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You know you’re getting old when something you still own becomes “retro.” Worse yet when your kids come home with one thinking they’ve just found something really cool and new.
The Casio Digital Watch was all the rage when I was young. More than that it was cutting edge technology and kind of space age. When Christmas and birthdays came around back in the 1970’s we all wanted a casio personal calculator, (the size of a paperback book) or a bit later on, the ultimate. A casiotronic keyboard.
I can remember being really jealous of my uncle who wore the first digital watch I ever saw way back in the 70’s, complete with display calender. I now know that it must have been a Casiotron which was the very first Digital watch ever made.
Come the early 80’s digital watches were more affordable and attractive and I really wanted one. When I turned 21, it was very disappointing to end up with a traditional gold bracelet ladies Bulova.
The trend for electronic face digital display watches has come and gone during my lifetime but for some reason I never threw away the one I finally bought myself. A Casio Digital watch with a big square face and multi display of day, date and time, which has been relegated to the back of my old jewellery box for about 20 years.
When my son came over wearing one which was almost exactly the same and proudly showing it off I was amazed. Apparently the Casio Digital Watch is sought after and has street cred. Of course not wanting to look like I wasn’t trend spotter, I got mine out and said I’d been keeping it to leave to him in my will. He took it immediately for his girlfriend – duh!
All jokes aside, they say everything old is new again and older Casio Digital Watches are collectible with most pre 1990 Casio’s considered to be vintage watches ( I guess that makes me an antique). Casio made innovative, cheap and interesting products which pushed the boundaries. The market for these other (sometimes crazy) gadgets – such as the the cigarette lighter calculator is in it’s early days so they’re still relatively easy to find.
The throw away nature of many Casio products has created a lucrative market, as even though tens of thousands of Casio Digital Watches and other digital products were sold few remain. Which is great news for budding collectors!
Casio was a seed bed of technological innovations, and if you can find some of these older and rarer concept items in working condition then you may have the start of a lucrative collection. The older Casio products were made in Japan, and are highly desirable. Each watch had a model and module number and the place of manufacture can be found by tracing these. Casio collecting is still a relatively new hobby so get to those car boot sales and jump in while you still have the chance. How many times have you wished that you had had the foresight to start collecting something while it was still easily found at jumble sales? Here’s your chance. Do some homework and check some of the forums such as the digital watch forum for more information.
If you’re interested in beginning a collection then take a look at the Casio G Shock or G Force models. Particularly the Limited Edition models.
Casio’s market share slumped for a while as the digital watches declined in popularity. They came back into the market with a vengeance in the mid 1990’s when they took on Timex in the sports watch market with the updated and more upmarket Masters Casio G Force and G Shock models.
The solar powered G Force had been around since 1985 when it’s relatively expensive titanium back with heavy duty soft overlay designed for divers was nicknamed the Frogman. The innovative design which was mud resistant came to be known as the Mudman. The word “man” in the title of G Force models has been used for 20 years.
G Force through the years:
* Antman, current –
* Fisherman, current –
* Frogman, current(2008) GW-225E.
* Seaman, current
* Gaussman, current –
* Gulfman, current(2007) G-9100, GW-9100 and GW-9125C.
* Lungman, current –
* Mudman, current(2007) G-9000, GW-9000 and GW-9025C.
* Riseman, current (2008) GW-9200.
* Wademan, current –
Casio Digital Watch Master of G models (above) all use a steel case covered by a thick neoprene or polyurethane bezel. All, apart from the original 1985 “Frogmen” feature Casio’s illuminated display allowing them to be read at depths. All models are water resistant to 200metres, and are an excellent scuba diving watch.
The G Force Casio Digital Watch models have become a preferred watch for divers and sailors and recently have hit the street market with a funky new advertising campaign aimed at the teenage and early 20’s. Casio redesigned the line for surfers, skaters and break dancers really pushing the indestructibility of the watch.
The new designs added bright colors and macho Velcro bands to give them street appeal. The new advertising campaigns used hip hop stars to promote the brand. The prices increased and so did sales. What comes around goes around and suddenly the kids want a Casio Digital Watch for their birthday or Christmas again. Go figure.
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