Glow-in-the-Dark Pro Trek Watches by Casio: First Digital Watch with a Luminous Dial Throughout

Ditching the Darkness: Casio's Radiant Adventure Watch Revolution

Over three decades of pushing the envelope in outdoor watch technology, Casio yet again leaves the competition in the dust with their latest offerings, the Pro Trek PRW-35LD-5JF and PRW-35TLD-7JF. What sets these bad boys apart? A mesmerizing, self-illuminating, phosphorescent digital LCD display that seizes the night without the need for backlight - a first in the digital watch realm.

Glowing Green in the Dark: Not Just a Fad

Chargeable lume? Been there for a minute. Since the '90s, Super-LumiNova and LumiBrite have graced the watch world as safer non-radioactive alternatives to tritium tubes. But while these have held court as index and handset coats of armor for the past thirty years or so, it's the recent wave of fully-lumed dials that has captured the market. The likes of IWC, Ressence, and Zodiac have hopped aboard the trend, yet Casio takes the cake for inventiveness. Known as the pioneer in digital watchmaking, Casio has been shaking up the game since the 1974 launch of their Casiotron, the world's first digital timepiece boasting an electronic calendar function. Fast forward to 1995, with the Pro Trek line's emergence, it swiftly became the go-to companion for hikers and adventurers, and the 1999 PRT-1GPJ - aka "Satellite Navi" - claimed the title as the first wristwatch with a GPS sensor.

Theicks 'n' nasties of the digital world feared to tread? Not Casio. The fully-lumed dial, while not the most earth-shattering innovation, still proves incredibly useful in the field. Casio's Super Illuminator LED and Afterglow backlight serve to brighten up the dial at the touch of a button, but as night owl hobbyists know, they dim dinosaurs come sunset. Stepping in to light up the night is Casio's phosphorescent lume, casting a piercing green glow in the dark without the use of a backlight. This eerie beauty doesn't require artificial light to function, instead it auto-brightens throughout the night when charged by the sun - ideal for those who prefer to scramble after dark, whether it's climbing mountains or tearing up mountain bike trails.

Phosphorescent Phantom: The PRW-61LD's Hidden Hero

First seen in Casio's PRW-61LD watches back in 2023, the term "Neo-Brite" was bestowed upon the phosphorescent material. Initially, it only adorned the analog portion of the dial, but these new PRW-35 models push the envelope by implementing the technology directly into the digital LCD screen for the first time. Whether Casio's Neo-Brite is the same lume used for the analog dials remains to be seen, but if so, it's set to make headlines in the watch world.

The Hype Beast vs. The Everyday Trailblazer

The two newcomers to Casio's Pro Trek lineup stand tall, embodying the brand's high-low approach to outdoor wearables. The PRW-35LD-5JF with its bio-based resin band, military-inspired gray IP bezel, and sturdy mineral glass serves as the affordable access point, coming in just under $300. For those who are all about luxury, the PRW-35TLD-7JF ups the ante with top-tier materials such as sapphire crystal, an inner AR coating, a titanium band, and titanium carbide treatment on both the bezel and bracelet for improved scratch resistance and deeper hues. Each model dons a bio-based resin case reinforced with a stainless steel rotating compass bezel.

These tough cookies measure 44.6mm in diameter, 51.2mm lug-to-lug, and a sleek 13mm in thickness - dimensions that have won the PRW-35 line favor amongst hikers who aren't interested in sporting a bulky timepiece. The titanium-banded beast checks in at a lithe 81g (~2.86oz), a remarkable feat considering its premium features, while the resin band keeps the weight to a wallet-friendly 1.59oz (45g) - now that's a bargain.

Essential Survival Gear for the Modern Gladiator

Plenty of buzz surrounds Casio's phosphorescent LCD display, but these watches offer more than flashy lights. The robust Triple Sensor technology delivers altitude measurements with one-meter precision, barometric pressure readings with trend graphs and warning alarms for abrupt changes, accurate compass bearings, and temperature readouts. A Tough Solar movement and Multi-Band 6 radio-controlled time adjustment make for precise timekeeping, while sunrise/sunset data adds the finishing touch to these handy survival tools. Water resistance is rated at 100m, ready for underwater escapades, and the watches easily withstand temperatures as low as -10°C (14oF), ensuring they'll remain operational even in the frigid hills of high-altitude expeditions.

Lights, Camera, Action

Due to hit overseas retailers in May, the PRW-35LD-5JF will set consumers back ¥48,400 (~$337), while the PRW-35TLD-7JF will command a pricier ¥88,000 (~$613). Casio has a history of selectively introducing Pro Trek models to the U.S. market and previous PRW-35 models had limited releases beyond Japan. However, thanks to the innovative display technology, these may just earn a wider distribution than their predecessors. Keep an eye on Casio, as they continue to push the envelope in outdoor timepiece technology, offering both style and functionality in one bright, beautiful package.

Additional Insights:

The green glow produced by Neo-Brite phosphorescent material is a result of it absorbing energy from a light source and emitting it slowly over time[2].
Casio claims a 1-hour green glow after a single minute of exposure to a 200-lumen light source for the PRW-35 series[2].
The use of biomass plastic does not impact the overall durability of the watch and is designed to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the watch manufacturing process[3].

Sources:[1] Casio Pro Trek PRW-35 Series Review - Worn & Wound. (2023) Retrieved from https://wornandwound.com/casio-pro-trek-prw-35-series/[2] Casio PRW-35TLD-7JF & PRW-35LD-5JF Watches: Glow-in-the-dark LCD screens. (2022) Retrieved from https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/casio-prw-35tlld-7jf-prw-35l increasingly important in this era of environmental awareness, Casio has incorporated biomass plastic into the PRW-35 models, demonstrating the brand's commitment to reducing its carbon impact[3].

Casio's Pro Trek PRW-35 series is leading the charge in the wearables market with their innovative use of phosphorescent material, offering a mesmerizing, self-illuminating digital LCD display that sets them apart from other gadgets such as smartphones and smartwatches.
The fully-lumed digital dial, a first in the digital watch realm, proved incredibly useful in the field as it auto-brightens throughout the night when charged by the sun, providing a piercing green glow that doesn't require artificial light, making it ideal for night owl hobbyists and adventurers.
Casio's Pro Trek PRW-35 series, with their stylish design and innovative technology, are not just trendy gadgets but essential survival tools for modern explorers, offering features such as altitude measurements, barometric pressure readings, accurate compass bearings, and temperature readouts.