Which Casio Watch Should You Start With?

They’re practical, they’re fun, and they connect you to the past.

By Stuart Danker

August 11, 2025

Maybe you’re looking for a new watch, or maybe you’re already a watch enthusiast. Either way, you can’t go wrong with adding an electronic digital watch to your collection, especially one from a brand that still produces both vintage and modern styles, like Casio.

Why digital and not analogue? Because there are use cases that are not immediately obvious at first, but resonate wildly with a certain group of people. Quiet operations is one such reason. Why tolerate the loud ticking of a seconds hand when your digital watch can function in total silence?

Those who commute on public transit will also benefit from a digital watch. No more trying to decipher between 11:58 or 11:59. A digital watch spells out the specific time for you, so that you will know if you should run or walk to catch your 12 o’clock bus.

But perhaps the most compelling reason of all? Because digital watches look so retro cool, and they have a very interesting history in the world of horology. We will save that extensive history for a future article, however.

For now, here are some of the recommended Casio watches to start with, curated by Men’s Folio Malaysia.

The most renowned Casio watch: F-91W

You cannot mention Casio without bringing up its most iconic model to date. In fact, this is the best-selling model in horological history (because smartwatches aren’t technically dedicated watches).

Quite simply, this watch does one thing, and it does it well: tell the time. It shows the time, date, and day at a glance, and comes with an alarm and stopwatch. The battery lasts for seven years, it is small enough to fit under any cuff, and is quite resistant to abuse, despite Casio’s official declarations.

Plus, it hovers just around the MYR 100 range. If there were a timepiece to introduce anybody to the world of digital watches, this would be it.

AE-1200

We go from the basic to the feature-packed. This is a much larger watch than the F-91W, but it is a great choice for travellers due to its World Time feature. Not only do you get to quickly check the time in other parts of the world, but you can also swap time zones at the press of a button (two, actually).

So no more manually resetting your time every time you land in a new timezone. Just swap it to your own convenience and voila, you have a great travel companion.

It is very water resistant with its 100m rating, especially since most Casio digital watches are officially rated to 30m or 50m. Oh, and it has a 10-year battery, too. Add on the five alarms, countdown timer, stopwatch, and strong backlight, and you have yourself a solid tool on your wrist!

AQ-800

Okay, this watch is not strictly digital, but it is ana-digi, combining the best of both worlds. This model makes this list because it is a good choice for more formal occasions, thanks to its two-handed dial and petite case size.

This watch still offers some digital functionality like a stopwatch, alarm, and — get this — a dual time feature! While you won’t get the convenience of quick timezone swaps like with the AE-1200, you will still be able to keep track of two time zones at once.

This watch being so pretty is also the cause for its limitations, as it is not particularly water resistant, nor will it handle rough use well, with the extra components included.

F-201

If you’re looking for the functionality of a digital watch at an affordable price, you cannot go wrong with the F-201W.

Admittedly, this is a rugged-looking watch that’ll fit an adventurous day out rather than a fancy dinner (wear what you like though). You get the full roster of features including the five alarms, stopwatch, countdown timer, dual time, and larger display — much better for those quick glances, especially if you don’t have 20-20 vision.

Also, this is another selection that features the renowned 10-year battery life. An added bonus? The buttons are one of the easiest to press when compared to the brand’s other offerings.

A-168

This is technically an upgrade of the F-91W Casio watch. Steel bracelets are for when you enjoy the small case aesthetic but want a more solid-looking watch, and that is what the A-168 will give you, while still retaining its retro charm.

You still get the same features of the F-91W, with one key upgrade besides the bracelet: the backlight is electro-luminescent. It is also one of the more popular models from Casio’s entire range, with a variety of special editions and collaborations available for purchase.

The case is still resin (with chrome finishing), which might put some people off, but the steel bracelet does significantly change the aesthetics of this model. In other words, it looks more serious, despite sharing the same dimensions as its older sibling.