Casio’s First Automatic Watch Makes A Case For Itself — Almost

It is one of the most curious questions among watch enthusiasts. Why hasn’t Casio made a mechanical watch yet?

The answer to that question now lies in front of us in the form of the Casio Edifice EFK-100 series, which was launched this week in the Indian market.

The EFK-100 series debuts with five models, headlined by the Edifice EFK-100XPB-1A, which incorporates forged carbon in the dial and case–a high-strength, lightweight material commonly used in high-end sports cars for its durability and visual appeal. The EFK-100CD-1A also features this premium forged carbon texture in the dial, while the EFK-100D-2A, 3A, and 7A replicate the dynamic aesthetic using advanced electroforming techniques.

Starting from a price of ₹25,995, the dial on the EFK-100 series is beautiful, with a date placement at 6 o clock. It almost reminds you of a Grand Seiko, especially . The integrated bracelet – a la the Tissot PRX – is another interesting feature in the entire package.

Interestingly, the watch does not have an in-house movement. Instead, it relies on the workhorse Seiko NH35 movement – a popular and reliable choice among watchmakers. The mechanical movement offers a power reserve of around 40 hours and an average daily rate of -35 to +45 seconds.

Technical specs aside, watch communities and discussion forums on Reddit have interesting takes on Casio finally going down the mechanical route. Some users compared it to an incoming “petrol Tesla” or a Ferrari resorting to manufacturing SUVs.

Many others are excited about the development. “I'm the Casio only type and the EFK-100 will be my first ever mechanical,” one Redditor commented on a discussion on the announcement of the watch. “I don’t care about the movement, I’m a Casio fan and excited for this release,” another user said.

Many of us are, of course, used to the digital watch behemoth that is Casio. Its Edifice range draws inspiration from the high-performance world of motorsports and cutting-edge design.

While the EFK-100 series certainly has a striking design, a big stickling point is the price. The market is flooded with the likes of Seiko, Citizen and many other brands in the ₹25,000-40,000 price range. There are other micro brands–you can get a good automatic watch in the ₹8,000–10,000 range–that are trying their luck with automatic movements in India.

Competition is high and Casio has a lot of ground to make up in the automatic, mechanical watches space. In that sense, the launch is a step in the right direction as more users take to automatic watches.

For someone who has used Casio watches for years, the EFK-100 makes a compelling case for itself. It is indeed a beautiful timepiece that will appeal to many wearers. The only question is: why did it take so long for Casio to get here?