Casio Just Made One of Its Affordable Digital Watches More Appealing
This small change significantly levels up the visual aesthetic of the budget-friendly timepiece.
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Digital watches no longer carry the stigma they once had. In fact, celebrities and even some of the richest people in the world are known for donning cheap Casio timepieces on their wrists. But that doesn't stop the Japanese watchmaker from pushing the bounds of perceived value.
Casio's W-221H is a beloved digital watch because of its large display and feature set, but until now, it's only come with a resin strap (shown). - Credit: Casio
The W-221H is one of Casio's most well-regarded digital models. It boasts a large, easy-to-read display and a useful suite of features. And it costs just $45.
Now, the quartz watch gets a welcomed upgrade that makes it look twice as expensive.
Now, Casio debuts a stainless steel bracelet version, dubbed the W-221HD. The brand gave the resin case a silver-toned case to match. - Credit: Casio
Steel your heart
An easy shortcut to leveling up the perceived value of an affordable watch is the addition of a steel bracelet.
Swapping out the typical resin strap (the same one featured on tons of Casio watches), the W-221HD goes metallic with a single-link band. To match the new addition, the case (still in resin) has been colored silver. The result is surprisingly uniform; I had to double check the listed material for the case because it actually appeared to be metal at first glance.
The new bracelet quickly levels up this classic-looking digital quartz watch. - Credit: Casio
The bezel sports a slightly darker color that creates a buffer between the steel-colored case and the black surface around the dial. Meanwhile, the basic LCD display inadvertently pairs perfectly with the steel hue as well.
The case is sized well at 38.4 mm across, maximizing the large text numerals on the digital display. People love this watch for how quick and easy it is to read.
The timepiece still features its usual feature set, such as a stopwatch, alarm, world timer and calendar. - Credit: Casio
A 10-year battery and 50m of water resistance are also in tow. - Credit: Casio
Everything else remains the same as the all-resin counterpart. That includes a world time display, a calendar, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, three alarms, an optional hourly signal and an amber LED backlight.
As the dial says, the 221HD also has a 10-year battery life and is water resistant to 50m.
Price and availability
As for now, the W-221HD has only popped up on Casio's international stores. The Thailand site has it listed for ฿2,900 (~$86).
US availability and pricing hasn't been announced yet but you can expect this to be pricier than the resin version.
Casio W-221HD-1AV
About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he's not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.
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