15 Cheap Casio Watches That Look Way More Expensive (Some Surprised Me)
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The great thing about Casio is…they’re so cheap! There are numerous fun, retro watches that you can grab for barely any cash. The only caveat is that most also look like they cost barely any cash. If they’re not made of black plastic or shiny chromed resin, they’ll usually ship with a garbage-tier bracelet or a clunky design that only a mother could love.
Most of them, that is. Over the past few years, I’ve showcased some of Casio’s hidden gems; the watches that Casio got right in every department…and that got me thinking. Why haven’t I made a post searching out more of these bargain bangers; the watches that seem to outdo their price tag, if you will.
I’ve spent the last few weeks scouring the Casio catalog, and today, I’m bringing you the cream of the Casio crop. 15 of the best Casio watches that look way more expensive than they actually are. I bought and tested every one of these, and as a result, some didn’t make the cut, which I’ll mention in a second.
Honorable mentions go out to the MTP-B155 and MTP-V006, which could be excellent but are almost impossible to find despite being quite new.
The MTP-B120 and B125 both looked great online, but in person looked really cheap, despite one of them having an elaborate dial texture. The Edifice EFB-108 is a decent choice that’s made obsolete by other offerings on this list, while the highly popular MTP-1302 (aka the Casio Datejust) may bear a passing resemblance to a Rolex but has a brass case that looks and feels dreadful.
Now for the main list, which I’ll group into sections for easy browsing.
Digital
Casio A700/A700WEV
Now, there aren’t many expensive digital watches out there, so there isn’t a decent point of comparison. I’d say the swankiest-looking Casio offering is probably the A700. Now, I’ve praised this line before for offering a decent backlight and an incredibly slim profile at a low price. That said, it also has other advantages over most Casio digitals. The WEV variant, for example, has a much leaner, clutter-free design than most, which inherently looks less tacky, as well as a glamarous glossy display surround that plays with the light nicely.
These also have nicer bracelets than most, including either this segmented option (that matches the indented case) or a steel milanese bracelet that arguably looks even better. It’s topped by mineral crystal, too, which will pick up less scratches than the acrylic on most of the cheap digitals.
An honorable mention also goes to the A1000. That model even has a steel case, unlike the A700, though the design isn’t nearly as elegant and the best-looking version, the dark A1000M, is plagued by a disasterous negative display that’s dimmer than my Nan’s wi-fi signal (she doesn’t even have the internet).
Thankfully, Casio has several decent ana-digi watches to make up the shortfall.
First up is the AQ-230, or in this case the AQ-230GA. For the most part, it’s like many other cheap gold-colored casios, with low-quality materials and unremarkable construction. Yet, it has this stunning chocolate brown dial with an irrisistable sunburst that I can’t help but admire. Sure, it’s flashy, perhaps even a little tacky, but I think it looks absolutely amazing for around fifty bucks. It’s one of those watches that looks far better in person than on camera by the way, so I’d certainly recommend trying one.
AQ-800
It’s a similar story with the AQ-800. This is more of a segmented watch and perhaps not as good-looking. Nevertheless, it carries some equally intriguing dial options, including a sunburst blue and a graph-paper-like gridline pattern, both of which look surprisingly solid.
Now, the big drawback of these cheap ‘ana-digis’, aside from their materials, is that they have no backlight and are quite small. If you can live with that, they’re very fun little pieces that look better than the stock images would have you believe.
MTS-LCW-M100TSE
For something higher quality, the MTS-LCW-M100TSE from the Lineage range is a phenomenal choice. This is one of my most worn watches of all time, with its lightweight titanium case, sapphire crystal, and solar-powered movement, which also has radio wave time-syncing for perfect accuracy.
All that is good and great, but the real star of the show is, again the dial. This one is like nothing else I’ve seen. It may be a side effect of the solar cells or something because it boasts a remarkable iridescent sunburst that exudes a rainbow of colors from its grey surface. I’m yet to see such a ‘clean’ sunburst elsewhere, it’s a very special piece.
It’s not a perfect one, though. The case does accrue scratches quite readily compared to steel and it’s not the most versatile when it comes to straps, so you’ll have to make do with the middle-of-the-road bracelet.
Additionally, the most readily available versions of this best-seller are alternate versions with slightly different number-adorned dials, though they appear identical otherwise.
