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Casio’s New Watch Isn’t Just Cheaper Than a G-Shock. It Could Be Tougher, Too

The SAN-100H was built to thrive in places not even the most burly G-Shock model dares to go.

Black Casio watch with white and orange hands and Japanese characters on the dial, resting on a wooden surface.Casio
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By Jack Seemer

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No doubt about it: G-Shock makes some of the toughest watches on the planet. They can survive hard drops, deep-sea diving, hell, even combat zones across some of the most demanding terrain known to man.

But there is still one place you might not want to take even the most burly G-Shock: the spa, where steam and rapid fluctuations in temperature can wreak havoc on a watch’s various components.

Coincidentally, it’s exactly the environment that inspired a purpose-built timepiece from the brand’s affordability-first parent company.

Black Casio stopwatch with white dial, orange second hand, and white strap on a wrist.
The SAN-100H isn’t just suitable for the sauna or steam room. Casio made it specifically for them.
Casio

Turn up the heat

After a limited release last year, the Casio SAN-100H is back and available for purchase at a price that’s cheaper than most G-Shock models: 16,500 Japanese yen (about $112 USD).

Wristwatch with a white dial, black bezel, and orange and white strap worn on a wrist holding a wooden object.
The Casio SAN-100H is a purpose-built tool watch if there ever was one.
Casio

To be clear, it’s not that the SAN-100H is simply suitable for use in saunas and steam rooms. Casio made it specifically for them, including a handful of novel features that may make it the brand’s most resilient and purpose-built watch, possibly ever.

Back of a Casio SAN-100H watch with black case, white and orange strap, and water resistance details.
The resin case minimizes contact between metal and skin. The screws, for example, are recessed.
Casio

For starters, the SAN-100H features a special battery rated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit (the boiling point of water). The case uses a low-moisture-permeability resin. And recessed screws minimize metal-on-skin contact — one of obvious reasons to avoid other watches in the sauna, irrespective of what such places can do to the internals.

Finally, a traditional band makes way for a spiral cord strap, fashioned after traditional locker keys. Like the case, it’s devoid of metal, meaning it won’t conduct heat like a bracelet would.

Black Casio wristwatch with white dial and orange translucent strap worn on a wrist.
The spiral band is fashioned after traditional locker keys.
Casio

As far as the actual functionality goes, the quartz-powered SAN-100H is rather simple. It features just two buttons, which cycle through a regular analog display and 12-minute timer.

Black Casio wristwatch with round face, white numerals, and orange minute hand on a wooden surface.
Beyond telling time, the watch features a 12-minute timer.
Casio

Casio advises against wearing the watch in the sauna for more than 15 minutes at a time. Water resistance, meanwhile, taps out at 50m (most G-Shocks feature 200m of water resistance).

Availability and pricing

The Casio SAN-100H comes in two colors: black and white with orange accents.

It costs 16,500 Japanese yen ($112 USD) and is exclusive to Casio members via a lottery system due to limited stock.

Black Casio wristwatch with round face, white numerals, orange second hand, and coiled plastic band.Casio

Casio SAN-100H

Released in limited numbers at the end of 2024, Casio’s sauna watch is back with a handful of purpose-built features that make it one of the brand’s most resilient timepieces ever. These include a special resin case and battery that can stand up to the extreme temperatures found in spas, as well as spiral band inspired by traditional locker keys.
About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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