Casio Watches: A Buying Guide Beyond the Digital Classics

Casio is a calculator and electronics company that happens to make some of the most widely worn watches in the world. Founded in Tokyo after the Second World War, it sold its first wristwatch in 1974, and the thinking behind it has never changed: put the most function into the least money and make it last. That is why its cheapest digital watches have stayed in production for decades. But if your idea of Casio stops at a black resin digital, you are missing most of the catalog. The brand sells metal digitals in steel and gold tone, analog dress watches on bracelets, and steel chronographs under its Edifice name, almost all for less than a Seiko costs. Prices below are from Casio's US site.

Watch Index · prices checked October 9, 2026

The watches in this guide, ranked

Every watch this guide mentions, ranked by Value Score or by what one watch costs today with each store's current offer counted.

The digital classics: still the best $30 to $60 you can spend

Start here, because the digital line is what Casio does better than anyone. The Casio F91W at $29.95 is the definitive cheap watch: a compact resin case, an alarm, a stopwatch, a small light and a battery that runs for years. It weighs almost nothing, and it is as accurate as a quartz watch costing ten times more. The Casio W800H at $39.95 is the sportier choice, a larger case with a more rugged look and a resin strap. For travelers, the Casio AE1200WHD World Time at $54.95 adds world time with a small map on the display and comes on a steel bracelet.

These watches are not trying to be jewelry, and that is part of the appeal. If your budget really is under $50, our guide to the best watches under $50 explains why Casio wins that bracket so clearly.

Vintage metal digitals: the gold tone line

Casio's vintage line takes the same digital modules and puts them in metal cases on fine link bracelets, many in gold tone. The Casio LA680WGA Vintage Gold at $69.95 is the small one, a slim gold tone case that wears more like a bracelet than a gadget. The Casio A159WGEA Vintage Gold at $79.95 is the larger, more familiar shape, and the Casio AQ230GA Vintage Gold at $79.95 combines analog hands with a digital display, a design Casio has made for decades. Gold tone here is a plated finish, not solid gold, and it is the reason these watches look dressier than their prices suggest. We look at what makes gold tone look rich rather than brassy in gold watches that look expensive.

Analog dress and everyday watches: the MTP models

Casio's analog quartz watches carry MTP reference numbers and are the quiet value story of the range. The Casio MTP1302D Dress Watch at $89.95 has a black sunburst dial, a date window and a steel bracelet in a case of about 38.5mm, a size that suits most wrists and fits under a shirt cuff. The Casio MTPB185D at $100 is a slightly more modern design, and the Casio MTP1302PGC Gold at $120 puts the classic face in gold tone. Expect simple finishing and light bracelets, which is the trade off at these prices.

Edifice: the steel chronograph line

Edifice is Casio's line of motorsport inspired analog watches. The Casio Edifice Chronograph at $165 is a 40mm steel chronograph with a blue dial and a steel bracelet, and Casio's listing says it has a sapphire crystal, a rarity under $200. It is one of the most complete chronographs you can buy from an established brand under $200, and it appears in our guide to chronograph watches under $200.

What about the shock resistant digital line?

Casio also runs a separate sub brand of tough, shock resistant digital and analog digital watches, the ones built for construction sites, military use and sport. It is a large range with its own prices and its own enthusiasts, and we cover it separately rather than squeeze it in here. If you want a watch that can take a fall onto concrete, that is the family to look at. If you want something you can wear to an office, the lines above are the better starting point.

Casio at a glance

*as listed on each brand's US website, October 2026

Casio's US store lists returns within 30 days of delivery, with return shipping paid by the buyer and a restocking fee on non defective returns, so read the terms before ordering a watch you are unsure about. Warranty length varies by product.

If you like the analog digital idea in a bolder case

Casio's analog digital watches are mostly small and sensible. If you want the same two displays in something louder, the Lucky Fours Viceroy puts analog hands and digital readouts in an oversized rectangular gold tone case on a black strap for $89.99. It is a statement piece rather than a tool watch, and a Casio remains the more practical buy. For other ways to spend under $100, see the best watches under $100.

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