Casio MD-703

As you may already know, the Casio MD-703 is one of my favourite watch. I like it because of it's size and also it is one of the few large analogue watch that Casio made. However there is very little information on the Internet on this watch. What little I could find I will post it here. So far this is what I know:

MD Series 200 m Water Resist

Launched: 1/5/1988

MRSP: $169.95

3 models:

MD-703-1AV Black dial

MD-703S-7AV White dial

MD-703? Black dial with gold trimmings (same as the MD-703-1AV, except the hands, the bezel, bezel screws, bezel markings and crown are rendered in gold)

Advertisement of the MD-703

Photo: yeomanseiko.spaces.live.com

The MD-703-1AV

MD-703S-7AV

Sadly I do not have the gold MD-703 or a photograph of it.

In recent time, this watch is slowly gaining in popularity. This can be seen from a recent auction (2007) where the prices for this model have doubled.

"..... the Casio MD-703 dive watch was a sleeper, and these two examples are good ways to end this installment. It looks like the word is getting out on these chunky divers. The black dialed version sold for a whopping $564.96 and the harder to find white dialed watch sold for $239.80". www.gmtplusnine.com

I currently have both the black dial version (after a 21 year search) and the white dial version. I believe the hunt for the gold version will take another 21 years (hope not).

Recently, my MD-703S-7Av 'died' on me and I had to do an operation to salvage the watch. Anyway, now that everything is OK, here is my review of the MD-703S-7AV. This is an update of a review which I did in www.watchuseek.com.

MD-703S-7AV

Module: 394

Technical specification:

Analogue 3 hand watch: Hour, minute and seconds

Calendar: Day (English and Spanish) and date at 3 o'clock position

Case: Titanium Ion Plated, Screw Lock Crown, Mineral Glass

Water Resistant: 200 m

Size: Diameter: 48 mm, 49 mm at largest point, lug width: 22 mm, thickness: 12.5 mm

As can be seen from the photograph, this is a big watch. The white dial is no longer white but is a bit off white. The day and date window is at the 3 o'clock position. The crown is a screw down crown and has 2 position adjustment. The first, for the date and day and the second for the time. As with any quartz watches, it 'hacks' when the crown is pulled to time setting position. Adjustment for the day and date, clockwise for date and anti-clockwise for the day. The day alternates between English and Spanish during adjustment. The date changes at midnight, but the day changes between 1 am to 4 am.

The all important question, how is the luminosity on this watch. The watch has lost some of it's luminesce and at max it will last about 1 hour. There is no luminesce markers on the bezel. The bezel rotates anti-clockwise as any diver watch would. It takes 60 clicks to a full turn of the bezel.

The case looks like it is made of 3 parts, with 8 screws holding 2 parts together at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock position, and it is made of 3 parts. This design has a drawback as the bezel cannot be rotated as easy due to the retainer lugs. The case is Titanium Ion Plated (early form of PVD?) and the case back is Stainless Steel. The case back is a screw back and is polished. The markings on the case back are: Casio, Module Number, Model Number, Stainless Steel and Water Resistant around the center. In the center is the serial number and Japan K. My newly acquired black dial has its serial number in the 1XXXXX range and the white dial, 8XXXXX. I have seen models on the Internet with serial number in the 9XXXXX range.

The crown is the screw down type crown and is large and easy to use. Crown shoulder protectors are provided.

This watch no longer has it's original band. It is currently fitted with the Casio AMW 320 Series Black Resin Band. The original band has a textured internal surface while the new band (original replacement band for this watch) has the typical anti-slip ridges along the edge of the band. The band is made in Japan as is the buckle. The band is slightly wider then the DW-5600E band. It is smooth on the outside. Internal markings: 200 F2 on both bands. The buckle has a little lip at the tang rest.

The watch itself is not heavy to wear and is very comfortable. It is a beautiful watch and the 'wabi' gives it additional character. It is a piece that will not be out of place among more expensive divers.

I recently acquired the black dial version of this watch, the MD-703-1AV. The watch is currently undergoing servicing which includes cleaning, battery change, new band, spring bars and the crystal replacement. I will post that process soon.