"You really understand mechanical watches." A thorough discussion of Casio's first mechanical model, released by EDIFICE!

The EDIFICE, the first Casio watch to feature a mechanical movement, was released in 2025. Members of the editorial staff at watch magazine Chronos Japan will wear the watch for a few days and discuss its usability and workmanship. Despite being in the tricky category of "mechanical watches under 10 yen," what is the true strength of this watch that has made watch enthusiasts exclaim, "You know what you're talking about!"? The panel members are Editor-in-Chief Masamasa Hirota, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Yukiya Suzuki, Editorial Department member Taketo Hosoda, and transcriptionist Chieko Tsuruoka.

Casio's first mechanical watch, the EDIFICE AUTOMATIC

Hosoda"The watch that everyone wore this time was the EDIFICE AUTOMATIC, Ref. EFK-100XPB-1A, made of forged carbon fiber from EDIFICE. It's the first mechanical model for EDIFICE, and officially the first mechanical model for a Casio watch."

Tsuruoka"The model you're wearing is the forged carbon model, but including this model, five different models have been released at the same time. In this discussion, I'd like you to not only talk about the model you're wearing, but also about other variations and the future outlook for Casio mechanical watches."

Hosoda"It's an automatic watch, and it's powered by the Cal. NH35A made by TMI (Time Module, a subsidiary of Seiko). It's a classic three-hand movement."

(I.e."Casio is posting TMI."

Hirota"The Edifice is positioned as Casio's 'next-generation international strategic watch.' The flagship Oceanus is an expensive and complicated radio-controlled watch, but the Edifice, which is also sold overseas, has chosen a simpler system that uses Bluetooth to link with a smartphone and set the time. It's also cutting-edge as a collection. So it makes sense that they would use a mechanism in the Edifice. Casio would have wanted to make a mechanism after all, and it was only natural that they would expand it overseas."

Hosoda"EDIFICE has strong ties to motorsports, and on their website they liken their movements to 'engines,' so I think this collection has a strong affinity with mechanical watches. Also, this EDIFICE feel is brought out by using forged carbon, and overall it's a very logical and cohesive watch for a first release."

Hirota"I briefly asked someone at Seiko, 'Why did Seiko (or more accurately, Seiko's affiliated company, TMI, or Time Module) supply the movement (to Casio)?' Citizen and Casio often have overlapping strategies, but that's not the case with Casio and Seiko. In fact, it seems they've had a long-standing relationship, with Seiko supplying parts and exchanging parts. That's why I think they were able to use TMI's NH35 this time. I think it was a good decision on Seiko's part."

Hosoda"So it wasn't Miyota."

(I.e."So TMI. Reasonable."

The genre of "mechanical watches under 10 yen"

Hirota"I think the genre of 'mechanical watches under 10 yen' was clearly created by the Seiko 5 Sports. For many manufacturers, this genre was perceived as 'too cheap to sell even if they made it.' But from 2011, or more precisely from 2019 onwards, the 5 Sports was successful with its promotion of 'under 10 yen, mechanical, interesting exterior.' In response to this, Citizen released the TSUYOSA, and Casio followed suit with the Edifice mechanical watch. However, because the 5 Sports was so overwhelmingly popular, Citizen tried to differentiate itself through 'color,' and while Casio also has a basic stainless steel model, it differentiated itself by emphasizing its sporty look with the forged carbon case on its Icon."

(I.e."The success of the Seiko 5 Sports in the under-10 yen mechanical watch market can be seen in part as a re-import. Its success has inspired other Japanese manufacturers to enter the market. In fact, Citizen's TSUYOSA has a good reputation overseas. Apparently, Professor Bruner (Editor's note: Gisbert L. Bruner, known as one of the world's most renowned watch journalists, has published over 20 books) and his wife both use one."

How does it feel to use?

Hosoda"What did you think of the size and how it felt to wear? This model is very compact. The case diameter is supposed to be 40mm, but you can't see it. At first, I thought it was 40mm including the crown, so I measured it with a vernier caliper, but it's 40mm without the crown. The bezel is cone-shaped, so it looks very small visually."

(I.e."It didn't feel that big when I put it on."

Tsuruoka"I wore the stainless steel model for my impressions, and it was compact even for me as a woman."

(I.e."It's well-organized."

Hirota"The case is 45mm long, 40mm in diameter, 12.5mm thick, and weighs 87g. As a package, it's put together really well. Also, like old Blancpain watches, the case tapers towards the back cover, so it doesn't feel too big."

(I.e."It's comfortable to wear. It's well made. Not bad."

Hosoda"It's light, too."

(I.e."However, I was concerned about the length of the strap. It's long. The excess tip of the sword is held in place by the strap, but if you have a thin wrist, the excess will be too long."

