Digital watches show numeric time plus multi-function tools on an LCD or OLED. The Casio Casiotron QW02 in 1974 was the first auto-calendar quartz digital in the world; in the 1980s the Casio F-91W at $25 entry took over the global market. The digital core advantage is multi-function on one device — stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm, world time, calculator, even a tide table (the Tide Graph G-Shock).
The Casio G-Shock was designed by Kikuo Ibe in 1983, and the first DW-5000C set the 'absolute toughness' standard. Today the DW-5600 (the square 'origin'), GA-2100 'CasiOak' ana-digi, MR-G titanium lux at $3-5k, and MTG-B (Multi-Mission Time Graph) Bluetooth plus solar carry it forward. The F-91W at $25 is still in production after 35+ years of best-seller status. Pro Trek (triple sensor altimeter/barometer/compass) and Edifice (chronograph dual-time) sit alongside.
The outdoor segment: Garmin Fenix 7X at $800-1k with GPS plus multi-sport plus maps plus sapphire crystal. The Suunto 9 Baro at $700 is the alternative. Smartwatch: Apple Watch Ultra OLED full color plus titanium 49mm plus GPS plus cellular, $799 entry. Smart watches are the technological evolution of digital — full-color display plus sensor suite plus connectivity plus customization. The pure digital tool watch is G-Shock territory; smart watch is a separate market.
