Casio has unveiled the CRW-H001M-8 Ring Watch in China with a surprising feature. The watch brand has taken a different approach to the growing smart ring category by integrating a miniature LCD watch display directly into a wearable ring.

Unlike conventional smart rings that rely almost entirely on a companion app, the Casio Ring Watch allows users to view the time directly on the ring via its built-in digital display.

The device combines the traditional look of a Casio digital watch and its functionality with health tracking, including heart rate, blood oxygen, body temperature, sleep monitoring, step count and calorie tracking.

All your favourite classic Casio watch features have been retained, including world time, stopwatch, alarms, automatic calendar, 12/24-hour time formats and an LED backlight.

 

Timekeeping and smart features are kept separate, with a dual-battery design. The digital watch display is powered by a battery rated for around two years, while the rechargeable health-tracking module delivers four to six days of use per charge.

The ring can also alert to calls, notifications, reminders and alarms with a vibration, allowing users to be free from smartphone distractions. 

The unique product signals Casio’s entry into the rapidly expanding smart ring market, but differentiates itself by holding on to the company’s heritage in digital watches rather than competing directly with other wearables like the Samsung Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring.

Priced at 1,990 yuan (around A$420), the CRW-H001M-8 is initially launching in China, with no international availability announced at this stage.