Gold Roast - The Casio A168WG-9EF

In the watch industry, there are icons which sit locked away in vaults and there are icons which you might find in your cool uncle’s drawer. Casio dominates the latter category. Everyone should own a Casio—or two, or three. I personally own five.

After all, what is not to like? You could build an entire collection from Casio watches. Plus the price point eliminates the snobbery and, I find, makes these references conversation piece with people who are not watch enthusiasts.

Background

The Casio A168WG-9EF is a mid-range model of Casio’s Vintage collection, a lineup of watches with historical significance to the brand.

Having a yellow gold watch on the wrist is a loud statement; yellow gold can easily have the connotations of being flashy or, possibly worse, being fake flashy. The good thing about Casio is the brand recognition, with the rectangular LCD it isn’t trying to look expensive but instead brings retro vibes.

The watch brings a deep sense of nostalgia, and I can’t think of any other brand apart from Casio that could achieve such a positive effect with yellow gold painted plastic.

In this case brand recognition also means you avoid attracting the wrong kind of attention while being able to express yourself.

Construction

The case material is resin, finished with a mirrored gold paint and the bracelet is made of folded stainless steel. The bracelet is lightweight and comfortable being a multi-link style it has a taper as it flows around the wrist. It will not win any awards for luxury but functionally it’s great. Adjusting it is easier than on other Casio models—just lift the small clamp inside the clasp and slide it to your desired position.

This reference fits in the middle of Casio’s vintage collection with some premium features such as the gold finish and upgraded module, while still utilising a resin case to keep costs down.

Wearability

It’s the classic rectangular Casio size—compact, yet versatile. Wearing like a 36mm, on wrists above 7 inches the case may look a little small. However with the gold finish a smaller size is a good thing; a larger case would change the feel from retro to blingy, detracting from the overall aesthetic.

Fujifilm 400

Movement

Behind the plastic crystal sits a border with traditional Casio text describing the features of the watch and a 20x10mm cutout to the rectangular LCD. The default display is a day-date format, giving you all the information you need at a glance.

The quartz-based digital movement is derived from the A168WG and includes alarm and stopwatch functions. However, this 9EF reference benefits from an upgraded calendar function, meaning you won’t have to set the date again on shorter months.

There is the option of 12 or 24 hour display modes on the digital LCD and an ‘ElectroLuminescence’ backlight which lights the full display evenly with a teal glow.

Final Note

This watch takes a functional design and makes it fun. Worn right, it channels pure 80s excess—think Miami Vice meets Wall Street. It’s a statement piece that won’t get you murdered if you wear it to the wrong part of town.