Quick Verdict
The A158WA is what happens when you give the F-91W's module a chrome case and a steel bracelet for the same money. It is the more versatile of the two and the less comfortable.
At a Glance
- Typical street price
- $30
- Movement type
- Quartz
- Power reserve
- Battery, approximately 7 years on a CR2016 (Casio specification)
- Case width
- 33.2 mm
- Lug-to-lug
- 36.8 mm
- Crystal
- Resin glass
- Water resistance
- Water Resistant (Casio publishes no depth rating)
Design
A 36.8 x 33.2 mm chrome-plated resin case with a stepped bezel and an integrated-looking steel bracelet. The proportions are small by modern standards, which is exactly why it reads as vintage rather than cheap.
Movement
The same class of Casio digital quartz module as the F-91W: ±30 seconds a month, a CR2016 specified for around seven years, a 1/100 second stopwatch with split timing, a daily alarm and an auto-calendar.
Build Quality
Chrome-plated resin rather than solid steel for the case, folded links for the bracelet, resin glass over the display. It is honest about what it costs, and the plating is the part that will show its age first.
Dial
Black printed face with CASIO and ALARM CHRONO across the top, LIGHT/LAP·RESET and MODE down the left, START·STOP/12·24H on the right, and a WATER RESIST band under the LCD. The green backlight is a genuine improvement over the F-91W's.
Bracelet & Strap
A folded stainless steel bracelet with an adjustable clasp. It is the reason the watch weighs 46 g against the F-91W's 21 g, and the reason it can be worn somewhere the resin version cannot.
Comfort & Wearability
8.2 mm thick and 33.2 mm across the case. Light enough on the wrist, though the bracelet is the part most owners either love immediately or replace.
Accuracy
±30 seconds per month by Casio's specification, unchanged by wearing habits, temperature swings within reason, or how long it has sat in a drawer.
What we like
What we like
- A steel bracelet and a chrome-plated case at the price of a resin watch
- 36.8 x 33.2 mm and 8.2 mm thick — small enough to wear under any cuff
- Same seven-year CR2016 and ±30 s/month specification as the F-91W
- Green LED backlight rather than the F-91W's plain lamp
What we don't like
- 46 g of it is bracelet, and the folded links feel exactly like their price
- Casio publishes no depth rating — 'water resistant' means splashes
- Resin glass, so it scratches
Who Should Buy It?
Anyone who wants the F-91W's reliability in something that can pass at an office, and anyone with a small wrist looking for a digital watch that is actually proportioned for it.
Who Should Skip It?
Skip it if you want a strap you can change, if you need real water resistance, or if 33 mm across will read as too small on your wrist.
Best Alternatives
Three watches worth weighing up before you commit.
How It Compares
Casio A158WA
2 categories won
Casio F-91W
1 categories won
- Typical street price
- $30Even
- $30Even
- Movement type
- Quartz
- Quartz
- Caliber
- Not published
- Not published
- Power reserve
- Battery, approximately 7 years on a CR2016 (Casio specification)
- Battery, approximately 7 years on a CR2016 (Casio specification)
- Stated accuracy
- ±30 seconds per month (Casio specification)
- ±30 seconds per month (Casio specification)
- Case width
- 33.2 mm
- 35.2 mm
- Case thickness
- 8.2 mmWinner
- 8.5 mm
- Lug-to-lug
- 36.8 mmWinner
- 38.2 mm
- Crystal
- Resin glass
- Resin glass
- Water resistance
- Water Resistant (Casio publishes no depth rating)
- Water Resistant (Casio publishes no depth rating)
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Resin strap
- Weight
- 46 g
- 21 gWinner
- Style
- Digital · Everyday · Dress
- Digital · Everyday
- Recommended wrist
- Small · Medium
- Small · Medium
- Selection Score
- Not published
- Not published
Final Verdict
The same argument as the F-91W with a different answer to the question of where you can wear it. For thirty dollars, having both is not an extravagant position.
Specifications
- Brand
- Casio
- Model
- A158WA
- Reference
- A158WA-1
- Collection
- Casio Vintage
- Typical street price
- $30
- MSRP
- $30
- Movement type
- Quartz
- Movement
- Casio digital quartz module
- Caliber
- Not published
- Power reserve
- Battery, approximately 7 years on a CR2016 (Casio specification)
- Stated accuracy
- ±30 seconds per month (Casio specification)
- Balance spring
- Not published
- Case width
- 33.2 mm
- Case thickness
- 8.2 mm
- Lug-to-lug
- 36.8 mm
- Lug width
- Not published
- Weight
- 46 g
- Case material
- Resin, chrome plated
- Crystal
- Resin glass
- Water resistance
- Water Resistant (Casio publishes no depth rating)
- Dial colours
- Black
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Bracelet material
- Stainless steel
- Clasp
- Adjustable clasp
- Date
- Yes
- GMT
- No
- Chronograph
- Yes
- Style
- Digital · Everyday · Dress
- Recommended wrist
- Small · Medium
- Country of origin
- Japan
- Released
- 1991
- Selection Score
- Not published
Score Breakdown
Where to Buy
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Amazon
Price shown on Amazon
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Casio
Not published
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Casio A158WA and the A168?
They are different references, not variants of one watch. The A168 has a taller case with a fully integrated bracelet and an illuminator button on the front; the A158WA has a separate stepped case on a conventional bracelet and is the smaller of the two.
Is the Casio A158WA case real steel?
No. Casio specifies the case and bezel as resin with chrome plating; the bracelet is stainless steel. That is why it weighs 46 g rather than the 80 g or so a solid steel case of this size would.
