[CASIO Review] A1100B-1EF — black steel and “phosphorescence”

As long as our planet continues to spin and the sun doesn’t turn into a red giant, we humans will always need three things: water, food, and time orientation. There are many ways to orient ourselves, but the most convenient is by using a wristwatch. The simpler the watch, the easier it is to use. 

Casio offers a wide range of models, both analog and electronic, so it is a personal preference for each individual. A watch with an all-metal case is a popular choice because it offers durability and longevity.

Today, we are reviewing the Casio A1100B-1EF, which can be considered as a direct descendant of the steel casiotrons, futuristic watches from the 70s..

Casio has a rich heritage, with decades of work put into creating quality timepieces since the first Casiotron was introduced. The fruits of that labor are evident even today. Unlike the old Nokia, a watch may not allow you to access the modern internet, but it can still tell time. The hero of our review, Casio’s 52QS-14B model, has been able to perform its primary function for half a century and still does it well. The folks at CASIO decided to take a stroll through their vast archives and, while whistling a cheerful tune, stumbled upon an old design. They then “resurrected” the wonderful model 52QS-14B with the words “why not?”

Take a look at this old magazine clipping from 1978. In the center of the image, we can see the predecessor of our A1100 alongside other similar devices such as the casiotrons and the “montana” timepieces. Interestingly, some owners of the latter believe that the 16-melody product was the first of its kind in the 90s, and that all other similar watches were inspired by it.

Imagine hopping into a DeLorean DMC-12 (I associate our watch with it for some reason) and traveling back to a watch store in the 1970s to buy one. That would have been perfect for Marty McFly, but unfortunately, a black model as beautiful as ours wasn’t available back then.

There was a plastic model with the same module in its case, referred to as F100. Interestingly, the modern model A100 and the one being reviewed, A1100, both have identical modules [3503]. It appears that the Casio engineers had a well-thought-out plan, which made the emergence of A1100 inevitable.

The watch looks very cool and spectacular on the wrist. Even from afar, you can see its interesting structure, which is very different from the monotonous smart accessories that we see on the wrists of other people. Wouldn’t you agree that a cool, expensive smartwatch (or even a cheap one) with a black screen and black color doesn’t create those rapturous emotions? It seems to just sit on your hand like a hockey puck. (I hope smartwatch owners will forgive me for saying that.)

Case size (L×W×H) 40 × 35 × 9.1 mm. Weight 90 g

Approximate battery life: 3 years on CR1616

When I first opened the package containing the watch, I was surprised by its weight. Though it was small, it felt heavy and robust. This was likely due to the high-quality construction, which utilized a lot of steel to ensure durability. Additionally, I believe the battery will last longer than the manufacturer’s stated period, especially if the backlight is used rarely.

The display area contains all the necessary inscriptions to indicate its various functions. In the current time mode, the letters H_M_S stand for hours, minutes, and seconds, respectively. It is quite straightforward. When in stopwatch mode, the letters MIN-SEC-1/10 provide guidance on how to use it accurately. Additionally, pressing the D button will activate the MONTH-DATE-DAY mode, which helps to correctly determine the date.

I want to bring your attention to the watch band. I haven’t seen such a tightly constructed band in a long time. The links are so dense that it feels like the band is solid. In the past, Casio used to have a lot of fun with their watch bands. If you look at the black and white catalog photo from the previous years, you can see how they add charm to the models and how beautiful their link structures are. The wristband has a modern and reliable two-button lock, and the bracelet band narrows from 23 mm to 16 mm near the lock.

The lock plates are polished, but they don’t have a mirror-like surface which I don’t like. I wonder why they aren’t black. I think it was designed this way to match the back cover. However, the plates themselves are well-constructed, and although they don’t have stiffeners, they are quite thick and not easily bendable.

The display worries me. I am curious about its manufacturing process. While looking to the right, I noticed that the numbers on the display appear light-colored with a mirror effect on a green background. However, when I look to the left, the display changes to black color, and there is no black object nearby, only the sky. When I view the display from above, it starts to glow like phosphorus in the dark. This is strange because the profile photos did not show anything like this. Instead, they showed positive lighting. I am confused and would like to know what is happening here.

The backlight color is a warm orange reminiscent of retro lamps. The display automatically turns off after one second, regardless of whether you release the button or keep it pressed. This is a smart decision because accidentally pressing the backlight button or placing something heavy on it while sleeping could harm the battery.

The mineral glass that protrudes from the watch is not ideal, as it makes it more susceptible to scratches. However, the watch has buttons that come in handy in this regard. If you place the watch face down, the buttons and the upper edge of the glass will touch the surface of the table, protecting the screen. In all other cases, it is advised to take care of the screen to avoid any damage. The small size of the watch is an advantage as it avoids catching on door jambs. It is worth noting the beautiful polished side edges of the watch which are a prominent feature of the design. In the 70s version, there was a metal overlay on the plastic case, which is not present in our model.

The modern springbars are designed to be firmly seated in metal grooves, which reduces the risk of damaging the watch lugs. Additionally, the watch case appears smaller when worn on the wrist, despite its actual thickness, thanks to its clever design.

Upon first unpacking the watch, I found myself wondering how I could make use of such a screen. Where were the numbers? However, as soon as I put the watch on my wrist, everything became clear. I was able to easily read the information at any angle, although it was most clear when viewed from below. This model is also suitable for left-handed individuals, although they will see white numbers instead.

The distance between the lugs is 20 mm. If you’re not a fan of stamped bracelets, you can easily find a solid band with a black protective coating these days. However, I would recommend keeping the original bracelet for the sake of authenticity. Additionally, if you opt for a solid band, the weight of the watch will be more than 100 grams, so keep that in mind.

The engravings next to the buttons on the watch case are permanent and won’t fade away with time. Although they may remind some people of the inscriptions found on electrical devices from the past, they personally remind me of the ones you can find on manual transmission knob. The first button resets the watch, the second changes the mode, the third illuminates the display, and the fourth button either starts or stops the stopwatch, or displays the date. I find these engravings to be quite useful, as they make it easy for me to operate the watch without any confusion.

The back cover of our watch has a sleek and polished design with smooth edges and a vertical satin finish. The lettering on it is neat and uses the same font as the buttons. The cover is tightly secured, making it seem like you need a crowbar to open it. In comparison to its predecessor, which had a plastic case, this cover blends in perfectly with the steel structure of our watch, creating a cohesive and unified look.

I deliberately chose black out of three color options for a reason. Although, for the review, I usually opt for the basic and classic version with a light steel color and a positive screen. The A1100B-1EF model is very unusual and spectacular, especially in our time of electronic gadgets, due to its unique shape that catches the eye. Unlike other gadgets, the case of this model does not display an apple or any other brand name that is difficult to pronounce and remember.

It contains letters that create a name that only Sentinelese from the Andaman Islands don’t know about.

I love the idea of CASIO organizing trips to their roots. I hope they include the CASIOTRON 2.0 next time!

Conclusion

The A1100B-1EF model watch gives an impression of being well-crafted and of high quality. It retains the characteristics of its predecessor, while also improving upon its design by replacing the resin case with a metal one. Some people may complain that watches like this should have additional features that can be found on smartwatches. However, I have a different opinion. There are already so many devices available that can perform various tasks and functions. Yet, the most important function of a watch is to display time. By using a watch, we can focus on the present moment and be more mindful of our time. 

Watches with basic functions, like this one, will always be appreciated by those who value the importance of time. It is a simple yet effective accessory that can help us make the most out of our day. Instead of being distracted by other devices, we can keep track of time and use it wisely.