Casio is a popular brand from Japan. It is one of the leaders in the watch market, but also in the calculator market. Very far from the small world of Swiss watchmaking and its luxurious watches, the Japanese giant stands out with robust products sold at very attractive prices. Casio seeks to reach as many people as possible with electronic watches that are simple to use, practical, and suitable for all kinds of situations. A heresy for lovers of fine watchmaking, but a hit with the general public. Competitor of Seiko, but also of Swatch or Daniel Wellington in terms of price, Casio remains unavoidable.
The Casio story
At the very beginning, in 1946, Casio was called Kashio Seisakujo. This is a company that manufactures components for microscopes and gearboxes. It is one of the Kashio brothers, bearing the name of Tadao, who is in charge of the company.
Tadao and his father Shigeru have an idea, still very far from watches at that time, they want to market the “Pipe Yubiwa”. It is a ring allowing you to wear a cigarette and thus smoke it to the end, without touching it with your hands. As bizarre as it may seem, it is a real commercial success! The money raised will thus make it possible to carry out new projects, and in particular to design the first compact electric calculator, which was created in 1944.
It was not until 1957 that the company became Casio Computer. Father Shigeru is then president, and his three sons Kazuo, Yukio and Tadao participate in the creation of this new company. Casio initially specializes in the development and production of calculating machines, in particular to equip research institutes.
The first watches in 1974
The competition is fierce, and Casio experiences a few repeated crises. We have to diversify, and that’s what the Kashio family decides. It was then that the first watches of the brand were born, the Casiotron, equipped with a digital Quartz screen. The particularity of this watch is its ability to indicate the day, they also give the number of days in the month and indicate leap years.
Different watches follow, which will be more or less successful, until the advent of the Casio G-Shock in 1983. Customers are not immediately there, especially in Japan, but it is the American market which boosted sales and made this anti-shock watch famous.
In 1994, the Baby-G was born, it was a women’s version of the G-Shock, and there the success was immediate. Since then, the G-Shock and Baby-G ranges have continued to sell well, and new watches are released almost every year. Ultra-robust, resistant to water, heat and above all shocks, they are adored by athletes but also by professionals, whether in the army or on construction sites, wherever robust equipment is needed. Since the release of the first G-Shock in 1983, more than 75 million watches have been sold.
Smart watches
At Casio, however, there is not only G-shock. The Edifice range is also very popular. More classy, it incorporates the codes of traditional watchmaking, with a chronograph, and intelligent features such as multiple time zones, solar operation or radio control. Some watches in the Edifice range can also connect to a smartphone via an application, and thus offer a multitude of functionalities.
The Casio Oceanus is quite recent, it combines most of the advantages of the G-Shock, with increased water resistance. It is indeed designed for divers. In terms of looks, it’s a mix between the Edifice range and the G-Shock range, both sporty and classy.
Finally, the Vintage range takes over the old models of the brand with some improvements and additional intelligent functions. Perfect for those who love old Japanese watches.
Casio has become in less than 50 years an essential brand in entry-level watchmaking. The watches come in all colors, for both men and women, and they appeal to all audiences. It has become a popular and timeless brand.
