Why Casio: value for money, indestructibility, cult status
For decades Casio has been building watches that do exactly what they promise: keep good time, take a lot of punishment and cost little. Precise quartz movements, battery lives of several years and solar power on many models make the watches practically maintenance-free in everyday use. Why quartz is the right technology for this role and where mechanical movements have their strengths is explained in detail in our guide Automatic vs. quartz.
At Casio, indestructibility has a name: G-Shock. In 1983 the brand introduced the first model of the line, developed by engineer Kikuo Ibe according to the triple-10 principle: survive a drop from ten metres, withstand ten bar of water pressure and run for ten years on one battery. To this day, shock-protected modules and 200 metres of water resistance are the foundation of every G-Shock, from the affordable entry model to the full-metal version.
On top of that comes a cult status that no marketing department could invent. The F-91W has been built almost unchanged for over three decades, the calculator watch CA-53W became a film icon through Hollywood classics of the eighties, and the AE-1200WHD carries the nickname Casio Royale in the community. Even the design scene takes Casio seriously, ever since the GA-2100 became a phenomenon under the name CasiOak.
The Casio lines explained
Casio sorts its range into clearly separated lines, and anyone who knows them finds the right model much faster. Five families are represented in our catalogue: G-Shock, the retro series Vintage and Collection, Edifice, Pro Trek and Baby-G. The following short profiles show what each line stands for and who it is meant for.
G-Shock: the indestructible one
The G-Shock is the heart of the brand: built to be shockproof, water resistant to 200 metres and available in countless variants. The range runs from the digital square G-Shock DW-5600E for approx. €70 via the octagonal GA-2100 to the stainless steel GMW-B5000D Full Metal for approx. €549. In between are classics such as the DW-6900 from the nineties and modern technical pieces such as the GA-B2100 with Tough Solar and Bluetooth. Models such as the GW-M5610U charge their battery via a solar cell and set the time by radio signal: a watch hardly gets more convenient than that.
Vintage and Collection: retro on the smallest budget
The Vintage series brings back the digital designs of the seventies and eighties, from the F-91W for approx. €25 to the ultra-thin A700WE with a height of just 6 millimetres. The Collection models such as the analogue MQ-24, the W-800H with ten years of battery life or the world time watch AE-1200WHD are the pragmatic workhorses of the range. Note the water resistance: many of these classics are only water resistant to 30 or 50 metres and are therefore splash-proof rather than suitable for swimming.
Edifice: the elegant one for the office
Edifice is Casio's analogue answer to classic steel watches: slim, understated and designed for the office. The Edifice EFR-S108D Slim Line offers sapphire glass and a case just 7.8 millimetres high for approx. €129, and the solar chronograph EFS-S510D charges permanently from light for approx. €199. If you mainly want a watch to wear with a suit, the guide to the best dress watches has suitable alternatives in every price range.
Pro Trek and Baby-G: outdoors and compact toughness
Pro Trek is the outdoor line with sensors: the Pro Trek PRG-340 measures altitude, air pressure and temperature with the Triple Sensor, and the compass shows the direction. Baby-G transfers the G-Shock principle to more compact cases, for example in the shock-resistant BGD-565 with a diameter of 37.9 millimetres. Both lines rely on quartz or solar and are made for use outdoors, not for the display cabinet.
The best Casio watches 2026 at a glance
The table brings together all 25 Casio models in our catalogue, sorted by guide price. Each row links to the detail page with the full technical dossier and editorial rating. If you are torn between two candidates, the direct comparison puts both side by side.
| Model | Movement / drive | Size | Water resistance | Guide price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-91W | Quartz (module 593) | 35.2 mm | 30 m | approx. €25 |
| Collection MQ-24 | Quartz, analogue | 33.8 mm | 30 m | approx. €27 |
| Vintage CA-53W | Quartz (module 3208) | 34.4 mm | 30 m | approx. €40 |
| Collection W-800H | Quartz | 36.8 mm | 100 m | approx. €40 |
| Vintage A168WA | Quartz (module 1572) | 36.3 mm | 30 m | approx. €45 |
| Vintage LA670WEA | Quartz (module 3191) | 24.6 mm | 30 m | approx. €45 |
| Vintage A700WE | Quartz | 35.5 mm | 30 m | approx. €50 |
| Vintage B650WD | Quartz | 41.2 mm | 50 m | approx. €50 |
| Collection AE-1200WHD | Quartz (module 3299) | 42.1 mm | 100 m | approx. €50 |
| G-Shock DW-5600E | Quartz (module 3229) | 42.8 mm | 200 m | approx. €70 |
| Baby-G BGD-565 | Quartz (module 3489) | 37.9 mm | 100 m | approx. €89 |
| Baby-G BA-110 | Quartz (module 5338) | 43.4 mm | 100 m | approx. €99 |
| G-Shock GA-2100 | Quartz (module 5611) | 45.4 mm | 200 m | approx. €100 |
| G-Shock DW-6900 | Quartz (module 3529) | 50 mm | 200 m | approx. €100 |
| G-Shock GA-700 | Quartz (module 5522) | 53.4 mm | 200 m | approx. €109 |
| G-Shock GA-110 | Quartz (module 5146) | 51.2 mm | 200 m | approx. €119 |
| Edifice EFR-S108D Slim Line | Quartz | 39.9 mm | 100 m | approx. €129 |
| G-Shock GA-B2100 | Solar (module 5691) | 45.4 mm | 200 m | approx. €150 |
| G-Shock GW-M5610U | Solar + radio (module 3495) | 43.2 mm | 200 m | approx. €150 |
| G-Shock GBX-100 | Quartz (module 3482) | 46 mm | 200 m | approx. €179 |
| G-Shock GM-2100 | Quartz (module 5611) | 44.4 mm | 200 m | approx. €199 |
| Edifice EFS-S510D Solar | Solar, chronograph | 46 mm | 100 m | approx. €199 |
| Pro Trek PRG-340 | Solar (module 3513) | 51.7 mm | 100 m | approx. €249 |
| G-Shock Mudman GW-9500 | Solar (module 3553) | 52.7 mm | 200 m | approx. €299 |
| G-Shock GMW-B5000D Full Metal | Solar + radio (module 3459) | 43.2 mm | 200 m | approx. €549 |
Our recommendations in detail: the right Casio for every purpose
Twenty-five models are a lot, but the choice becomes easy once the purpose is settled. We therefore arrange the recommendations by typical scenarios, from the first everyday companion to the outdoor specialist. All prices are guide prices without guarantee, and the ratings come from our catalogue dossiers.
