Casio Men's Digital Watch with Stainless Steel Bracelet

Product Information

I wasn’t expecting to like this watch as much as I did. But, it taught me a lesson about what watches mean. For some, it may be getting the flashiest or the priciest. But, for watch people- real watch people- it doesn’t matter. I love the A168WA’s sleek and retro digital design. Vintage fans and the nostalgic are its main audience, but it has plenty of crossover appeal. Men with small wrists who are looking for an affordable digital watch love it. The thinner links do make it more flexible and adjustable. Though I should mention that some men have complained about hair pulling. The A168WA is legible in the darkest situations thanks to its thin, lightweight, and flexible Electro Luminescent panels. EL panels use minimal power consumption (one of the reasons that the battery lasts so long) and are so durable, they work even after being punctured. I’d say the display on the A158 is slightly clearer and, in person, is definitely easier to see from different angles. I’m unsure why this is the case, as you’d expect them to be the same.

Powering the watch is a common Japanese quartz movement. Quartz movements are popular due to their accuracy and reliability requiring very little in the way of maintenance. The watch case of the A158WA-1DF is made of durable resin material, contributing to its overall sturdiness and longevity. This material provides resistance against everyday wear and tear, making it suitable for regular usage. A funny thing happened when I got this in the mail and opened it up. The experience unboxing a Casio A158W is quite different from a luxury watch.The quartz movement is obviously reliable. According to Casio, it has an accuracy of +/- 30 seconds per month, which is better than any budget mechanical. Bonus points for its seven-year battery life, and that it won’t need much maintenance in those years. Functions and Capabilities If you have a generously-sized wrist and often go for larger round watches, you might consider the A168WA for the superior ergonomics it provides. Sometimes, when people first get a taste of higher-end timepieces, they fall into the trap of looking down on cheap ones. If you’re not splashing a lot of cash, what’s the point? The watch isn’t worth your time or money.

Those who simply need an understated reliable timepiece love it. It’s also popular among the techy set, the hip and ironic crowd, and collectors with high-end tastes who appreciate a watch with heritage and lore, price aside. Really the best part about this watch-other than the price point-is the way it looks. It’s got a great retro style and feel, which if you grew up in the 80s like me, gets those nostalgia juices flowing. Why Did I Buy This Watch? Following the success of this model, Casio released the A168. I guess this was designed as its direct replacement, given the visual similarities. In fact, let’s start by covering the clear similarities between the two.

Some A168WA pros include affordable brand recognition, reliability, a quintessential retro style, lightweight wear, and excellent function and design for its price. This watch features many of the popular extras you find on most retro Casio timepieces and more. There’s the stopwatch, alarm, date display, chronograph, lap timer, 24 hour time display, and light up display. You can use the bottom left pusher to cycle through the watch’s various operations. First is the alarm function. Then the stopwatch, which is pretty intuitive-start/stop on the right and reset on the top left. Finally, you get to where you can set the date and time.

The linked bracelet is stainless steel as well. One interesting point to note is the contrast between the brushed appearance of the bracelet and the polished look of the case. Some may find it a little weird, but I think it’s a nice contrast and adds subtle visual interest.Steam can sneak its way into the inner workings of the watch, and 30m of water resistance doesn’t protect from prolonged moisture exposure. The digital face itself doesn’t take up too much room, which gives this color scheme the spotlight. As mentioned, the case isn’t real metal, but it’s pretty reflective and legible at all angles, even at night. It certainly looks like an affordable watch, but it doesn’t look like it’s cheaper than it is. On the dial is a crisp LCD screen displaying the time-hours, minutes, and running seconds. You can also use the pusher on the right to toggle between 12 and 24-hour time. Above the time, between the hours and minutes, you have the day of the week. The date sits over to the right above the seconds. In my opinion, this watch’s cons or par for the course in this price range (hair-pulling aside). However, the pros punch far above its price-point’s weight class.