Dive Watches
As far as dive watches go, it’s hard to look past the mighty Casio Duro. The MDV-106, or in its modern guise, the MDV-107, is a monster of a dive watch that’s still Casio’s best by far. It’s not only extremely robust for the money, but it looks and feels it, too, with a weighty, well-finished case and a detailed dial that includes a decent sunburst and applied markers. The bezel also looks and feels better than most similarly priced big-brand offerings, with the imposing 44mm size being the only point of contention.
It really is big, but if you have the wrist for it, the Duro is a great contender that’s available for around $50 in the US. You may think the smaller MDV-10 would be a great alternative, but sadly you’d be mistaken. I tried that one and found that Casio had skimped in virtually every department, so while it looks similar on the surface, the MDV-10 has far worse construction across the board, to the extent that my unit shockingly failed before I even finished my review. No joke, it died right after filming. So yeah, avoid that one at all costs.
While there aren’t many more divers that have the premium look of the Duro, thankfully Casio does offer some very strong sports-styled watches.
Sports
EFR-S108D
The obvious candidate here is the EFR-S108D. This is part of their racing-inspired Edifice line, and it boasts an angular, aggressive case with an octagonal bezel akin to more expensive watches like the AP Royal Oak. While this $100 watch isn’t nearly as well made as those, it does look surprisingly good at arm’s length, with a stylish, vertical brushing and incredible thinness. Casio recently revamped this line with metallic dials, such as this green one, which look much more premium than the monochrome wood-effect dials the S108D originally launched with.
It’s got good specs, like high water resistance and a sapphire crystal, but suffers from an average integrated bracelet and mediocre legibility due to the haziness of the crystal.
If you can find it, the EFR-S107 is a similarly styled larger alternative, though it appears to have been discontinued. Still, both options are better than the bulkier EFB version I mentioned at the start.
EFV-100/110D
The similarly good EFV-100 and EFV-110 are sporadically available from grey market retailers. This is a smooth bezel watch that comes in two sizes, 35mm and 40mm, each with a stylish Omega-like design, including a sleek swept case that looks a little like a Star Wars fighter jet.
With big water resistance and a screw-down crown, it’s performant too, though its days seem to be numbered, as availability is inconsistent these days. Other colors seem to be more accessible, which is while it’s still on the list, but the black model is getting harder to find. The same applies to the EFV-140D, which appears to be the same watch, just with an impressive striped dial instead; I’m very jealous if that one is still available in your territory, as I never got to see it.
MTP-B145 (PRX-clone)
A newer model that’s more widely available is the MTP-B145. A lot of people were calling this the ‘PRX Killer’ because it looks a lot like the Tissot PRX, though this one has the advantage of a standalone bracelet, meaning you can switch out the bracelet much more easily.
The B145 scrapes its way onto the list because some elements, like the case and markers, do look rudimentary up close. That said, at a glance, it’s quite impressive, with a punchy selection of dials to pick from, each packed into a wafer-thin package that hugs the wrist rather nicely. The main downside of this piece is the sub-par bracelet, which offers no micro-adjustment holes. So, you may get unlucky with the fit. What you see really is what you get with this one: a small, sporty, fashionable watch with visual similarities to some of the most popular integrated bracelet models, only for far less money.
MTP-RS100D
While the B145 is arguably a little overrated, the little-known MTP-RS100D is my pick for the most underrated Casio on this list. It’s currently available on several grey market sites in a range of colors, for around $70 to $90 a pop. For that, you get a surprisingly handsome solar-powered watch with nice markers and a cool honeycomb chapter ring. I was intrigued by the brown version, though sadly, it appears to be region-exclusive, so I settled for this blue one instead. Even this model is quite vivid, offering up a distinctive, space-age vibe, thanks to the side bulges and machine-like bezel.
As is a running theme with these Casios, the bracelet is the primary weak spot, with mock end links and tricky L-pins, which you have to hammer out to change the length. Luckily, the stock band does integrate well, with custom detailing to match the lugs, and you get a couple of micro-adjustment holes to tinker with, but it’s still not the best.
If you’re after a larger watch that offers solar charging for a low price, the stylish design of the RS100D may be enough for you to overlook its flaws. It’s somewhere between 44 and 47mm, depending on where you measure, so it’s not for the faint wristed.
Chronographs
A few years back, there would have been no chronographs on a list like this, but now we have a string to choose from, mainly thanks to Casio’s sporty Edifice line. The pieces bearing this name just tend to be higher quality, and they usually look higher quality to boot.