Hosoda"The Bamford diver's watch I was given to wear for a debate the other day also had a long strap, but the reason for that was that it could be used for diving. I don't see any reason why this one is so long."

Hirota"The reason the strap is so long is probably because it's an international strategic aircraft. It's designed for overseas use."

Hosoda"But isn't it long?"

Hirota"It's because it's worn by Germans (who have thick arms). On the other hand, I understand that they increased the number of strap holes to accommodate a wider range of users. The only thing I regret is that the strap's fixed and floating straps are quite high. When the strap is fastened, the tip of the sword floats because of the high floating strap. I wish they had made it a little tighter."

(I.e."The excess part of the strap would bounce around and it bothered me. It's true that it has a fixed and floating strap, and because it's an overseas strategic aircraft, I wish it was tighter."

Hirota"Also, although the overall finish is high, the final cut of the strap leaves a huge mark, which is very visible when wearing it on the wrist. I wish they had put more effort into this part. It's understandable considering how the strap is made, but it's a shame."

(I.e."If I had to point out one thing that I felt was disappointing, the carbon dial I reviewed this time had poor visibility when used outdoors, as the hands and indexes were buried in the water. I thought that was a shame. Carbon fiber is a cool design, though."

Hosoda"Well, it would be better if the needles were a little more visible."

Hirota"I guess they wanted to create a modern feel."

A clever cost balance

(I.e."One thing that bothered me was that the case had the words 'CASED IN CHINA' written all over it. I wondered what that meant (laughs)."

Hosoda"Does that mean Assemble is in China?"

(I.e."That's what I think. The movement is TMI, so they're probably assembling it in a factory in China."

Hosoda"In fact, the case is made in China too."

Hirota & Suzuki"I think so."

(I.e."It's to keep costs down."

Hosoda"Also, simply because Casio doesn't have any engineers who can work on mechanical movements, they can't do the casing. It's their first mechanical watch."

(I.e."That may change in future developments, for example if they move in a more upscale direction. If they stay in the current price range, they'll have to prioritize costs. However, I was wondering if writing about such things honestly is a sign of the company's stance in a good way, or a marketing strategy... It's just my opinion (laughs)."

Hosoda"It might not be in the final version (laughs)."

Tsuruoka"(Taking out other models) What do you think of the other models besides the forged carbon model? The color of the dial and the silky feel are amazing, aren't they?"

Hirota"It's the electroformed dial. Incidentally, the bracelet model and the carbon strap model fit the wrist differently. The bracelet model has a fairly steep bend in the first link, giving it a lot of play. In contrast, the strap version has less bending in the part of the strap closest to the case. In other words, the strap tends to float on slender wrists. If they increased the number of notches where the strap meets the case and increased the bending angle, it would fit better on users with thinner wrists. Looking at the package as a whole, I felt that the stainless steel bracelet was more of a product that Casio was used to making."

(I.e."Indeed, the way the bracelet falls smoothly is good for slender arms."

Hirota"Of course, the straps aren't bad either."

Tsuruoka"When I was using the stainless steel watch, I noticed some gaps between the links on the bracelet. I wonder if this is a deliberate design inherited from G-SHOCK, perhaps for durability reasons?"

Hirota"Rather than being intentional, I think it's more for price reasons? I think it's to keep costs down."

(I.e."The stainless steel bracelet model has good visibility, and the bracelet is priced at under 5 yen, so it's good value for money."

Hosoda"The forged carbon model we wore this time is priced at 74,800 yen, the forged carbon dial model is priced at 55,000 yen, and the others are priced at 49,500 yen each (all prices include tax)."

Hirota"For the price, it's a really well-made watch. The crystal is sapphire crystal (note: it doesn't have anti-reflective coating).

Hosoda"The feel of carbon is also nice. Poorly made carbon can feel rough to the touch. Another advantage is that it's dry carbon, not wet, so it's light."

Tsuruoka"Does carbon come in wet and dry versions?"

Hosoda"Resin is poured in to bind the carbon. Wet carbon is finished at this stage, whereas dry carbon is baked in a kiln to remove the moisture. Wet carbon is a bit heavier because the moisture hasn't been removed."

Hirota"The cost balance is well-balanced. Whether it's the forged carbon or stainless steel model, the indexes are expensive, but on the other hand, the date display window frame is cut off. This may be a design consideration, but it shows that costs have been reduced. I think Casio is good at this kind of balance. The crystal is sapphire crystal, and it's water resistant to 10 bar... it's also a mechanical watch that can be used without any hassle. The movement is also TMI, so it's not a big deal if it breaks."

(I.e."They're spending money where it's needed."

