Seiko vs Casio: Which is Best?

Are you wondering how to settle the Seiko vs Casio debate once and for all? Read this article and decide for yourself.

A Swiss watch brand is the first choice for many avid watch collectors. After all, the country is renowned for manufacturing high-quality mechanical watches using traditional, time-honored methods. 

But if you’re after value for money, Japanese brands like Casio and Seiko are often a better deal. Both companies promise aesthetics, technical prowess, and precision but at an affordable price. 

Casio is loved for its tech-savvy timepieces, whereas Seiko honors the tradition with some very classic models.

Rather than declaring a clear winner, this article looks to highlight the qualities worth appreciating in both brands.

First, let’s take a look at the history of these two manufacturers.

About Casio Watches

What often springs to mind when we hear the name Casio is its well-made calculators. The Japanese brand is remarkably good at making them. The brand was founded in the year 1946, beginning its story as a manufacturer of electronic products.

While today Casio is most well-known for its watches, the brand didn’t begin manufacturing watches until the 1970s.

The Casiotron came just before the futuristic-looking F100, released in 1977 — a model crafted almost entirely from resin. Casio has stuck with this reliable and lightweight style ever since. Perhaps even more famous, however, is its world-renowned G-Shock watch.

(Below: Casio Casiotron)

These utilitarian watches can withstand pretty much anything thanks to their robust constructions. 

The G-Shock courts large following, from marines to teenagers and everything in between. Casio continues to expand this line of robust models geared for the wrists of adventure-seekers and sportsmen alike.

About Seiko Watches

In 1881, Seiko became one of the largest conglomerates in Japanese horology. Today, it is one of the most globally renowned brands for manufacturing diverse watches. 

Beginning in the 1970s the quartz movement began dominating the industry. Many Swiss mechanical watch manufacturers struggled to maintain profits. During the so-called quartz crisis, Seiko began to increase in popularity.

(Below: Seiko Astron with GPS and solar-powered technology)

Seiko is still one of the leading brands in the industry for producing value-for-money watches. 

The brand has also produced continual innovative designs using Kinetic and Spring Drive technology. They combine the best of automatic and quartz accuracy. 

Today, Seiko maintains a vast catalog. For example, within the Seiko 5 and 5 Sport lines you’ll find sports watches, dress watches, and entry-level models.

On top of that, Seiko also offers the Presage and Prospex collections. The latter is where some of the world’s most famous dive watches live. These Seiko watches are also kitted out with an in-house automatic caliber. 

The brand also has a huge selection of watches under the Premier name, offering a mix of automatic and quartz models. 

Lastly, the Astron collection is home to models that connect to GPS networks, offering solar-powered iterations, too.

Which Brand Is Better, Casio or Seiko?

The Casio vs Seiko debate has been circulating amongst watch enthusiasts for decades. The truth is, there’ll never be a definitive answer that’s true for everyone. 

The question will always divide the crowd because some people swear by Seiko, and others love Casio. 

If you’re unsure which brand to lean towards when considering the Seiko vs Casio debate, comparing the following factors may help.

Style

While Seiko tends to lean towards the more traditional side of watchmaking, Casio Watches are somewhat more contemporary. 

It makes sense when you think about both brands and their histories. 

Seiko has over a century of expertise to look back on. 

Casio, on the other hand, arrived on the scene much later. The brand’s watches focus on modern aesthetics that tie in with its contribution to electronics and modern digital technology.

Whereas the elegant style of a Seiko watch wouldn’t look out of place in the boardroom, Casio Watches like the G-Shock are more robust, rugged, and modern. 

That’s not to say that Seiko only manufactures elegant dress watches, however. It’s not to say that all Casio watches are sporty, either. 

There are plenty of areas where both brands cross over. 

The key is to decide which style appeals to you most and which brand ticks the boxes you care about most.

Materials and Build

Both Casio and Seiko use a range of materials for their watches. They span from high-end to the more affordable. A Grand Seiko, for example, produces some models in 18k gold, whereas its more affordable designs are crafted from steel. 

