I’m fairly certain that if you’re fond of toting a time-telling device around on your wrist despite having “better” technology on your very own smartphone, then you’ll also understand the value of having a calculator at the ready as well. I hate using the calculator on my own phone for several reasons, mainly because I can never open it up fast enough for numbers I’m desperately trying to remember. Also, using my Casio DBC-611G calculator watch (my everyday timepiece), I can keep the calculations on my wrist while freeing up my hands for writing or typing.
Casio has had some version of the calculator watch in its catalog for years now, but the recent release of the CA-53WB is a special one in that it takes inspiration from the Japanese tech brand’s very first personal calculator, the Casio Mini, from 1972.
From Calculators to Calculator Watches
Since the 1950s, Casio has been a major player in the personal calculator game. The Model 14-A was the first all-electric compact calendar when it came out in 1957 and was eventually followed up with the Casio 001 in 1965, featuring the world’s first memory function. But it was in 1972 that the company unveiled its Casio Mini, the first compact personal calculator.
According to Casio, the Mini sold one million units in just 10 months, with six million units during its initial run. At one-fourth the size of the standard model, this personal calculator could be stored in your pocket (with no phone to elbow it out of the way) and could be strapped to your backpack or wrist if you wanted.
As for calculator watches, one could say Casio was a bit slow to adopt the tech. We saw models from both Hamilton and Calcron popping up in the early-’70s, but the inaugural Casio C-80 didn’t come out until 1980. The C-80 evolved quite a bit until it landed on the CA-53 series in ‘88, which is still in production today. At its height, this watch adorned the wrist of Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II, which is more than enough for me.
Casio CA-53WB Basics
In honor of the Casio Mini calculator, the new variants of the CA-53 come in black, ivory, and blue-green — all taking after a different version of the Mini. The blue-green reminds me of the digital text on the black screens of the original Mini.
Speaking of screens, the negative LCD screen displays a gray-green text, which is a nice touch. Also, the font on the keypad, as well as its grid lines, was designed to match the font from the calculator too. To remind you of the red power light on the calculator, Casio chose the color red for the mode indicator at the upper right corner of the keypad. The cases employ a bio-resin material for a total weight of just 25g (~0.88oz). The watch case spans 43.2mm x 34.4mm, with an 8.2mm thickness — around the exact same weight and dimensions of the original CA-53s.
Other features on the watch are a stopwatch, a secondary time zone, an alarm, and a splash-resistant case. As for the calculator, it can hold up to eight digits at a time.
Spec Sheet
Case Size: 43.2mm x 34.4mm
Case Thickness: 8.2mm
Case Material: Bio-resin
Water Resistance: Splash resistant
Movement: Battery
Band: Bio-resin strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
The best part about the CA-53WB might just be its $36 price tag — meaning you could buy all three variants for just over $100 once they become available later this month. For now, head over to Casio’s website to sign up to be notified when they drop.
Recap
Casio CA-53WB Calculator Watch
Casio’s new CA-53WB calculator watches take heavy inspiration from the world’s first personal calculator, the Casio Mini, from 1972.
