Casio Vintage Watches: A Guide to the F-91W, A158, A168, AE-1200 and Calculator Watch
Why trust this guide? It's written by the Watch Direct team, an authorised Australian watch retailer trading since 2011. Model history comes from Casio's own press materials and respected watch publications, and every specification is checked against the manufacturer's data for the exact model we sell.
Featured watches were checked for stock and specifications on our store when this guide was written in October 2026.
At a Glance
- They're new watches with retro designs, still made by Casio today.
- F-91W: the light, resin original. Simple, inexpensive and in production for more than 30 years.
- A158 and A168: the steel-bracelet versions. The A168 adds an octagonal case and an EL backlight.
- AE-1200: world time with a map display, five alarms and a 10-year battery.
- CA-53W: the calculator watch, with an eight-digit calculator and dual time.
In This Guide
Few watches are as instantly recognisable as a Casio digital. The square resin F-91W, the shiny steel A168 and the button-covered calculator watch have been on wrists for decades, and Casio still makes them. If you're trying to work out which retro Casio to buy, this guide explains what each model does, how they differ and who they suit.
What are Casio vintage watches?
"Vintage" here describes the style, not the age. Casio's Vintage and Classic models are newly made watches based on digital designs from the 1980s and 1990s. They use quartz modules, resin or steel cases and simple LCD displays, and each comes with Casio's manufacturer's warranty. In Australia, that's two years on Casio watches bought from an authorised retailer such as Watch Direct.
A short history
Casio entered the watch business in 1974 with the Casiotron, which Casio describes as the first digital watch with an automatic calendar. Through the 1980s and 1990s it released a stream of affordable digital models with alarms, stopwatches, backlights and even calculators. Several of those designs never went out of production. In 2026, Casio Europe celebrated them in its "Future Classic" collection, which includes the A168 (developed in 1995) and the AE-1200 (2012).
Casio F-91W: the original
The F-91W is the stripped-back classic: a light resin case and strap, a daily alarm, an hourly time signal, a 1/100-second stopwatch and an LED light. It has been in production for more than 30 years, and its no-fuss design has become an icon in its own right.
Casio · Resin · Digital
Casio F91W-1
The lightweight resin original, with the features most people actually use and a battery that lasts for years.
- Case: 35mm resin
- Functions: Daily alarm, hourly signal, 1/100-sec stopwatch, auto-calendar
- Accuracy: ±30 seconds per month
- Battery: Approx. 7 years (CR2016)
Casio A158: the steel-bracelet classic
The A158 takes the same idea and puts it on a stainless steel bracelet, with a chrome-plated bezel over a resin case. It's slim at 8.2mm and has an alarm, hourly signal, 1/100-second stopwatch and auto-calendar, with a green LED light. Its bracelet adjusts at the clasp rather than with removable links.
Casio · Steel bracelet · Digital
Casio A158WA-1A
A slim, unisex steel-bracelet digital that suits almost any wrist and outfit.
- Case: 36.8 × 33.2 × 8.2mm, resin with chrome-plated bezel
- Bracelet: Stainless steel, adjustable clasp
- Light: LED (green)
- Battery: Approx. 7 years (CR2016)
Casio A168: the octagon with the better light
Casio says it developed the A168 in 1995, originally for the North American market. It has an octagonal case and an electro-luminescent (EL) backlight, which lights the whole display evenly. Functions match the A158: alarm, hourly signal, stopwatch and auto-calendar. The gold-tone A168WG-9W is one of the most recognisable versions.
Casio · Gold-tone steel · Digital
Casio A168WG-9W
The gold-tone A168, with an EL backlight and a retro look that works dressed up or down.
- Case: 38.6 × 36.3 × 9.6mm, resin
- Bracelet: Gold-tone stainless steel, adjustable clasp
- Light: Electro-luminescent backlight
- Battery: Approx. 7 years (CR2016)
Prefer silver? See the A168WA-1W.
Casio AE-1200: world time with a map
The AE-1200 arrived in 2012, according to Casio, but its busy, gadget-like display looks straight out of the 1980s. Fans nicknamed it the "Casio Royale". Above the main display sits a small world map that shows the selected time zone. Casio lists world time, a 1/100-second stopwatch, five daily alarms, a 10-year battery and 10 bar water resistance for the steel-bracelet AE-1200WHD.
Casio · World time · Digital
Casio AE1200WHD-1A
The most feature-packed of the retro Casios, with a world map display on a steel bracelet.