For everyday and entry level: G-Shock DW-5600E and GA-2100
The G-Shock DW-5600E is the archetype of the line: square resin case, 200 metres of water resistance and an editorial rating of 4.4 for approx. €70. It shrugs off drops, building sites and swimming lakes alike and, thanks to the flat, bail-free case, wears more compactly than 42.8 millimetres would suggest. The G-Shock GA-2100 combines hands and a digital display in a case only 11.8 millimetres high with a carbon core for approx. €100. Its nickname CasiOak alludes to the octagonal bezel, which has made it a design favourite of the community.
For the smallest budget: F-91W, MQ-24 and AE-1200WHD
For approx. €25, the F-91W delivers a stopwatch, an alarm and a weight you simply forget on your wrist. The analogue Collection MQ-24 is the most understated model in the entire Casio catalogue at 33.8 millimetres and approx. €27. The Collection AE-1200WHD offers more function with world time and a stainless steel bracelet for approx. €50, rated 4.3 in the catalogue and affectionately called Casio Royale in the scene. The guide to the best watches under €200 gathers even more strong models up to that limit.
For the office: Edifice Slim Line, GM-2100 and Full Metal
The Edifice EFR-S108D Slim Line looks like considerably more than its guide price of approx. €129 would suggest: sapphire glass, a height of 7.8 millimetres and 100 metres of water resistance. If you like the octagonal 2100 design in an office-friendly form, the G-Shock GM-2100 with its stainless steel bezel for approx. €199 is a strong middle path with a rating of 4.4. The brand's statement piece remains the G-Shock GMW-B5000D Full Metal: stainless steel case, solar power plus radio sync and, at 4.5, the highest Casio rating in our catalogue. Approx. €549 is a lot for a digital watch, but little for this piece of design history.
For outdoors and sport: Mudman, Pro Trek and GBX-100
With mud protection, Triple Sensor and solar power, the G-Shock Mudman GW-9500 is the most uncompromising recommendation for rough terrain and workbench: rating 4.4 at approx. €299. The Pro Trek PRG-340 offers similar sensors in a bio-resin case for approx. €249 and also charges from light. Water sports fans should look at the G-Shock GBX-100 with tide display and a high-contrast MIP display for approx. €179. Only for scuba diving with a tank does a genuine dive watch belong on your wrist; the candidates for that are in the guide to the best dive watches.
For slim wrists and women: Baby-G and Vintage
The Baby-G BGD-565 brings the shock resistance of the large G-Shock to a handy 37.9 millimetres and costs approx. €89. The Baby-G BA-110 is more playful, with an analogue-digital combination for approx. €99. Considerably more delicate is the Vintage LA670WEA with a Milanese bracelet and just 24.6 millimetres for approx. €45, a retro favourite for slim wrists. Whether a model suits your wrist is best clarified beforehand with the watch size guide, and more compact models are shown in the overview of women's watches.
Typical mistakes when buying a Casio
- Ending up at fake shops: Popular models such as the DW-5600E and GA-2100 are often counterfeited. Prices far below the guide price, a missing imprint and prepayment without buyer protection are clear warning signs: buy from established retailers and check the reference number.
- Picking the wrong one in the variant jungle: Many Casio models look confusingly similar but differ considerably in technology. The GW-M5610U charges via solar and sets itself via radio signal, while the visually very similar DW-5600E runs on a conventional battery: what matters is the full reference number, not the product photo.
- Underestimating the size: The 24.6 millimetre LA670WEA and the 53.4 millimetre GA-700 are worlds apart. XL models such as the GA-110 and GA-700 in particular wear large, so measure before you order.
- Assuming water resistance across the board: Every G-Shock in the catalogue manages 200 metres, but many vintage models only 30 metres. What the figures really mean in everyday use is explained clearly in our watch knowledge section.
As a rule: the guide price is your most important point of reference, because reputable offers stay close to it. If a price seems too good to be true, it almost always is. You can find all of the brand's models collected under all watches with the Casio brand filter.
Conclusion: the best Casio watch for you
For most people the G-Shock DW-5600E is the perfect starting point: indestructible, affordable and timeless. Design fans go for the GA-2100, office people for the Edifice Slim Line or straight to the GMW-B5000D Full Metal, and outdoor types for the Mudman or Pro Trek. And anyone simply looking for an honest watch for approx. €25 has done nothing wrong with the F-91W for decades.
If you are still unsure, the watch finder guides you to the right model with a few questions on type, size, drive and budget. If a mechanical counterpart from Japan is on your list later, take a look at our guide to the best Seiko watches. That way the collection grows systematically rather than through chance purchases.