Casio thinks you do

The sauna is the last place one thinks of a wrist watch. But apparently not. There are seemingly enough watch wearers in a sauna that Casio has created a timepiece specifically for sweating it out in the contained heat. But rather than just offer it as part of the Casio offerings, the Japanese watch maker has taken to crowdfunding on the Japanese platform Makuake to get the watch to market. It is the G-Shock creator’s first that is conceived specifically for use in a sauna and it looks rather cool. The CPP-002 (no idea what is tagged 001) is designed specifically for “hot and humid” environments, which means it is ideal for wearing outside, on this very-near-the-equator island.

Casio has been on a roll of late, releasing some quirky timepieces at a time when the talk is that few people are actually wearing watches, given that smartphones and activity trackers can do more than a timepiece. Early this month, they launched the ring watch CRW-001 (could that be that first product in the series?) to incredible reception. The miniature vintage-looking timepiece with a retro face was made available only online and was all gone in thirty minutes (we were not successful in scoring one). While no Oura Ring, the CRW-001 generated enough interest that it is sold out in the cities that it was made available in so far (in Malaysia, the Casio ring watch launches on 15 January). The sauna watch is expected to meet similar response.

Photo Illustration: Just So

At the moment, the Casio CPP-002 comes in three colour stories, two bi-coloured, with white faces and one in all black. One of the white faces with the blue strap is conceived in collaboration with the online platform Sauna Ikitai (which is a database that logs nearly every sauna business in Japan). It is not currently known if wearing it comes with additional benefits when using any of the saunas listed on the Sauna Ikitai app. Each of the watch is fitted with a chunky bezel/case that is affixed with an expandable coil-strap that is similar to those issued at saunas to secure locker keys. The 35.44mm body has an analogue face, and comes with one other additional function: a 12-minute counter that wearers could employ to ensure that they do not overstay in the sauna heat. Casio does not say if the watch can be used in a steam room.

It is not clear at the moment if a sauna watch will be sufficiently welcomed to be a success. Outside the spa or health centre, will the limited function of the CPP-002 hold immense appeal? Perhaps the heat-resistant battery with a life of five years does? It is unknown if sauna users must have a dedicated timepiece with them in the enclosed heated room (they don’t bring their smartphone in there, do they?), but if they do, will likely change to another watch after they leave the facility, rather that keep it on their wrist. The price of the CPP-002 is yet to be announced, but we do not think that the occasional-use watch would be expensive. In Japan, people do go to baths, but how often do they go to a sauna to warrant a watch for use specifically in heat therapy? It’s really hard to say. Gadget lovers will fine reason for another wearable to buy.

Casio CPP-002 will only be available in Japan for now. Photo and product images: Casio