The Casio EF-503 is part of their Edifice line. I purchased my Casio EF-503 on the strength of some close-up photographs and very favorable reviews I viewed on an internet watch forum. There is more than a passing resemblance to the famous Omega Speedmaster. Although not an outright copy, it is very clear that the styling is inspired by, or perhaps even an homage to the Omega. Upon receiving my own watch, I am still pleased, even impressed.



I already had several quartz chronographs with black faces, and this watch is also offered with black face (and red second hands), but I was attracted to the "white" face with the blued second hands. Somehow the "cooler" color temperature appealed to me. The face is not actually white like snow but seems to be an anodized or brushed silvery color, which reflects light in an almost pearlescent manner. The main watch hands are brightly chromed, with luminous inserts, and do have some contrast against the silvery dial, but not nearly as much contrast as if the dial were black.



The dial has three subdials. The subdial at 6 o'clock has a blued hand, and runs constantly, recording seconds. The dials at 12 and 9 o'clock record minutes and hours of elapsed time with their chromed hands when the chronograph is activated. Seconds of elapsed time are indicated by the long blued hand in the center of the dial, which is normally stationary, only moving with the other chronograph hands. Starting, stopping, and resetting the chronograph is performed by the two round buttons on the outside of the case, above and below the crown.



Hour markers are raised rectangles with luminous centers and brightly chromed edges, and provide a slight 3-D appearance to the dial. The window for the calendar also has a raised and brightly chromed frame. Between the hour markers are inscribed seconds and 1/5 seconds with very fine black lines, which gives the overall impression of a high-precision instrument. Each hour marker is also labelled with it's 24 hour time equivalent, so you can quickly read military time if you wish. The outermost chapter on the dial is seconds, labelled at 5, 10, 15 etc.

Surrounding the dial and glass is the black tachymeter scale, used to measure the rate at which something occurs, for example, measuring the average speed of a vehicle over a mile or kilometer.



The all stainless steel case which contains the dial and mechanism is 41 mm across, not counting the crown or pushbuttons, and 10 mm thick. The case extends to form nicely tapered lugs for attachment of the bracelet. The sides of the case and lugs, and the back, are brightly polished to a mirror finish, while the top surfaces are brushed, which creates a very pleasing contrast. The crown is 5mm in diameter and easy to grip when setting time or date.



The bracelet is also stainless steel, with all solid steel links, and noteworthy for having solid steel end links, machined to fit the curve of the case between the lugs, instead of the more common stamped sheet metal end links. The only stamped parts consist of the folding clasp and its components, similar to those seen on watches costing several hundred or even several thousand dollars. The clasp is signed with the Casio name, and is opened by pressing two pushbuttons on its sides.



My watch came in the complete Casio box, with the bracelet snugged up around a soft pillow inside and with plastic wrapped around the face and back to prevent scratches.

The Casio EF 503 seems to represent a very high value for the money spent. Nothing about the watch indicates that it cost less than $100, instead it compares very favorably with watches costing much more.