For the past 10 years, I have been using an Orient Ray automatic watch (about 90% of the time) and an Honor Band 5 (about 10%). I work in difficult conditions and often need to wear various types of gloves and sleeves that fit well on the wrist. I am exposed to environments with various risks (impacts, hits, water, sweat, high temperatures, etc.). Over the years, both of these watches have shown significant wear and tear (especially the poor Ray watch!). While the Honor Band is satisfactory as an activity tracker, it is not convenient as a watch (mediocre readability and the need for weekly charging).
I was looking for an inexpensive, durable watch with accurate timekeeping and no requirements for charging or adjustments. I inevitably ended up with a G-Shock, but I was always "afraid" of their monstrous size, which can be prohibitive if you want to wear gloves frequently and easily.
I chose the DW-5600BB-1ER because it has one of the slimmest profiles, is quite affordable, and has a more discreet design (I don't like the bold and colorful letters on many other G-Shock watches).
- Extremely lightweight.
- Incredibly comfortable strap. It doesn't smell from sweat, doesn't heat up, and doesn't cause any discomfort that plastic straps generally do. I feel much better wearing it (actually, I don't feel it at all!) compared to silicone straps on my other watches.
- Generally, you don't feel the watch on your hand at all. It doesn't interfere with clothing, doesn't "catch," and fits comfortably with gloves, etc.
- It hasn't lost a second in months of use.
- The illumination is satisfactory - maybe I would have liked it to last a second longer.
- The alarm sound is sufficient to wake me up.
- The time is easily readable.
- Sufficient functions for daily/mild athletic use.
- The buttons are very comfortable to use, AS LONG AS YOU LEARN HOW TO USE THEM (with a specific pressure method, you can easily find and press them, even the adjust button that doesn't protrude). They are never accidentally pressed.
- The digits on the screen are visible even with polarized glasses (many LCD screens are blocked by polarization).
Regarding how readable the negative display is, in everyday life, there is no significant difference compared to the classic positive display of other digital watches. Depending on the conditions, it may be slightly better or worse, but generally, it is easily readable during the day once you get used to it (I have watches with hands that are more difficult to read due to many small shiny surfaces).
Aesthetically, I would describe it as a relatively discreet, modern watch - although this is purely subjective. In terms of practicality (based on my needs), I consider it an extremely reliable, everyday watch. At prices around €50, it is an excellent value-for-money tool that your children will also have.