Excited? Disenchanted? Detached? I’m wondering how the watch fanatic neighborhood feels concerning the long-awaited, first-ever mechanical Casio watch, the Casio Edifice EFK-100. Effectively, it’s official: Right here it’s, and I, for one, really feel all 3 ways without delay.
Casio Pc Co., Ltd., as none of us ever name it, simply introduced the addition of 5 completely new fashions to its Edifice watch assortment that’s primarily based “on the model idea of Pace & Intelligence” (child you not). The 5 new references are EFK-100XPB-1AJF, EFK-100CD-1AJF, the EFK-100D-2AJF, EFK-100D-3AJF, and EFK-100D-7AJF. Between the “XPB,” “CD,” and “D” references, there are some notable variations, however first, let’s discuss motion — and people three simultaneous sensations we kicked issues off with.
Casio is a model that wants no introduction to anybody born outdoors a tax haven, because it has greater than earned its popularity because the producer of principally inexpensive, correct, and feature-heavy quartz watches, together with properly and actually iconic ones such because the G-Shock 5000/5600, F-91W, Royale, Databank, AQ-230, A158, and the cheapest factory diamond-set watch in the world that we reviewed… It’s a robust checklist that goes to point out that you just want no fancy mechanical caliber, only a battery-powered motion to supply absolute best-sellers that get pleasure from many years of public enchantment.
In a method, we may argue {that a} main watch model switching between motion applied sciences (from battery to mechanical or vice versa) is without doubt one of the most impactful, significant, and essential moments in its historical past. Likewise, Casio has set the bar very excessive for itself, as it’s a globally cherished model with goodness solely is aware of what number of thousands and thousands of collectors and followers eagerly following the most recent Casio watch information.
With all that in thoughts, the first-ever mechanical watch from Casio may and perhaps ought to have been one thing bombastic, with a bespoke motion, some distinctive performance, or no less than a particular design, whereas a real Casio fan may simply argue towards that and declare that it’s, certainly, very on-brand for Casio to supply an inexpensive, likeable, low-thrills watch to debut its first spring-driven caliber.
Effectively, the Casio Edifice EFK-100 is actually the results of the latter strategy as it’s priced between ￥49,500 JPY ($340 USD) and ￥74,800 JPY ($515 USD), and it locations as a lot emphasis on the design, presentation, and use of supplies because it does on the motion. Sadly, Casio appears to have realized among the extra doubtful methods of mechanical watchmaking on the earliest of phases: The model doesn’t seem to make a single point out of the caliber’s producer or the caliber’s title — though, to its credit score, you possibly can learn the caliber reference on the rotor by way of the see-through caseback.
The primary-ever mechanical Casio watches are powered by a Seiko NH35 motion that some sources declare to be modified, though the place and the way they’re modified, nobody is aware of. Casio claims that the actions are certainly mechanical, and supplies such new (to the model) particulars as an influence reserve of (a measly) 40 hours, an working frequency of (a sluggish) 3Hz, and extra functionalities akin to hacking seconds hand, a date show, and 24 jewels.
In different phrases, Casio cased up a Seiko NH35 as its first-ever mechanical watch. As we contemplated above, does that make the Casio Edifice EFK-100 assortment a disappointment, or one more real Casio transfer, particularly given the comparatively low retail value of those watches? Let’s see what the packaging will get you, since that’s the place Casio historically presents a lot of its worth.
The metal Casio Edifice EFK-100 assortment measures 39mm huge, 43.5mm lug-to-lug, and 12.5mm thick, presents strong 100-meter water resistance together with some stage of magnetism resistance (JIS Class 1), and 4 out of the 5 fashions are available stainless-steel, on a metal bracelet, weighing in at 148 grams. The fifth mannequin, reference EFK-100XPB-1AJF, measures 45 by 40 by 12.5 millimeters, is matched to a resin band with a folding clasp, and weighs simply 87 grams as a result of, you guessed it, it has a case crafted from a mixture of carbon fiber strengthened plastic (CFRP) and stainless-steel. There’s a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating utilized to its inside on the entrance, which is a pleasant contact at this value level.
The 4 metal fashions got here with quite a lot of dial choices. EFK-100CD-1AJF is the one one with a cast carbon dial, whereas the remaining are blue (EFK-100D-2AJF), inexperienced (EFK-100D-3AJF), and white (EFK-100D-7AJF) have a textured dial the place electroforming was used to “reproduce the look of cast carbon.” There are a number of high quality touches on the dial, just like the utilized indices and the complicated palms, and method past it, together with the lovely-looking case with its polished and brushed surfaces, and the neat integration of the slim metallic bracelet with its personal alternating floor remedies with polished surfaces on the perimeters of the hyperlinks in addition to on the angled phase on the within of the interior hyperlinks.
The see-through caseback reveals an industrial-looking NH35 that Casio claims to have a imply day by day fee between -35 and +45 seconds. I can cope with an historic and transient 40-hour energy reserve, however in 2025, no mechanical watch from a good model (not simply Casio, however any one in every of them) ought to be formally OK to achieve as much as 5 minutes per week — however perhaps it’s simply me saying that.
The primary mechanical Casio is right here, and a few would possibly say it’s all {that a} mechanical Casio ought to be: comparatively inexpensive, ideally styled and engineered for day by day put on all week ’spherical, and some noticeable and distinctive touches for a way of high quality and execution that truly exceeds the value level. However, a few of us is perhaps a bit upset that this historic second feels extra like a line extension that simply occurs to have a mechanical motion — which it really is. Casio goes on and on about how the Edifice line is linked to vehicles and is geared toward automotive fans, however I merely can’t be requested to attempt to unfold how imaginary and far-fetched that’s for what’s a lovely-looking, if not a bit odd, watch.
The primary mechanical Casio watches will likely be accessible from July/August, 2025, relying on the model, and the pricing is as follows:
- The Casio Edifice EFK-100XPB-1AJF with a cast carbon case and dial is priced at ￥74,800 JPY ($515 USD),
- The Casio Edifice EFK-100YCD-1AJF with a cast carbon dial is priced at ￥55,000 JPY ($379 USD),
- The Casio Edifice EFK-100YD-7A in white is priced at ￥49,500 JPY ($340 USD),
- The Casio Edifice EFK-100YD-3A in inexperienced is priced at ￥49,500 JPY ($340 USD),
- The Casio Edifice EFK-100YD-2A in blue is priced at ￥49,500 JPY ($340 USD).
For now, these seem like restricted to the Japanese market, however that may change quickly. You can learn more at the brand’s website.
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