EFB-730D
The hottest of these is undoubtedly the EFB-730D. Now, this piece was clearly inspired by some of the boxier vintage Zenith chronographs, with a comparable barrel-like case shape and a string of similar design cues. In other words, it looks pretty expensive. Indeed, this has an extreme, grainy sunburst that catches the light magnificently, as well as enhanced case finishing above the majority on this list.
In fact, the EFB-730B seems to be the ‘chosen one’, as Casio not only outfitted this with a sapphire crystal, but they also gave this a much better bracelet than most Casios, with primarily solid links and even custom-fit end links that slot in perfectly.
This chronograph is a stunning strap monster that would easily be number one if I were ranking these in order. It’s even quite a versatile size, at exactly 40mm across, and all the three color combinations (silver, blue and black) you can pick from are all excellent. For around £100 or $100, you simply can’t go wrong with the completely overpowered EFB-730D, which looks like it’s worth five or ten times that much. Oh, and you can always time stuff with the bottom subdial if you want to because it’s a chronograph, but you’ll probably be too busy fawning over the dial to care anyway.
EFR-574D
Now, that last one set the bar unfairly high, but surprisingly, there are some options that come relatively close, albeit with a less flashy approach.
The EFR-574 and EQS-950 are two such examples. These are subtler alternatives that don’t look premium through jazzy colors or bright sunbursts but through finer details. They’ve got texture-rich, ringed subdials with glossy surrounds that help them catch the light when you rotate them.
My favorite of the two is definitely the EFR-574, which is much slimmer and has a more symmetrical, attractive design, as well as a steel tachymeter bezel, together with rather elaborate hovering markers that I only noticed when reviewing my macro footage.
It’s a handsome, sporty choice that’s pretty versatile to boot, with high water resistance and a perfectly integrated bracelet, which is a rarity at this price. It cost me just over £100, but price and availability may vary depending on where you live. Unlike most Edifice chronographs, it’s not too busy or large. It’s got a wearable 47.2mm lug-to-lug distance and a dial that looks proportionally on point.
EQS-950D
The EQS-950 is a bit bulkier and not quite as pretty, but it packs some additional tricks up its sleeve. Notably, it has the best-constructed case on this list, with extra clean finishing that wouldn’t look out of place on a watch at triple the price and the heftiest feel, even beating out the Duro dive watch. The integrated bracelet would typically be a cause for concern, given it’s tricky to replace. Fortunately, the EQS has one of the best bracelets on any Casio, with solid steel links and seamless case-matched brushing and polishing. With loads of micro-adjustment holes, you won’t need to replace it in a hurry.
What’s more, the EQS-950 is solar-powered, meaning you won’t have to worry about battery changes either, the solar panels for which are baked into the subdials, giving them a high-end iridescent sheen akin to the Casio Lineage I mentioned earlier.
Despite the substantial on-paper dimensions, it wears surprisingly compactly, so as long as you have an average-sized wrist, say around 6 ¾ inches or larger, it should still fit you.
EFV-640D
The final chronograph on this list is the sporty Edifice EFV-640D. This model comes in an extensive range of metallic tones (green, blue and black), including several lighter pastel colors, such as this mint-green variant. Despite the more simplistic case, I’d say it’s better looking overall, with a cleaner dial and an intriguing lipped bezel made up of a circular brushed portion on top of a polished Octagonal base.
It’s minimalist as far as chronographs go, too, with little added text or clutter. While not the most unique nor the most detailed, the metallic dial and familiar styling help elevate the 640D beyond its moderate price tag, which varies between $75 and $120 depending on availability.
Dress
MTP-E720
Dress watches aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Casio, but they do have a fair few in their repertoire, including this: the MTP-E720. While the handset is far from my favorite, it has some pretty obvious standout features that meant I simply had to include it.
Of course, that highly textured dial is the main attention-grabber. It’s a play on the typical waffle dial, with microscopic triangular divots that give the illusion of interlocking squares. Considering I paid around £50 for this watch, I think it’s quite impressive, though I was equally impressed by the case, which is not just thin but also reasonably finished, especially the polishing at the base of the bezel.
Now, the domed mineral crystal does inhibit the legibility more than I’d like; I think a flat crystal would have looked better and clearer, but even so, this is a well-rounded, low-cost dress watch with a usable leather band. You get some excellent light play, even if it’s a little tricky to read. It comes in various colors and competes well with many pricier dress watches.