Casio
Founded in Tokyo in 1946, Casio is renowned for its durable and technologically advanced digital watches, best known for the shock-resistant G-Shock line.
Casio is the Japanese brand that made durability and accuracy affordable for everyone. From the F-91W to the G-Shock and the surprisingly refined Oceanus, it offers your first watch and a tool that outlasts watches costing many times more.
Casio's story starts in 1946, when Tadao Kashio set up a small workshop called Kashio Seisakujo in Mitaka, Tokyo. The company first made its name in calculators, and the four Kashio brothers formally founded Casio Computer Co., Ltd. in 1957. The watch business arrived in 1974 with the Casiotron QW02, Casio's first wristwatch and the first digital watch with an automatic calendar. Casio is not a traditional manufacture, but it develops its own quartz modules, displays and shock-resistance technology in-house, which is exactly why it stands apart at the budget end.
The range is enormous. The F-91W, at roughly £12 to £16, is one of the best-selling digital watches ever made: a resin case, a backlight button and battery life measured in years. Its metal-cased cousins, the A158 and A168, give you a retro alternative for around £20 to £55. Step up to G-Shock and the GA-2100, which collectors nicknamed the CasiOak, starts near £80, with the solar version around £120 and the full-metal steel GM-B2100 from about £450. If you want Tough Solar plus Multi-Band 6 radio sync, the GW-M5610 lands around £135. At the top sits the MR-G, with titanium Ti64 cases and Cobarion bezels; references like the MRG-B2100 and MRG-B2000 climb well past £2,000.
For the buyer, Casio's real strength is access. The watches are everywhere, sold at retail, with no waitlists and no premiums, so the secondary market is simply a cheaper entry point rather than an investment play for most models. That means you won't make money reselling a Casio, but that was never the point. When buying used, check the resin strap for cracks, the display for dead segments, and on solar models confirm the cell still holds a charge. Battery and gasket service is inexpensive at an authorised centre, and most modules run for years before they need it.
Today Casio is the rare brand that spans plain functional watches and genuinely refined pieces. The Japan-made Oceanus OCW-T200, with a sapphire crystal, Tough Solar Module 5596 and Multiband 6, is a quiet sleeper at roughly £250 to £380. The Edifice line offers Bluetooth and solar everyday smartness from about £65 to £330. For a first Casio, start with the F-91W or the GA-2100; those two distil the brand's whole philosophy, which is to spend your money on function rather than show.
Casio watches
Frequently asked questions
Which Casio should I buy as my first watch?
If you like digital simplicity, start with the F-91W at roughly £12 to £16. If you want something tougher and more stylish, the G-Shock GA-2100, the CasiOak, near £80 is the smart pick. Both capture the brand's function-first philosophy better than anything else in the catalogue.
Do Casio watches hold their value?
No, most Casios are not investment pieces. The watches are sold at retail everywhere, with no waitlists or premiums, so the secondary market is usually just a cheaper entry point. The goal is owning a reliable tool at low cost, not making money on resale.
What's the difference between the GA-2100 and the GW-M5610?
The GA-2100 is the analogue-digital CasiOak from around £80, valued for its slim case and clean looks. The GW-M5610 is fully digital, about £135, and adds Tough Solar with Multi-Band 6 radio sync, so you never deal with battery changes or manually setting the time.
How much does Casio battery and service cost?
On standard quartz models, a battery swap at an authorised centre is inexpensive, and the cell usually lasts years anyway. Tough Solar models effectively remove battery worries entirely. Gasket and water-resistance checks are also cheap, which makes Casio extremely economical to own long term.
Why is the Oceanus more expensive than a regular Casio?
Oceanus is Casio's upper tier and is made in Japan. Models like the OCW-T200 feature a sapphire crystal, Tough Solar Module 5596 and Multiband 6 radio control. That refined build, at roughly £250 to £380, easily explains the price gap over an everyday resin Casio.