Power for the People: Casio Adds Its First Automatic Watch to the Edifice Lineup

For 50-plus years, Casio’s watchmaking division has been in a happy place, manufacturing affordable quartz watches that even the snobbiest of enthusiasts respect.

After all, we’d be a little suspicious of any enthusiast who doesn’t have a Digital F91W watch, a black CA53W Data Bank, or a gold-colored Vintage A168GW-9VT in their watch box (and don’t get us started on G-SHOCK – that’s a whole other deep well of collecting).

That’s why we’re so surprised (and intrigued) when we heard rumblings that Casio was releasing Edifice’s EFK-100 series – the first-ever automatic timepieces in the Edifice lineup. The collection was first launched in Japan, but three models – the EFK-100CD-1A (black forged carbon dial), the EFK-100D-2A (blue electroformed dial), and the EFK-100D-7A (white electroformed dial) – have finally dropped in North America.

Think of it this way: Casio going mechanical is kind of like when Bob Dylan went electric at the Newport Folk Festival on July 25, 1965, but in reverse. Still, did he need to do it? No. Are we glad that he did? Yes. Are we still talking about it sixty years later? I wasn’t even born then, and the answer is yes.

To better understand this historic moment, let’s look at the history of Casio itself.

Part of the reason Casio is so beloved is that it produces well-designed, affordable watches powered by dependable, high-powered quartz movements. After all, you can still pick up a brand new, black resin Analog MQ24-7B casual watch for under $25.

On the other end of the spectrum, however, is Casio’s Edifice brand of auto-sport-coded, multi-function watches aimed at professionals. Still, even this premium line is rarely priced over $500.
 

I probably have about 10 Casio watches in my collection – the oldest is a Casio A168WG from the 1980s, and the newest is a 2024 CRW001-1 ring watch (which has just been restocked, by the way).

That said, I also have five keyboards and a couple of calculators because Casio is first and foremost a multinational consumer electronics conglomerate; in fact, Casio didn’t introduce its first timepiece – the Casiotron – until 1974. Every part of the Casio story is based around electronics.
 

Fifty years later, Casio is breaking new ground with the analog EFK-100 series, featuring a classic three-hand design and a high-end automatic mechanical movement.

Our first impression is that, for Edifice’s first-ever spring-driven timepiece, Casio invested a lot of energy into the watch’s aesthetics. The press release doesn’t even get into the specs of the movement, which is a Module 5755, believed to be based on the reliable Seiko NH35 (a robust automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve).
 

Visible through a sapphire caseback, the pros of this movement are that it allows for a very attractive, accessibly priced automatic watch. The cons are that its functionality is limited to time only or, at most, time and date, as opposed to the rest of the feature-packed Edifices. So, let’s talk about looks.

Designed for daily use, the stainless-steel case of the EFK-1000 series is a compact 39mm and offers 100 meters of water resistance. The black version (EFK-100CD-1A) features a forged carbon dial. Meanwhile, the white (EFK-100D-7A) and blue (EFK-100D-2A) editions use a textured electroformed dial. However, no matter which dial you get, no two dials are alike.
 

The EFK-100CD also features fancy details such as a sapphire crystal and a robust stainless-steel bracelet with both hairline and mirror finishes. Additionally, this model’s minimalist display consists of a date window at six o’clock and hollowed-out hour and minute hands with phosphorescent tips, providing visibility in low light.

Were we expecting Casio to make its first foray into mechanical timekeeping with a super-complicated manufacture calibre? If we’re being honest with ourselves, yeah, kinda. However, the more important question is, will it appeal to the fans and the Casio-curious? This time, the answer is a resounding yes.

The design and its carbon composite dials alone make it an excellent value proposition. Plus, it also has the allure of being a brand milestone, which will make it nigh on irresistible to many. You must also applaud any brand willing to step outside of its comfort zone. Let’s hope this trio of EFK-100s is the first of many.
 

The EFK100CD1A ($300), EFK100D-2A ($280), and EFK100D-7A ($280) are available for purchase starting today via Casio’s Edifice website and select retailers nationwide.