Wouldn't you love a Rolex Submariner? Or maybe you're an Omega Speedmaster kind of guy? Some of you might even dream of owning a Breitling Navitimer. The question is, how many of you are interested in the best Casio watch?
Most guys dream of owning a luxury watch – but that $3000+ price point isn't attainable for many men. Let's be honest – you've got bills to pay and a family to care for. You can't drop that kind of money on a vanity purchase!
What if I told you there was a way to own a god-tier watch for under $200? Enter Casio – a brand making A1 watches at incredibly affordable prices.
In today's article, I'm sharing my favorite classic Casio watches with you. I've even got some of these in my own personal collection:
- Casio World Time Watch
- G Shock Casio DW-5600
- Casio A168W-1
- Casio F-91W
- G Shock Casioak
- Edifice EFV-100
- Casio Calculator Watch
- Casio ProTrek
- Casio MTS-110
- Casio Day-Date
Best Casio Watch #1 Casio World Time Watch
If you know anything about classic Casio watches, you'll know they're famous for two things:
- Incredibly affordable digital watches
- Awesome functionality and reliability
No watch demonstrates this better than the World Time Watch by Casio.
This digital timepiece includes a built-in stopwatch, timer, and 5-point daily alarm. However, those are mere novelties compared to this watch's most impression function.
You may have noticed this watch features 4 different displays – a larger one across the bottom of the face and then three smaller ones above it.
You can display any time zone worldwide simply by cycling through them with one of this watch's many side buttons.
A map indicates where in the world this time zone relates to, and the circular display in the top left shows a digital-style analog watch that consistently shows your ‘home town' time zone.
Incredible, right? This watch is a godsend for the traveling man who needs to know the correlation between his current time zone and the one at home. What's more – this incredible timepiece will set you back no more than $30!
Best Casio Watch #2 G Shock Casio DW-5600
The G-Shock Casio watch range came into being through a desire to create an indestructible watch. After 10 years and 200 prototypes, Casio finally released the original G Shock watch – arguable the toughest timepiece on the planet.
As the name would suggest, this watch is incredibly shock resistant. The casing surrounding the watch face is rugged and durable, making it perfect for guys who enjoy the outdoors and take part in extreme sports.
But don't be fooled; just because this watch is rugged doesn't mean it sacrifices accuracy. Elapsed, split and final time are accurate to within 1/100-sec – so don't worry; when you're free-climbing up the face of Yosemite, you can bet you'll be able to tell the exact time with pinpoint accuracy.
This G Shock Casio Watch (DW-5600) comes in various colors and editions – take your pick; they're all awesome. Regardless of the variation you choose, you'll be able to pick up the world's toughest watch for around $125.
Best Casio Watch #3 Casio A168W-1
Do you miss the 80s? I know I do – there was something oddly pleasing about wearing a simple digital watch without it being considered ‘old-school.' To be honest, the fact that this style of watch is now regarded as retro makes me feel very old!
Regardless, there's something to be said for the fact that the Casio A168W-1 is still alive and kicking in the 21st century. After all – its features are pretty basic and can be easily accessed on any modern smartphone.
However, that's not why people love this watch. The classic silver band, the emerald-green backlight, that timeless black bezel … it's a unique style that no other watch brand could pull off.
In short – this watch is a style choice many guys make to relive the glory days. Frankly, I don't blame them! This is an excellent watch!
It features a basic stopwatch, daily alarm, yearly calendar, and 12-24-hour formatting option. Basically, everything a man needs to keep time daily is cased in a sleek silver design. What more could you want?
You can pick up this piece of watch-making history for just $30.
Best Casio Watch #4 Casio F-91W
The F-91W is essentially the cheaper version of the A168W-1. Instead of a metal casing, the F-91W has plastic construction. That's pretty much the only difference between the two!
However, I've included this as a separate item on my list because of its use worldwide.
Fun fact: both US Presidents and deadly terrorists have worn The F-91W! Mr. Obama wore this watch during his younger years as a student in the 80s. Conversely, Osama Bin Laden wore this watch at the height of his notoriety as the world's most dangerous terrorist.
In fact, terrorists regularly use these classic Casio watches as a component in terrorist IEDs! Not that we should hold that against Casio – it's not like they're providing them for this purpose. You can pick up an F-91W for around $25, making it a very attractive and cost-effective watch for both regular guys and deadly terrorists.
Best Casio Watch #5 G Shock Casioak
Okay – the Casioak isn't an official G shock Casio watch. It's a nickname given to the G Shock Casio watch GA-2100. This watch looks incredibly similar to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak – a luxury Swiss watch retailing for upwards of $20,000. Thus it became known as the CasiOAK.
Did Casio intend to copy the distinctive faceplate of the Royal Oak? Who knows.
It's not a direct copy, and it does have its own distinctive features, so we won't hold this similarity against them. Unlike the $20k Royal Oak, this G Shock watch brags a timer, stopwatch, backlight, and water resistance of up to 200m.
So, in theory, doesn't that mean you're getting more bang for your buck with classic Casio watches?
If you want a classy-looking watch with a host of great features AND a low price of around $99, check out the G Shock GA-2100.
