I don’t like a lot of fancy things, but I do like fancy timepieces. I’m an Omega man (as in the watches, not the Charlton Heston film), and I’ve been known to sport a Rolex or a Breitling. Still, Casio has a major presence in my collection next to these Swiss hard-hitters. Few brands, maybe even no other brands, have mastered the art of the sub-$50 icon the way Casio has. I love my A158WA-1 as much as I love my Explorer II. So, when I had the opportunity to review the iconic Casio Databank CA53W-1 calculator watch, I jumped at it.
I’ve been wearing this retro-cool timepiece for the past month. Here’s everything you need to know, from its functions to its style propositions. By the end of this, you’ll know whether or not it’s for you. So, let’s start with some specs.
The Casio Databank CA53W-1: 101
This resin-constructed calculator watch measures 43.2 by 34.4 millimeters. It’s a slim 8.2 millimeters high and weighs just over 25 grams. As such, it sits comfortably and attractively on a wide range of wrist sizes. I have a small wrist, and I enjoy how strong and tactical it looks on me without weighing my hand down.
It’s supposedly water-resistant. Casio doesn’t disclose a particular measure, meter-wise, but this often means it’s splash-proof. You can likely wear this watch washing dishes, but I never do, just to play it safe. I did get caught out in some moderate rain while wearing it. I was without an umbrella, and the watch survived the ordeal. In retrospect, perhaps I should’ve taken it off and put it in my pocket. Worst case scenario though, it gets damaged, and I pay the whopping $30 to get a new one.
If you have a small wrist like I do, the slack from the strap might stick out a bit. I don’t mind it. However, if you want a cleaner look, do this: When you aren’t wearing the watch, push the keeper up towards the watch face where the strap widens. It’s not meant to do this, so it’ll take some finessing. Fortunately, the resin is soft and flexible. Then, when the watch is on your wrist, you’ll squeeze the slack into the keeper. The tight fit locks everything in.
And according to Casio, the CA53W01 has a five-year battery life. Not too shabby.
Styling the Databank: More Versatile than You Think
Before I get to its functions, I want to give my hot take on styling the CA53W-1. I think you can wear it in almost any dress code. It’s meant to be casual, but I’ve worn it with a full suit to work.
Yes, I know that the Databank Calculator Watch pairs most naturally with a puffer vest, acid-washed jeans, and Nikes. After all, Marty McFly, patron saint of the cool nerd, helped make calculator watches culturally relevant.
It also adds character to any relaxed outfit. A t-shirt and jeans combination can go from anonymously standard to cool-dad status with the addition of a calculator watch.
However, I believe that even the most casual, tactical timepieces can be worn with a suit if they have a vintage quality. My office has a strict business-professional dress code. This all-black calculator watch gives my suit and tie a sort of professional scientist vibe or an ‘80s yuppie aesthetic. Both are perfectly professional approaches to style. I even got a lot of compliments when I accessorized my marine blue suit with this watch and a quilted zip-up vest.
Functions: Engaging and Practical
I won’t bury the lead here. I do love this watch. The buttons are small and take getting used to, but I wasn’t particularly offended by that. The keypad is still easier to use than pre-spell-check touch screens. My only complaint is that I had to read literal instructions. I found the manual unnecessarily long and boring. So you don’t have to go through what I did, let me give you a quick rundown of what you can do on this watch.
Time-Telling
To set the time and date, you’ll press the bottom recessed button. Then, you’ll press the top protruding button (which, when not in time-setting mode, is the button that lets you go through the five modes of the watch).
The top button, again in this time-setting mode, will move you to the hour position. From there, you’ll just enter the time. So if it’s 10:30, you’ll hit one, zero, three, zero. The cursor automatically advances as you’re keying in the numbers.
If there’s no specification of AM or PM above the hour, it means it’s in 24-hour mode. To move back and forth between a 12-hour clock and a 24-hour clock, first press the top protruding button. This will bring the cursor back to the hour position. Once you’re there, you’ll press the bottom-most button in the right corner, the one right of the red + symbol. If you were once on 12-hour mode, this button will switch it to 24-hour mode, and vice versa.
Once the time is set, it automatically lets you set up the date, which you’ll key in as year, month, then date. So if it’s October 9, 2024, you’ll press the buttons two, four, one, zero, zero, nine (‘24 10/09).
The Calculator
I loved using this mode to calculate tips at restaurants, especially at business dinners. I looked so much cooler than the guys using their iPhones to do it—at least, I thought I did.
The watch’s default mode is timekeeping, and its second mode is the calculator. So, to use the calculator, just press the top protruding button once. You’ll know you’re in the right place because all you’ll see is a zero digit. Here, you can add, subtract, multiply, divide, and even use constant calculations and power calculations.
The Alarm
I got this watch at a convenient time. My iPhone is on its last leg (I tend to wait until the very last minute to upgrade), and its alarm is simply too quiet to wake me up in the morning. Fortunately, I had my Databank, which has an excellent alarm.
The alarm is the third mode, so you’ll press the protruding button twice to get there. You’ll know you’re in the right mode because it’ll read AL at the top right. Then, you’ll key in the time you want your alarm to go off. If you want it to go off at the same time every day, press the four button after you’ve set the alarm. A chime symbol will pop up at the top, indicating you’ve activated the daily mode.
Dual Time
No shade to the GMT Master—I love that watch. However, the Databank’s dual time function is much easier to read. To set and access a second time zone, you’ll press the top button three times. It’ll read DT at the top. You’ll set the second time zone the exact same way you set up your default time zone.
The Stop Watch
And finally, we have a stopwatch. It’s the final mode, indicated by an ST at the top right, which means you’ll press the protruding button four times to get there. This mode is super easy. The bottom-most right button starts and stops the stopwatch. If you press the bottom-most left button while it’s running, it stops and starts the lap time. If you press it when it isn’t running, it zeros the stopwatch out.
A Budget Banger
I thoroughly enjoy this Databank Calculator Watch. It adds character to my weekday suits and elevates my everyman weekend style. It’s fun to use, functional, and distinct but not weird. Even more, I can’t emphasize enough how great it is that you can find an iconic watch at a budget price point. As a society, we’ve come around to seeing nerdom and dadness as being pretty cool. A watch like this can represent that aesthetic—or not. It depends on what you wear it with. And, of course, the CA53W-1 is an effective timekeeper and alarm that’ll keep you away from a scroll session. Heck, it’s even cheaper than most alarm clocks on the market and far more multi-use.
Price: $22+
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