Time to put the G-shock watches on the side. Let’s take a trip back to the not-so-long-ago past. The 80s and 90s saw a surge in popularity for Casio Vintage watches. These are still some of the most sold watches in the world.
A number of Iconic Casio watches were popular back in the day. These were the sturdy predecessors of the G Shock watch, featuring multifunctional LCD displays with retro looks. They were reasonably priced and soon became a popular timepiece among students and young adults.
Some of these Casio digital watches have stood the test of time and remain a bestselling icon. Further still, they have even retained their reasonable prices. Today, we’re going to explore six Casio Vintage watches under $50 that are still popular in 2024.
Casio Classic F-91W Digital Chronograph
While on the topic of reasonably priced digital watches, the Casio F-91W Digital watch deserves one of the top spots. Embodying the quintessential charm of the brand’s digital watch legacy, the Casio Classic F-91W Digital Chronograph has been a staple since its release in 1989. Known for its simple, reliable design, this timepiece is still loved by fans of vintage tech and digital watches alike.
The Casio F-91W features a rectangular resin case and a multifunctional digital display, making it instantly recognizable anywhere. The watch offers a 1/100-second chronograph, daily alarms, and an auto calendar, appealing to most people. Additionally, the anti-counterfeit “Easter Egg”—the “CASIO” logo appearing on the screen when pressing the right button for a few seconds—was once a hot topic among young users.
However, what sets the Casio classic watch apart is a touch of nostalgia. In the 90s, almost everybody had this watch. This went on to the extent that more than 3 million units of the watch are produced yearly even today. The Casio F-91W became the most sold watch worldwide. Priced at around $20, the timepiece remains iconic to this very day.
Casio Digital Watch Alarm Chrono Illuminator F-105W-1A
Here’s another classic! Released as a follow-up to the iconic F-91W, the Casio Digital Watch Alarm Chrono or simply, the Illuminator F-105W-1A continues the legacy of the brand’s innovative digital watches. Introduced in the early ’90s, this model quickly became a favorite.
The watch looks a lot like the F-91W, with features like a rectangular resin case and a multifunctional digital display. The only visible difference is the size. The Casio Illuminator watch is a tad bulkier in size with a larger LCD display. The Casio vintage watch also features the same functions as the F-91W, like a 1/100-second digital chronograph, split time functionality, and an auto calendar.
The Electro-luminescent Illuminator backlight provides excellent visibility in low light, a significant upgrade from its predecessors. Additionally, just like the F-91W, pressing the right button for a few seconds reveals the hidden logo on the display. Today, the model is priced around $25.
Casio Pop Digital LA-20WH Black Dial
Adding a pop of color to the Illuminator range, the LA-20WH is another fan favorite. Even with so many color options, the Casio black on black watch with pink display borders (LA-20WH-8A) has been our top choice. This series brings a vibrant and playful aesthetic to the Casio digital watch lineup.
Launched to infuse a sense of fun, this series has been one of the most popular ladies’ sports watches. The series is also enjoyed by children and teenagers. Its compact and lightweight design features a black resin case and strap. It offers essential everyday functions like a 1/100-second stopwatch, daily alarm, and auto calendar.
Priced around $20, the series is available in vibrant colors like pink and blue, the LA-20WH series is a popular style statement even today. The series has retained a 90s nostalgic charm and functionality that the brand is renowned for.
Casio Quartz Classic Calculator Watch CA-53W-1ZDR
As a 90s and 00s kid, you must remember the total craze over this Casio calculator watch. A true icon of the digital age, the Casio Quartz Classic Calculator Watch CA-53W-1ZDR holds a special place in the hearts of many as their first foray into the brand.
Launched in the 1980s, this model quickly became a cultural phenomenon, blending practicality with a touch of geeky charm. In recent times, it has even been worn by the character Walter White in Breaking Bad. If anything, this has re-certified the timepiece with a nerdy but cool image.
This watch features a distinctive black resin case and strap. The standout feature is undoubtedly the built-in 8-digit calculator and a small LCD display. This allows for quick and easy calculations on the go. It’s a novelty that sets it apart from other analog and digital timepieces. This piece is also known as the “calculator watch” today.
Other than that, the watch has a digital display and the same standard features as another digital watch by the brand. The digital display provides essential functions such as a dual time zone, daily alarm, hourly time signal, and an auto-calendar. The piece is priced below $30 but has still captivated the attention of retro-lovers to watch collectors for its uniqueness.
Casio World Time Alarm Digital AE-1200WHB
The “Casio Royale” needs no further introduction here. Being a hit pop-cultural icon, did you know that the infamous watch is priced under $35? The “Casio Royale” is a pun on the James Bond movie “Casino Royale”. But originally, the movie featured a Seiko watch. The Casio Worldtimer was featured in “Octopussy” instead.
The Casio World Time watch (AE-1200WHB) is the rugged predecessor of the G-Shock watch. The classic digital watch features a sturdy resin case and a versatile nylon strap. Adding to this, the Casio quartz watch has more than ten years of battery life and a 100m water resistance as well.
The multifunctional digital LCD display includes a unique map display that visually represents the time zones. The standout world time function lets you track time across 31 time zones and 48 cities. If you couldn’t tell, yes, this watch is heavily popular among travelers.
Casio Vintage A171WE Stainless Steel Resin Digital
Moving away from the resin straps but still continuing to explore Casio classic digital watches, we came across the A171WE Casio vintage watch. The watch features a round case with a rectangular digital display. The brand doesn’t usually feature this combination in its digital watches (apart from G-Shock), so this is a bold choice.
The watch gives off a vintage “business” vibe, unlike the usual “sports” vibe found in most timepieces by the brand. Encased in a resin body combined with a durable stainless steel bracelet, the Casio digital wrist watch properly captures the essence of retro style.
Its multifunctional digital display provides a clear readout of time, date, and other essential functions, such as a 1/100-second stopwatch, daily alarms, and an auto calendar. The basic A171WE-1 is priced below $40. But our favorite remains the A171WEG-9A. Priced slightly higher, at around $50, it’s the best vintage gold Casio watch on the market.
