Brands
Casio
Casio approaches watches as electronics rather than jewellery, and the result is a catalogue where a $60 watch can carry a 200 m rating and a screw-down crown.
- Founded
- 1946
- Country
- Japan
- Typical price range
- $20 – $500
- Watches covered
- 5 watches
Outside of G-Shock, the Casio watch that matters most is the Duro MDV106 — a 200 m quartz diver at under $100 that has no meaningful competition. Casio's strength is that it does not need to protect a luxury positioning, so it fits specifications wherever they are cheap to add. The corresponding weakness is finishing: cases are simply made, crystals are mineral, and luminous material is an afterthought.
Strengths
- Specification per dollar unmatched by any other brand
- 200 m water resistance available at under $100
- Enormous production scale means reliability is well proven
- Batteries and service are cheap and universally available
Watch out for
- Mineral crystals throughout the affordable range
- Case finishing is basic
- Luminous performance is poor
- Supplied resin straps are usually the first thing replaced
Casio
Where to start
Casio
Comparisons
Casio F-91W
Casio F-105WCasio F-91W vs F-105W
Same module, same ±30 seconds a month, same seven-year battery, same 21 grams, same $29.95. The F-91W lights one corner of its display with a small LED; the F-105W lights the whole display with an electro-luminescent panel and is 1.1 mm thicker for it. If you ever read the time in the dark, buy the F-105W.
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Casio F-91W
Casio A158WACasio F-91W vs A158WA
Same module, same price, same seven-year battery. The F-91W weighs 21 g on a moulded resin strap; the A158WA weighs 46 g on a steel bracelet and is 1.6 mm shorter end to end. Buy the F-91W to forget you are wearing a watch, the A158WA to wear one to an office.
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Casio F-91W
Casio AE-1200WHCasio F-91W vs AE-1200WH
For ten dollars more the AE-1200WH adds 100 m of water resistance, world time across 31 zones, a ten-year battery and a full auto-calendar. What it costs you is size: 45 mm end to end and 12.5 mm tall against the F-91W's 38.2 and 8.5. If it fits your wrist, it is the better watch.
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