the flashiness that people usually associate with ceramic bezel watches. If you’re buying this for the ceramic, you’d likely notice the visual impact is more subtle here than on the other two variants.

Still, the bracelet looks quite solid, and the ceramic insert paired with the all-metal construction should give it a good balance of weight and scratch resistance. If Casio had introduced a bit more contrast on the dial or even a brushed finish on the indices, this model might’ve had an even stronger visual presence. Since the watch has an official listing now, albeit lacking the ‘Preorder’ or ‘Buy Now’ button, we can expect them to become purchasable very soon.

In the meantime, you can check out the Casio Edifice EF305-1AV – now discounted to $39 on Amazon.

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Anubhav Sharma – Tech Writer – 795 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024

Fueled by a childhood spent taking apart video game consoles to see how they worked, I turned my passion for tech into writing. I have a double Bachelor’s in Computer Science Engineering (2018) and English (2024). I’ve been writing on a variety of tech topics since 2016, with a particular interest in gaming. When I’m not hunting down the latest tech news, you’ll find me producing music, gaming, or hiking.