Watches A to Z: Casio

Casio was founded in 1946 by Kashio Seisakujo in Mitaka, Tokyo. It's first product was a finger ring (called the Yubiwa pipe) for holding a cigarette while a smoker's hands were busy.  Profits from that ring (which seemed to be a viral product), helped the company get into electronics and they released their first calculator, the Casio 14-A, in 1954. 

Casio 14-A Calculator - Photo by Daderot, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1974, they released the CASIOTRON, their first digital LCD watch.  The case shape looked much like this modern watch on Amazon called the Casio Model Vintage Watch A171WE-1AEF.

Over the years, Casio has evolved into one of the best sources for reliable, practical, and reasonably priced watches.  While they got their start with calculators and digital watches, they offer plenty of good analog watch choices.   The company even makes diver-style watches now.  The Casio MDV-106 series (more popularly called Casio Marlin) provides a uni-directional bezel and a respectable 200 meters of water resistance. It's available here on Amazon. It's one of the best values in diver-style watches around.

Casio MDV-106 Marlin

As a watch collector, my personal journey with Casio started with the Casio Forester.  It's a great beater watch that stands up well to rough conditions and is light weight and comfortable in hot summer conditions.

Casio Forester

I've since branched out to own Casio Tough Solar models like the one shown below.  Even tougher that these outdoorsy watches of mine are the well-regarded, but slightly more expensive Casio G-Shock series of watches (available at the link on Amazon).

A Casio Tough Solar Watch

No matter whether you are collecting watches as a hobby or wearing watches to tell the time, Casio watches offer an outstanding value for the money.

Casio Watches for Imperial Storm Troopers

Today is the release date of a long anticipated movie -- Star Wars:  The Force Awakens.  The movie will re-unite the original Star Wars cast and has excited fans worldwide.  With Christmas just days away, the question has to be asked:  Do you have any Imperial Storm troopers on your Christmas list this year?  If so, these watches from Casio might make the perfect gift.  These are simply white Casio Tough Solar watches, but I think they capture the sheen and attitude of Star Wars imperial storm trooper armor perfectly.  I have the "jungle" version of the Casio Tough Solar have previously reviewed it.  As of 2024, if you'd like to get a Storm Trooper look at a decent price, you can find the Casio Men's AQ-S810WC-7AJH Analog-Digital Quartz White Watch on Amazon.  But, you'll never be able to say the name three times fast.

There is also a purely digital version for the high tech set.  Both of these watches look very cool.  Since they aren't actual Star Wars(tm) products, they also need to work first and foremost as watches.

These aren't expensive watches and you aren't paying a premium for Star Wars branding.  [As of 2024, you can find this Casio Tough Solar Digital watch on Amazon. The links in this article have been refreshed as of December 2024.]

Clearance Casio Solar Watch

I saw an interesting Casio at my local Walmart last week.  It was solar-powered with a canvas strap and it had a macho, military, look.  It also offered 100 meter water resistance.  Best of all, it was clearance priced for $30. Interesting that the Casio at Walmart is upside down on a Timex display tray.  Perhaps, it was sending out a distress signal?

Casio Solar Watch

Usually, clearance prices mean you'll have to change the battery sooner.  But, with a totally analog solar powered watch, that  shouldn't be a problem.  With my watch box full and my wallet empty, I left this watch for someone else to enjoy.  I can always get a Casio Tough Solar watch on Amazon for a good price!

Wristwatch Review: Casio Tough Solar Ana-Digital Watch

I have a new, rugged, wristwatch in my life.  It's called the Casio Tough Solar and it will be perfect for when I go mountain climbing, swamping, parachuting. and desert exploring.  It also goes well with khaki pants on business casual days.

Casio Tough Solar Ana-Digital Watch

Design.  The design of the Casio is hard core military.  It's brown.  It's made to blend into a wooded environment.  It's also muscular with a pumped up plastic case that can take hard knocks.   It looks rugged enough to be a G Shock alternative.

The design features white batons to mark each hour.  They angle down and in on the sloped channel ring.  White numbers denote 12, 3. and 9 o'clock.  The numbers and hands have lume.  A small digital watch read out dominates the six o'clock position.  Only the digital clock is backlit when the A button (at two o'clock is pressed).

Construction.  The Casio Tough Solar is tough.  A raised plastic bezel protects the watch crystal.  It has a stainless steel caseback that is secured with four tiny Phillips Head screws.  The watch has 100 meters or 10 BAR water resistance.

Dimensions.  This watch is only a tad bulky.  It's dimensions are fairly normal.  The case diameter is 46 millimeters and the case is 12 millimeters thick.  The band is 27 millimeters wide.

If this watch has trouble fitting under a dress shirt cuff, it's because it isn't a dress watch.  It has lots of buttons and textured surfaces to prevent it from easily sliding under a sleeve.

Features.  According to Amazon.com, Casio Men's AQS810W-3AVCF Solar Watch with Green Band features "solar power, LED light with afterglow, world time (48 cities), multi-lingual day-of-the-week display, 5 alarms, 1/100-second stopwatch, 2 countdown timers (up to 10 intervals each), and 12/24-hour formats." 

Drawbacks.  This watch is green. If you aren't a little green army man, you might want it in another color.  It is also available in black.  This watch is not set via a conventional winding stem.  Instead, you set the digital watch and the hands automatically adjust to follow.  It looks cool in action, but you have to read the directions.  This watch has no second hands.  You have to rely on the digital functions to see the seconds tick by.  Finally, this watch does stay powered as long in the dark as a Citizen Ecodrive.  It will probably run for days, but certainly not weeks.

Overall, I like the Casio Tough Solar very much.  It's a step up from the venerable Casio Forester.  Most importantly, it's a great watch for adventuring and banging around.