For the longest time, I’ve been an Apple Watch guy.
But on a recent trip, my Apple Watch failed me.
I forgot to bring the charger, which I’ll admit is my mistake, and it ran out of juice pretty quickly.
Heck, all I wanted was to tell the time.
So, I started looking for a watch—a real watch. That search led me down an amazing rabbit hole. The first watch I bought was a Casio A158. It boasts a great retro look, a shiny, metal-like case, and is very comfortable to wear. However, its illumination isn’t great. I began researching online, and before I knew it, I started a Casio collection. I agree, I went a bit overboard. But hear me out—there’s absolutely a reason to own each of them.
SOTC
Casio A158WA-1D ¥159
The A158 is the watch that started it all. It’s a classic, and very versatile.
Casio A100WE-1A (The Alien watch) ¥235
The A100WE is a reissue of the classic F-100, AKA the “Alien watch”. It’s a bit bigger than the A158 and has better backlight. It has a wacky 70s retro-future look, and was weared by Ripley in the movie Aliens. What more do I need to say? There is also a black version which is more true to the original F100, but was out of stock when I bought it.
Casio A700W-7A ¥199
Very similar to the A158, but with a more modern look. It has a better backlight and a more readable display. There are two versions, one with white dial and a mesh band, and one with a black dial and a linked band. I like the white face better, to me it looks more elegant and distinct. And the black one is too similar to the A158. However, the mesh bracelet is too stiff for me so I replaced it with the linked version. It looks great on the case, giving an integrated look. But I wish the case had a brushed finish that matches the bracelet.
Casio A1200WHD-1AVDF (Casio Royale) ¥196
The Casio Royale needs no introduction. It is cheap, it is packed with features, and it is ICONIC. This is the watch that I wear the most.
Casio MDV-10601A (Duro) ¥400
The Duro, the Bill Gates watch, is a classic diver watch. It is a bit bigger and heavier than the other watches, but it is still very comfortable to wear. It boasts an impressive 200m water resistance, and a screw-down crown. It has a classic look, and the quality is superb for the price. I love the bezel action, the dial, and the finish on the case. The only downside is that the illumination is not great. Mad value for money.
Casio GA-2100VB-1A (Casioak) ¥567
The Casioak is a G-Shock with a classic look. It is a very popular watch, and it is easy to see why. I got the cyberpunk version with neon purple accents. It is mesmerizing to look at, and the purple accents are very subtle. However, the visibility is quite bad with the dark dial and negative display. So I rarely wear it, I just love looking at it.
Casio GW-M5610U-1 (The Square) ¥740
Functionally speaking, the Square is GOAT for me. It is a solar-powered, radio-controlled, atomic watch. It is always accurate, and I never have to worry about the battery. It is also very comfortable to wear, and the visibility is great. I love the red accents on the dial, and the brushed finish on the back if the case. If you are getting a G-Shock, this is THE G-Shock to get. I replaced the resin band with a combi bracelet, and it is a perfect choice for comfort, weight, and looks.
Watches I am considering
- Casio A120WE: a new model with distinct 70s aesthetics.
- Casio AQ-800E: a classic dress watch with ana-digi display. I want the blue version.
- Casio CA-53W: the calculator watch from Back to the Future.
- Casio MTP-B145D-2A1V: tiffany blue dial, integrated bracelet, ‘nuff said.
- Casio MTP-M305D-7AV: The Apple Watch watch. Casio is trolling Apple with this one, but the watch itself is very nice with a clean look and moon phase display. It would be a great dress watch.