Best Casio Watch #6 Edifice EFV-100
There isn't too much to be said about the Edifice Casio EFV-100. It's a classic Casio watch with a slight twist – it isn't digital.
Casio designed the Edifice range to appeal to the more professional man. The EFV-100 is one of many Edifice watches appropriate to wear in a business environment.
While many guys don't find an issue with wearing a digital watch and a suit, the traditionalists among us may want something more akin to the look of a dive watch, chronograph, or dress watch.
Enter Edifice, Casio‘s answer to analog enthusiasts.
The EFV-100 features a straightforward design. A black watch face, silver body, and date window are all you get with this one. It's a classic sports watch that doesn't try to do anything out of the ordinary – it tells the time, gives you the date, and can be worn up to 100m underwater.
You can fetch this simple but timeless watch from the Casio website for under $150.
Best Casio Watch #7 Casio Calculator Watch
Let's get back to those feature-packed digital watches, shall we?
The Calculator Watch (or CA-53W-1ER) does what it says on the tin – it's a calculator that sits on your wrist like a watch.
Once again, this is a throwback to the 80s when digital watches reigned supreme. In fact, this one actually features in the ‘Vintage' collection on the Casio website, which makes me feel ancient, quite frankly!
The stand-out feature of this watch is the 16-button watch interface that allows you to run some pretty complex calculations from the comfort of your wrist. It also features a dual time display that lets you see different time zones side-by-side and the standard date indicators we've come to expect from most Casio digital models.
This is a pretty cool watch to own if you're an engineer, mathematician, teacher, or numbers enthusiast. Sure, it seems like a bit of a novelty in today's high-tech world – but I think it's a great way to get off that phone screen and spend time running some old-school calculations.
When all's said and done, it's just a cool watch to add to your classic Casio watches collection for less than $30.
Best Casio Watch #8 Casio ProTrek PRG240
Do you want your watch to look like a US Army Battle Tank?
If the answer's yes, then Casio has the watch for you.
The ProTrek PRG240 range is very similar to the G Shock Casio Watch range and is probably the manliest looking watch I've ever seen … and I've seen a lot of watches in my time.
Built for the great outdoors, this badass timepiece seems to do it all. First up, it's solar-powered, so there's no risk of battery failure in the middle of a 30-mile hike.
This tank of a watch boasts 10 bar water resistance, a fully functioning compass, barometric pressure and altitude detector, a thermometer, and one hell of a solid casing to boot.
On display, you'll find:
- Sunrise/sunset times
- Daylight pointers
- 31 possible timezones
- A city code display
- A compass reading
- 5 point alarm
I'm not sure it would be possible to fit any more information and features into one watch. This shows in the price – slightly exceeding the $200 mark of this article.
For this beast of a watch, you'll have to splash out an extra $80 and pay around the $280 mark – however, do a bit of digging online, and you may be able to find it on offer for slightly less.
Best Casio Watch #9 Casio MTS-110L-7AV
It seems like Casio makes every style of watch on the planet.
As we begin to conclude this list of classic Casio watches, I had to mention the MTS-110-7AV – Casio‘s answer to the dress watch.
As with any dress watch, there isn't too much to say about the Casio MTS-110-7AV because of its simplicity and minimal style. It tells the time, looks elegant, and pairs well with a dinner suit or tuxedo – what more could you want from a dress watch?
You'll get a leather strapped, quartz movement watch with a white dial and gold-look time markers – all for $70. So just slightly cheaper than a $4000 Cartier Tank dress timepiece.
Best Casio Watch #10 Casio Day-Date
Officially named the Casio MTP-1370L-1AV, the Casio Day-Date is one of my favorite classic Casio watches. Why? Because it pays homage to one of my favorite Rolex watches – the Rolex Day-Date.
Okay – so I'm not usually a fan of watches that try to mimic the look of Rolex. There's a reason that guys pay tens of thousands of dollars for a Rolex – because it signifies their success.
However, there's something quite special about the Casio Day-Date. It costs less than $100 but features some of the distinctive features of the Rolex version. The staple curved day window at the top of the dial, a smaller date window below, and a simple watch face that doesn't try and be too complex or showy.
Would I wear one? Probably not – I'm at a point in my life where I can wear the real thing. However, would I buy this for my young son, who wants to start wearing a serious-looking timepiece? Absolutely.
Every guy knows a watch is an essential men's accessory – but how many of you put thought into your watch strap? Click here to discover why the watch strap is one of the most essential parts of a man's timepiece.
FAQs
Who Are Casio?
Casio is a Japanese brand that manufactures watches, calculators, and musical instruments. It was founded in 1946.
Are digital watches better than analog watches?
That depends on what you look for in a watch. Digital watches feature more advanced functions, while analog watches are more formal and 'classic.'
Can I Wear A Digital Watch With A Suit?
That depends. If you work at a tech company or slightly more casual office, then absolutely! The metal Casio A168W-1 would be the perfect office watch. At formal events, I would personally choose one of Casio's analog watches. With a tux - go for the Casio MTS-110L-7AV Dress Watch.
