As I watch enthusiast, I tell everyone about my love for watches. My current favorite watch is a Casio MDV106B-2AV blue bezel and blue dial Duro, sometimes affectionately called a Bluro. I got mine for $40 and added a Strapcode jubilee bracelet. I love it! I love the Duro so much that I got at least one of each of the six current variants.
So when I heard Walmart was selling the Duro for only $11 on clearance, I went to try my luck. I told as many of my friends about the deal as possible. One of my friends was going out of state on a road trip. I asked him if he stopped at a Walmart along the way to look at watches for me. He did, and he found me two Casio MDV106B-1A2V blue and red bezel with black dial sometimes called the Pepsi. He also found one of my favorite watch, the Casio MDV106B-2AV all blue Duro. He bought all three for me at $11 ea.
When I got them, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to take the blue dial, chapter ring, and movement out of the blue Duro and put it into the Pepsi. I had a Pepsi that I put a Strapcode O Boyer bracelet on and I knew a blue dial would look awesome in it.
So, I opened it up and tried to remove the stem. It seemed so easy to do when you watch people do it on YouTube. I struggled to see what I needed to see, without magnification. I used my phone camera zoomed and could see it. Then moved the phone and I could no longer see. I didn't have enough hands to hold everything. Then through some trial and error and lip biting, I was able to remove the stem. I opened up the other one and it was just as difficult. More challenging than I expected based on the the videos I had seen. Once I had them both free, I quickly made the swap. Then I reinstalled everything in reverse order and flipped it over to see my creation. It was stunning. The blue dial with Pepsi bezel should be a stock option from Casio. It looks perfect. I already loved the blue dial. The red, white and blue combo looks great to me. Surrounded by brushed stainless steel with polished accents. It just looks right!
I flipped over the watch made from the left overs. Black dial and blue bezel which I have now learned is affectionately called a "Cookie Monster", and it also looks great. The only thing I would change on it, is the seconds hand. I would use a blue one from a Batman or a polished one from a blue Duro.
Having grown up with Sesame Street, I always loved the Cookie Monster. When I heard that is what the black dial with blue bezel is called, I laughed so hard. I am like the Cookie Monster but with watches. I see watches I like, and something inside me screams "Me want watches!"
I really like all the versions of the Duro and my two simple custom watches are no different. In fact, I think the blue dialed Pepsi on a bracelet is closing on the number 2 spot in my collection. It is my second favorite Duro for sure. It is in a three way tie with my Seiko Presage SRPB41J1 Cocktail Time Blue Moon and my JDM Seiko Spirit SBTR021 Chronograph on a Strapcode bracelet for second place. Both of which were a whole lot more than $11. The Duro is a great watch at $50-$75. Under $50 it is a bargain. Under $30 it is a steal!
I decided to do a strap change on one of the other Pepsi Duros I have. I went with a red perlon from Wrist Candy Watch Club. I showed it to a fellow veteran friend of mine and he said it is perfect for RED Fridays, to Remember Everyone Deployed. I think that is a great idea. Expect to see it in my rotation on Fridays, along with the custom blue dial with blue and RED bezel.
I can't say enough good things about the Casio Duro. With six different variants, there is something for everyone. I think they are a great watch and worth every bit of the MSRP. They often sell for less and then they are a great deal. If you see them on clearance, buy them all. The amount of quality and accuracy you get with a Duro is unmatched at the price. They make a great start or addition to any collection.
Here is a few more pictures just for fun:
