Thizz Collectibles (@thizz_king) is a Casio watch collector who posts his collection of over 100 watches, mostly vintage, on Instagram. He currently has over 20,000 followers and fans from all over the world that engage with his posts. We asked him about his interest in Casio watches and why he continues to post about them, as well as the engagement he has received.
My dad’s watch first sparked my interest in Casio.
The watch that first sparked my interest in Casio was a model called the Marlin, which had a marlin logo on the face. My dad always wore this model when he was young. I never thought much of it as a child, but when I think about my dad at that time, he was always wearing that watch on his left wrist.
Growing up I began to purchase watches of my own, and one day I happened to come across a picture of that same watch with the marlin logo on Instagram. It brought back such a sense of nostalgia, and I noted for the first time just how cool the design was.
By the time I managed to search for and purchase the same W-400 model my dad once had, I was completely hooked on vintage Casio watches. The next I acquired was a PELA, a thin, lightweight watch released in 1985, measuring only 3.9 mm thick and weighing only 12mg. As it turns out my dad owned this watch too.
When I was young the G-SHOCK was extremely popular, and I wasn’t very interested in small watches like the PELA. But having grown up I am able to appreciate it’s design, and the technical skill that went into making the module so small is really impressive. It’s moving to think that I’m now old enough to appreciate the charm of the PELA — the same age my dad was when he bought his.
Left: The PELA FS-60W released in 1987. The band was broken when I got it, so I replaced it myself. Originally, the case and band were seamless.
Right: The W-400 released in 1983. The one with the marlin logo is known as the Marlin among collectors.
The daily treasure hunt for rare models found not even in old Casio catalogs.
Casio watches is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and so many different models have been produced throughout that time. The ones I find particularly interesting as a collector are the models of the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Many models were not Casio’s main products of the time and as such were not included in their old catalogs. There are almost no materials at all available today that mention these watches, so there are many models only now being discovered that people didn’t even know existed. Collectors exchange information with each other through social networking sites such as Instagram every day. It’s like a daily treasure hunt.
Unique and multifunctional watches that fascinate the world with their unexpectedness.
In my opinion, the most attractive features of Casio watches are their unique functionalities. The MAP-100, for example, with its map meter function that can calculate distances from paper maps is very unique. I am also surprised that as early as 1987 there was a watch that could measure your pulse, the JP-100W. Or the TSR-100/TSR-110 with thermo scanner that can measure the temperature of a remote location by reading infrared rays from a built-in sensor, among other features.
Of course, the high quality of the technology is also demonstrated in the basic function of the watch, which is simply to display the time. Even vintage Casio watches run accurately with just a little bit of tinkering, and there is comparatively little time discrepancy even after long-term use. People around the world are beginning to appreciate the significance of how this technology was concentrated into such small models. I myself am fascinated every day.
Left: The MAP-100 released in 1989. It includes a map meter function that calculates distances from paper maps for people who enjoy driving and outdoor activities. This was revolutionary at a time when digital maps were not available.
Right: The JP-100W, a sports watch for runners released in 1987 that could measure heart rate.
Fresh designs even by today’s standards: the parallel boom of Casio watches and Japanese City Pop.
People from all over the world message me on Instagram to ask about models I’ve posted, tell me they have the same one, or just to complement my newest acquisition. Recently I’ve received a lot of messages from people in India and Indonesia, many of whom seem to be relatively young, ranging in age from 25 to 44 years old. Japanese City Pop music from the '70s and '80s is currently gaining popularity around the world, and I wonder if the Casio Watches from the ‘80s and '90s, clad in that same atmosphere, may be gaining popularity as a result.
And the designs of the watches from that time still feel fresh today. There’s something about them that really works well with current fashion trends. What I find particularly reminiscent of the era is the subtle color scheme of the dials, which in the '80s and '90s was often a combination of blue and red. Those little details feel retro and playful, and I imagine young people likely enjoy those elements as well.
Thizz Collectible’s Top 5 Casio Watches:
No. 1
The world's most popular 300m diver’s watch DW-3000
I have more than a hundred Casio watches, so it’s difficult to choose my top five, but my No.1 has to be the DW-3000 diver from 1985.