- World time: Map display of the selected time zone
- Functions: 1/100-sec stopwatch, countdown timer, five daily alarms
- Battery: Approx. 10 years
- Water resistance: 100m (10 bar)
Casio CA-53W: the calculator watch
The CA-53W puts an eight-digit calculator on your wrist, alongside dual time, a daily alarm, a 1/100-second stopwatch and a full auto-calendar to 2099. Casio's Australian distributor calls it "a cult classic", and the rows of tiny keys are what most people picture when they think of a retro digital watch.
Casio · Calculator · Digital
Casio CA53W-1
The calculator watch: eight digits, dual time and a stopwatch in a slim resin case.
- Case: 43.2 × 34.4 × 8.2mm, resin
- Functions: 8-digit calculator, dual time, 1/100-sec stopwatch, daily alarm
- Accuracy: ±15 seconds per month
- Battery: Approx. 5 years (CR2016)
The five compared
F-91W
Case and band: Resin case and strap · Light: LED · Standout feature: Lightest and simplest · Battery (approx.): 7 years
A158
Case and band: Resin case, steel bracelet · Light: LED · Standout feature: Slim steel bracelet · Battery (approx.): 7 years
A168
Case and band: Resin case, steel bracelet · Light: EL backlight · Standout feature: Octagonal case, even backlight · Battery (approx.): 7 years
AE-1200
Case and band: Steel bracelet · Light: LED · Standout feature: World time map, five alarms · Battery (approx.): 10 years
CA-53W
Case and band: Resin case and strap · Light: None listed · Standout feature: 8-digit calculator, dual time · Battery (approx.): 5 years
| Model | Watch | Case and band | Light | Standout feature | Battery (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-91W | Casio F91W-1 | Resin case and strap | LED | Lightest and simplest | 7 years |
| A158 | Casio A158WA-1A | Resin case, steel bracelet | LED | Slim steel bracelet | 7 years |
| A168 | Casio A168WG-9W | Resin case, steel bracelet | EL backlight | Octagonal case, even backlight | 7 years |
| AE-1200 | Casio AE1200WHD-1A | Steel bracelet | LED | World time map, five alarms | 10 years |
| CA-53W | Casio CA53W-1 | Resin case and strap | None listed | 8-digit calculator, dual time | 5 years |
Which one should you choose?
- You want the lightest, simplest watch: the F-91W. You'll forget you're wearing it.
- You want a steel bracelet that's easy to size: the A158, with its adjustable clasp.
- You want the retro look with a better light: the A168, especially in gold tone.
- You travel or work across time zones: the AE-1200, with world time and five alarms.
- You want a conversation starter: the CA-53W calculator watch.
Retro Casios also make easy first watches for older kids and teenagers. They're simple to read and hard to outgrow.
Explore retro and digital watches
Frequently asked questions
Are Casio vintage watches actually vintage?
No, they're new watches with retro designs. Casio's Vintage and Classic models are current production pieces based on designs that have been around for decades, so you get the original look with a new watch and a manufacturer's warranty.
What is the difference between the Casio A158 and A168?
Both are slim steel-bracelet digital watches with an alarm, stopwatch and calendar. The A158 has a squarer case and an LED light. The A168 has an octagonal shape and an electro-luminescent (EL) backlight that lights the whole display evenly. Casio says it developed the A168 in 1995.
Why is the Casio F-91W so popular?
It's light, simple and inexpensive, and its battery lasts around seven years. It has been in production for more than 30 years, and its plain, functional design has become a design icon in its own right.
Why is the AE-1200 called the 'Casio Royale'?
It's a fan nickname. The AE-1200's busy, gadget-like display reminded collectors of the digital watches in 1980s spy films, and the pun stuck. Casio sells it as the AE-1200, with world time, a stopwatch, five alarms and a 10-year battery.
Can I swim with a Casio vintage watch?
Most Casio Vintage models, including the F-91W, A158, A168 and CA-53W, are rated simply 'water resistant', which covers everyday splashes and rain rather than swimming. For swimming, we recommend a watch with at least 200m water resistance and a screw-down crown.
How long does a Casio vintage watch battery last?
Casio quotes approximately seven years on a CR2016 for the F-91W, A158 and A168, approximately five years for the CA-53W, and about 10 years for the AE-1200. Real-world life depends on how often you use the light and alarm.
Authorised Retailer
Why buy your watch from Watch Direct?
We've been an authorised Australian watch retailer since 2011. Every watch comes with the manufacturer's warranty, free standard shipping Australia-wide and 30-day returns.
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