- [Adam] My favorite retro, classic Casio watches,
what they’re like to own and live with.
Here’s my Casio Data Bank watch,
(epic music)
I think we all know this model featured
in the "Back to the Future" movie,
so we’ll skip the history lesson.
Here’s what it’s like to own.
First of all, it’s super comfy.
It weighs only 0.8 ounces,
and that’s distributed over quite a wide strap.
7/8 of an inch near the lugs,
and nearly 3/4 of an inch here,
so it doesn’t feel like I'm wearing a watch at all.
This ventilation on the strap does make it less sweaty
than other resin band watch straps.
It’s got a very clear display,
which is a big benefit over some of the newer models
that have the blackout display with grey digits.
Like on this watch.
The display looks cool,
but gives me a very poor user-experience in real life.
My Data Bank is perhaps the most iconic watch
from my retro Casio collection.
Next, the Casio A158WA.
It has quartz movement and steel bracelet.
A modest backlight preserves battery.
Weighed here at around 1.5 ounces,
its lack of weight means it doesn’t move around
too much on a looser setting.
You can locate the buckle at stepped intervals
on the watch strap, without any special tools.
The low profile watch case
allows it to easily slide under a shirt sleeve.
The watch case is a resin with a metallic-like finish,
and the watch strap is made from real steel.
It’s perfectly sized for my 7-inch wrist,
and for people with slimmer wrists.
Next, my Casio 1200 is one of my best value buys,
because although it’s quite inexpensive,
you get world time functions,
automatic daylight saving time adjustment,
and a 10-year battery.
It also makes a great outdoors watch,
with its 100m water resistance,
and Casio’s Illuminator technology.
The pushers are big enough to operate with gloves.
The AE 1200 has been in production for a while,
and you can even buy aftermarket screen protectors
to protect the acrylic lens.
This watch is a larger offering
than many of the classic, retro Casios.
It has a case size, around 42 by 45 mm,
but flat enough, with a 12.5 mm case thickness
to wear under long sleeves.
It has generous watch band length.
With my 7-inch wrist, I wear it on the fifth adjustment,
and you can see it has adjustment
for people with far bigger wrists than myself.
One of my favorite purchases, the Casio A700W.
With its very angular geometry
I think it looks even more retro
than the popular A158.
And, the A700 is easier to live with.
It's got a case thickness of just 6mm,
which I believe makes it the slimmest
retro watch from Casio.
For me, that makes it a great winter watch,
because it easily slides under my long sleeves.
The A700 is an almost non-existent 1.7 ounces.
Which makes it extremely comfortable on-wrist.
The backlight on lights up the whole display,
not just the far-left corner,
like with many classic Casios.
And, the module sits very close to the window,
making it much more legible.
You could use the box as a display case,
it’s even nicer than the usual Casio packaging.
I bought this, the Casio W217H.
It’s harder to find than its more readily available
counterpart which has blue detailing.
This one features gold outlines and gold characters,
adding to the retro appeal.
What’s also special with this model
is the gold colored tint applied to the acrylic lens.
It was a must-have for my classic Casio collection.
It’s easier to press the light button
on its right-hand side.
Unlike many Casio Illuminators,
where instead you have to fight with your sleeve
to reach a button over on the left side of the case.
With its Illuminator technology,
the whole watch face lights up on this one.
Some of the most recognized retro Casios
have quite a small watch case, and watch bands.
They won’t fit everyone.
This F-91W for example, fits my 7-inch wrist,
but with not much band left over.
Whereas, the W217H, should fit most adults
and look more appropriately sized
for people with average or larger wrists.
(fantastical music)
Next, The Casio F-84W,
made for the Japanese domestic market.
These are not so common,
and I’m really glad I bought it.
Like me, if you’re looking at this,
you perhaps already own the more familiar F-91W.
The F84, looks even more retro
with it’s more detailed watch case,
and red horizontal lines.
It uses the same module as this F-91,
but the case design looks more like
the discontinued F-87W of the early '80s.
It has lugs instead of an embedded strap.
The F84 watch band has more a intricate pattern,
and is also a bit slimmer.
I’m guessing it might be hard to obtain another one
in the future,
so I plan on keeping it in its original packaging
as a collection piece.
I’m working on part two.
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from my Casio collection.