It’s similar in style to the G-SHOCK but is water resistant to 300 meters, even more than the G-SHOCK’s 200-meter water resistance. It has a metal case and is covered by thick glass which makes it sturdy, but it’s not particularly bulky, so is easy for anyone to wear. There is no other watch with the same design, and this is the only colorway. It’s a rare item that only few people have.
The DW-3000, known overseas as THE TANK.
No. 2
A heavy-duty model suited for everyday use — The DW200 series.
Beginning with the DW-200, the DW-210, DW-240, and DW-260 all have the same design. These watches were made between 1983 and 1989 or so. Although similar in appearance, their functions were repeatedly updated to meet the needs of the times. The case and band are resin, but surprisingly they have not hydrolyzed and can be worn and used just as they were at the time. At the time, this watch was sold alongside the G-SHOCK, but seemingly it was not the most popular and there are only a few on the market. I still wear it often as the case is relatively thin, it matches any outfit, and can be worn on a daily basis.
The DW-200, released in 1983. Only the DW-200 is equipped with multi-alarm and marlin logo.
From left to right: The DW-210, DW-240, DW-260, and DW-310 released in 1993.
No. 3
The undisputedly popular Marlin Series — Casio Marlin.
These models were released between 1979 and 1985 and feature the marlin logo. Overseas, the series is known as the Casio Marlin. The stainless steel case and band models are particularly popular and have a heavy feel when worn on the wrist. Since all the parts are made in Japan, they’re also very popular abroad.
In Japan, people who like vintage clothes tend to collect them and they’ve been popular ever since their release. I’d imagine many people have seen them. It was my first Casio watch and the model my dad owned, so it definitely goes in my top five.
From right to left: The W-550, W150, and W-450. The W-150 has been popular since its initial release and is still relatively easy to find. The W-550 is a rarer model.
No. 4
An ‘80s retro design with solar panel on the face — the Solar Model.
This model from the '80s has a solar panel at the top of the dial. Current G-SHOCKs and other watches also use solar power, but their panels aren’t as immediately obvious. These ‘80s watches are nice in that the solar panel is clearly visible on the face of the watch.
I think that Casio’s high quality technology of the time can be seen here in the fact that these watches are solar-powered, waterproof, and come with a multi-alarm function. As you may expect, this kind of design is no longer available, and I think the 80's retro feel is another reason for its popularity.
From left to right: The DW-2000, WL-100, and WL-10. The solar panel on the dial generates electricity, and power is stored in the built-in rechargeable battery to power the watch even in the dark.
No. 5
The A1100D-1, the reissue that surpasses its original.
This model is a very popular one, but the original version made in the 1970s had a small battery inside which tended to leak over time, so there are currently very few fully working models out there. For that reason, when this model was reissued with its appearance unchanged, there was a great response both within Japan and overseas, and I remember my Instagram post on it received more engagement than usual.
Personally, I think this reissue model has already surpassed the original. This model has a case of stainless steel, but the original was actually a hybrid construction using resin too. The reissue is chunkier and feels weightier. And of course as a current model you can wear it without worrying about it like you would a vintage one.
The Casio Vintage A1100D-1 is a reissue of the 52QS-14B from the 1970s, with a metallic shine and a weightier feel.
A reissue eagerly awaited worldwide.
When I started posting on Instagram, I honestly didn’t expect to get such a great response from people overseas. It really pleases me to know that the universal design, various functionalities that tickle the collector's fancy, and the high quality tech of Casio watches are being shown appreciation in this way.
As a collector, I’m also very happy to see that the 50th anniversary is being commemorated with a series of reissues. Many of these are not only reissues but also have had new modern functionalities incorporated such as smartphone compatibility, which I find very Casio-esque!
My Instagram is a place where Casio watch lovers gather. A model that many of us would love to see reissued in the future is the PELA I mentioned earlier. The model I have is not an early model, so if it were to be reissued, I would love for it to be the early model FS-10. I believe there are very few original working models out there, so collectors all over the world are eager to see it reissued.
I hope to continue to share my love for vintage, reissued, and new model Casio watches alike going forward!