Reminiscing my primary school years, wearing a Casio to school was a sign of coolness. And it doesn’t get much cooler than wearing a calculator on your wrist! Being the 10-year-old me, I thought to myself that this watch is insane. I mean, if owning one meant not having to memorize the multiplication tables given in math class, I’m all for it. Although it was considered to be illegal in school and not to mention exam halls, it definitely made this timepiece more desirable.
It has been more than a decade since I wanted one, and what we have here today is the Casio CA-53W-1ZDR “Databank”. Contradictory to the name though, this particular databank doesn’t actually store any form of data. Other than the fact that you could actually count your parking fee after spending some time in a mall, this little guy is pretty basic. You know, the standard stuff like a stopwatch, an alarm and dual time. If you’ve paid enough attention, yes, it doesn’t show the date nor does it have a backlight. Honestly, it does bother me by the slightest bit but hey, with this watch, I’d be happy even if it didn’t come with any additional features other than the time and a calculator.
After owning it for a week, the wearing experience was great! With the watch weighing only 24g, you’ll easily forget that you are actually wearing a watch (and a calculator) on your wrist. Although the strap doesn’t feel as sturdy as the ones that come with a G-Shock, it’s never an argument to begin with. Come on, you can get one of these for less than 150 MYR. Besides, the strap is thin and comfortable after all. Another plus point would be how it fits on the wrist. Sized at 42mm long, 34mm in width and only 8mm in thickness, this case wears PERFECT on my 16cm wrist.
If you’re still here, you might be asking, in today’s day and age, why buy a calculator watch anyway? Of course, affordability plays a role but is it really that great of a watch? Well, simply put, it’s an icon. It’s quirky, nerdy, has history, a ton of character and brings back nostalgia. Not to mention, might get you some thumbs ups from fellow enthusiasts! All of that for less than 150 MYR, why not! This is proof that you really don’t need to spend a fortune for a watch to put a smile on your face. Now that I’m down the rabbit hole, maybe a F-91W is next?
feedthewrist. 