Tsuruoka"I also liked the three-dimensional feel of the indices on this model! There's a difference in level between the dial, the outer ring, and the indices."

Hirota"Is this part a one-piece plastic molding?"

Hosoda"That's probably it. The type where the index is attached to the outer ring. Casio has this mold."

(Editor's note: After the discussion, we contacted Casio and they told us that the ring around the dial and the indices are made of metal, with the ring shaped like comb teeth, onto which the indices are fastened.)

(I.e."It's great that they're using existing technology to create a three-dimensional effect."

Hosoda"The plastic molding technology that Casio has cultivated up until now has been applied to its first mechanical model."

(I.e."It was groundbreaking and shocking that Casio had released a mechanical watch... A certain overseas dignitary completely denied it, saying that 'Casio's production of mechanical watches is a marketing mistake,' but we don't think it's a bad thing to be able to buy a good watch for under 10 yen."

Hirota"Speaking of the dial, another key point is that the indices are three-dimensional, so you don't notice the height of the hands. The NH35 has a movement with large hands. It's a practical watch, so it's only natural, but they stand out when viewed from the side."

(I.e."The know-how we've cultivated through G-SHOCK and OCEANUS is being put to good use in many areas."

What was it that made Hirota say, "You're amazing"?

Hirota"The markings on the back of the dial made me think, 'Casio really knows how to make watches.' They're properly set to match the vibration frequency of the movement."

Hosoda"NH35 has 21,600 vibrations per hour, so that's six vibrations per second."

(I.e."There are two small markings between the seconds markings. It's amazing. Even in Switzerland, there are watches that don't make this. The markings and the vibration frequency don't match."

Hirota"The frequency is set to 21,600 vibrations per hour for the NH35, and the markings below the second line are aligned with the hour hand. Casio really gives off the impression of 'understanding mechanical watches and making them.' It's like, 'You've got to be smart!' (laughs)"

(I.e."That's a good, geeky perspective (laughs). It suits webChronos readers."

Hosoda"Now that Casio's first mechanical watch has been released, I wanted to ask the head of development at Casio, 'I imagine that there are many restrictions that arise because it's mechanical, but conversely, are there any restrictions that have been removed because it's mechanical?'"

(I.e."I'd like to interview him in the future. As Hirota always says, it's possible to turn heavy hands that are difficult to turn with quartz because of the weak force required, and that this advantage is reflected in the texture of the hands."

Hirota"Mechanical movements have a lot of torque, so being able to mount three-dimensional hands was a big advantage. Casio was one of the first Japanese manufacturers to use thick hands in a quartz movement, but there were probably limitations when it came to creating a three-dimensional effect. Perhaps to get away with that, the hands on the Edifice are very three-dimensional."

(I.e."That's one thing quartz couldn't do."

The outlook for Casio mechanical watches

Hirota"There are some areas that need to be refined, but the packaging is not bad. They've done a good job of balancing costs where they need to be and cutting back where they need to. And the seconds markings on the dial subtly show that they understand mechanical watches."

(I.e."That's clever."

Tsuruoka"When I first saw this model at an exhibition, I thought it might be difficult to make it into the current market. First of all, I didn't know who the buyers were. How will Casio's mechanical watches be accepted in the market in the future? Will they compete with the Seiko 5 Sports for users?"

Hirota"There are still many unknowns about the 'mechanical watch under 10 yen' genre, but there is potential. Japanese manufacturers have been selling inexpensive mechanical watches overseas. But when you add the element of luxury goods, no one knew for a long time whether the genre of inexpensive mechanical watches would be viable. However, with the success of the Seiko 5 Sports, people in the industry are starting to realize that 'there is actually quite a lot of demand, isn't there?' Of course, there are still many unknowns, but I think there is potential. At the very least, Swiss manufacturers will not be able to enter this price range. In other words, it will be a monopoly."

Hosoda"By the way, if Casio is going to handle mechanical watches in the future, I have a word of advice... and that is how to handle sample watches (Editor's note: these are the watches loaned out for projects like this). The sample watches that Casio borrows are often quite damaged. G-SHOCKs are tough, so that's fine, but if you handle mechanical watches roughly, the regulator needle can fly off or they can become magnetized without you realizing it, so I think it would be best to change your perception. Oh, and please be careful about how you write articles about this (laughs)."

Hirota"Looking at the quality of Casio's first mechanical watch, especially the packaging, I got the impression that Casio is no longer just making do with mechanics, but is serious about it. I think things will get even more interesting in the future."

Hosoda"However, the extent to which Casio can prepare the necessary personnel and systems (for the manufacture and sale of mechanical watches) will be an issue that Casio faces in the future."