On the other hand, Casio’s cheapest watches are plastic. Its G-Shock range, however, uses materials like carbon fiber or titanium.

(Below: Casio G-Shock 40^th Anniversary ref MRG-B2000SG-1ADR)

An essential thing to note here is that both brands produce watches that are considerably tough and damage-proof. 

Most Casio watches use a scratch-resistant mineral glass front. Even watches from the bottom end of Seiko’s catalog come with Hardlex crystal glass fronts. 

The more expensive options by both brands come with a sapphire crystal glass front – the most durable of all.

In a nutshell, both Seiko and Casio watches are on a similar page when it comes to materials and robustness. 

For general durability and outdoor use during sports, Casio has the upper hand, however. Each of its G-Shock watches is tested to its limits and has to undergo several strength and endurance tests. 

The brand’s protection against shock is industry-leading, while its water-resistant ratings are upwards of 200m.

Movements

Casio wins the durability contest, but when it comes to movements things are more complicated. 

Seiko’s portfolio is home to a huge range of movements from quartz to automatic to solar-powered and even manual-winding. The brand’s innovative Spring Drive movements, for example, combine the advantages of both quartz and automatic movements. 

Its range of solar-powered watches, on the other hand, promises exceptional battery power. Some of them need only a small amount of light to produce an extensive source of power.

Casio relies solely on quartz movements. If you want all-day and all-night accuracy, quartz is the go-to. 

You don’t have to keep the watch moving on your wrist to power the battery. Your watch also won’t require regular servicing. 

That said, quartz watches don’t tend to last as long as mechanical timepieces. Their batteries need replacing every few years, but they are cheaper. 

Casio quartz watches are at the top of their game. They will rarely lose or gain more than 15-30 seconds per month.

On the whole, if you want an automatic movement, your only choice is Seiko. Both brands offer quartz movements, with Casio offering exceptional reliability. 

Casio has experienced great success with both its analog and digital watches. It also manufactures radio-controlled models and specializes in solar-powered quartz technology.

It’s also worth noting that Seiko manufactures movements that many other brands use too. It gives you the reassurance you want when choosing a quality, affordable automatic. 

One of its most popular movements is the Caliber 7S26. Watches throughout the company’s portfolio use the 7S26m, and so do many other entry-level watches from other manufacturers.

Prices

The price of a low-budget Seiko watch can start at around $100 and reach up to $500. As mentioned, prices for Seiko watches can be much higher, especially those belonging to the Grand Seiko range. (Though remember that Grand Seiko is now a completely separate brand).

Casio watches, however, are the more budget-friendly options. These models rarely cost more than $2-300. 

If you want to explore the very top-end range of G-Shock models, however, you may encounter watches costing upwards of $1000. 

To conclude, Seiko watches generally cost more, and there is a premium price to pay for the Grand Seiko models.

Warranty

Regardless of price or model, Seiko watches all have a 3-year warranty. This covers watch defects but not damage caused by wear and tear. 

Casio, on the other hand, offers a 2-year warranty. For an additional fee, this warranty can be extended to three or more years. It will cover damage that is caused by normal wear and tear but not accidental damage. 

Just considering this factor, Seiko is probably the safer choice with a longer period of coverage.

Seiko vs Casio — What’s the Verdict?

So, which brand is better, Casio or Seiko? In truth, there is no easy way to answer that. 

Seiko offers elegant dress watches, sports models, and robust dive watches that range from affordable to high-end models. 

Casio watches are cheaper on the whole and are incredibly robust but are more modern and technical-looking. Its digital watches are an acquired taste. They are bulky and geared for exploration, extreme sports, and even military use. 

Both brands offer solar-powered options.

One thing is for sure. You can’t go wrong with either brand. You won’t lose a lot of money should you decide to switch from a Casio to a Seiko or vice versa. 

Even then, this watch holds its value incredibly well in the pre-owned market and will stand the test of time.

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