The CASIO 50th Anniversary Watchmaking Collection “ZERO TO ONE”

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of CASIO's watch business. To commemorate the anniversary, CASIO reissued the CASIOTRON, the origin of CASIO watches, in limited quantities in February. In June, the image of the sky and the sea, which are universal and restless, is juxtaposed with the company per se, and they released the concept of "SKY AND SEA" in this cross-brand collection. The six models in the lineup were designed with bright blue, reminiscent of the sky and sea, and gold, representing the light that illuminates the future. These were a symbolic collection befitting the dawn of a new era, and they announced the second collection based on the concept of "ZERO TO ONE" subsequently.

"ZERO TO ONE" -The concept, which refers to the spirit of craftsmanship and innovation that creates things from scratch, is also CASIO's philosophy. Tadao Kashio, who founded the predecessor Kashio Manufacturing in 1946, joined forces with his younger brothers Toshio, Kazuo, and Yukio to develop the company. Toshio invented the Yubiwa("Ring" in Japanese) pipe with a hole people could insert cigarettes into to allow them to smoke while working with their hands. It became a popular product; with the profits from the project, he began to develop a calculator. After much trial and error, he created the 14-A relay calculator, which was much faster than calculations made overseas, and the CASIO Mini, released in 1972, was an explosive hit due to its unprecedented compactness and low price.

In 1974, based on Toshio's theory that "time is the accumulation of every second," CASIO entered the watch business with the CASIOTRON, the world's first digital watch with an automatic calendar function. Later, as you may know, CASIO captured global attention with the launch of the G-SHOCK, a shock-resistant watch that defied conventional wisdom about timepieces. These products were all born from Toshio’s inventive mindset: to create products that accurately meet the era's needs and uncover a need that users may not even be aware of. The spirit of Monozukuri, the philosophy of creating something from nothing, has been continuously passed down from the company's founding to the present day.

The six models in the second collection all share a standard design based on the ZERO TO ONE concept. Among them is the CASIOTRON, which, as in the previous collection, is the maiden effort of CASIO's watchmaking business and symbolizes its 50th anniversary. However, CASIO has significantly changed from the silver case design of the last two models; the CASIOTRON TRN-50ZE is now features a black base with gold accents.

This coloring expresses the ZERO TO ONE concept of bringing light (creating one) in the darkness (from 0). The combination of black and gold is a highly favored pairing for G-SHOCK. Still, while the standard G-SHOCK models use a higher proportion of gold for street users, the 50th-anniversary collection enhances the contrast of darkness and light by reducing the use of gold in the color scheme. The TRN-50ZE also incorporates gold on the bezel, logo, and other parts to express a subtle glow. Its look is distinct from the silver-toned TRN-50, conveying a solid, more luxurious aesthetic.

Furthermore, the G-SHOCK in this collection is the 2100 series, which has been a key pillar of the brand alongside the 5000 series, and CASIO has added a new chronograph model to the lineup. The series, which began with the resin GA-2100 in 2019, has rapidly broadened its range. This time, CASIO developed a new chronograph model to further enhance the strengths of its analog display. The early introduction of the latest model of the 2100 series, G-SHOCK's new generation, into the commemorative collection, marking the first step toward the future, holds great significance.

The GMC-B2100ZE maintains the sporty image of the G-SHOCK while incorporating a vertical three-subdial chronograph layout to balance the octagonal bezel. This model also features the same colors as the 50th-anniversary collection, with a black IP-coated SS case, bezel, and bracelet. The indexes, hands, and the subdial ring at the 9 o'clock position are gold-colored to symbolize the light shining in the darkness. The design work is consummate, as it has crafted a versatile look for a wide range of users by adorning the watch with elegant gold accents while retaining an active atmosphere.

In addition to the coloring, this collection also includes elements to commemorate the 50th anniversary. One is the "01" design that visually illustrates the ZERO TO ONE concept. The TRN-50ZE has a row of "01" numerals laser-engraved around the CASIOTRON mark on the screw back, while the GMC-B2100ZE uses clear ink to print the number line on the inside of the flange, slightly altering the texture and serving as a subtle yet distinct design accent. Another unique element is the bold attempt to make only a portion of the bracelet gold-colored. In the first version, the engraving was placed on the inner clasp of the buckle, which is not visible from the front, but this time, CASIO adopted this unique design to evoke the idea of light shining in the dark through the bracelet design. In addition to CASIOTRON and G-SHOCK, six brands continue to be featured in the ZERO TO ONE collection: OCEANUS, Edifice, PRO TREK, and Baby-G. Particularly from OCEANUS, the new OCW-SG1000ZE is equipped with the Gallium Tough Solar module, which boasts unmatched power generation efficiency. While the module differs, it follows the technology of the concept model auctioned at the end of 2023 and is a fitting selection for a collection marking the first step toward the future.

Notably, in addition to the experts who have supported CASIO's watch business up until now, younger product planners from each brand, in other words, CASIO's "new lights," were actively involved in the development and their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas have contributed to the unique and modern design of this collection. Their involvement in the ZERO TO ONE concept work, which aligns with CASIO's philosophy and in the design to realize this concept, made the collection a suitable first step for CASIO as it embarks on the next 50 or 100 years. The black body with a powerful gold-colored gleam- I can't help but feel that the appearance of the watches is the birth of CASIO watches clad in even more ingeniousness.