The biggest challenge with this feature was ensuring it did not turn into a Casio-fest. And that's not because I don't like Casio, quite the opposite. I am a huge fan, but thinking outside the box on at least a few models was important when looking at the wider digital world.
As you will see, in this far from prescriptive list, digital does not translate to cheap. Yes, you can pick up a cracking digital watch for less than £10, which we showcase here, but equally, you could part with over £5000 if you go all in and plan on spending your vacation in the International Space Station.
All these watches have fundamentally the same functions and do what you would expect of a decent digital watch; all be it with their unique spin on the basic concept.
Casio F-91W
Casio F-91W - Credit WatchGecko
We start with a legend. In 1989, Casio set out to shake up the lucrative entry-level end of the digital market by creating a legible, durable, accurate, cheap watch for the masses that could meet all daily needs. The result was the fabulous F-91W, designed by a young Ryusuke Moriai in his first foray for Casio. He would go on to be their Chief Designer and specialise in G-Shock.
The production F-91W was designed around a new longer-life battery, with the diminutive case measuring 38.2 x 35.2 x 8.5 mm and weighing just 21 grams. The shell was made of black resin, with a stainless-steel case back and push buttons. The strap was also resin. The watch featured a 1/100-second stopwatch with a cut-off at 59:59.99 minutes. Illumination was provided by a tiny green LED microlight with minimal drain on the battery. The classic Module 593 was powered by a single CR2016 cell.
Casio F-91W - Credit WatchGecko
The F-91W is a world away from my typical analogue COSC daily wear, but it is in every measurable way a fantastic and fun watch, which can sit proudly in any watch collection. It is one of the rare occasions when, as a watch writer, I can confidently urge a purchase!
Casio GA-2100 "CasiOak"
Casio GA-2100 "CasiOak" - Credit WatchGecko
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The watch that broke the internet (including our YouTube channel). If you are unfamiliar with the CasiOak series, I suggest you look it up now to understand the sheer amount of traffic it received on its 2019 release. Why was it such a hit? The GA-2100 Casio bore more than a passing resemblance to an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, which you will be all too aware is a high-end piece of craftsmanship with a famous octagonal bezel based on the outer hatch of a diving helmet. The CasiOak has the same 8-sided bezel design, and it is no surprise that significant parallels were drawn between the external appearance of the two watches.
Casio actually distanced themselves from the link. Nevertheless, the moniker of "CasiOak" stuck and the GA-2100 will forever be known as such. If you are a seasoned G-Shock wearer, these watches will surprise you. They are noticeably slim and light and represent a seed change in how some G's are built using the latest Carbon Core technology.
Casio GA-2100 "CasiOak" - Credit WatchGecko
Unsurprisingly, Casio deployed a special edition GA-2100 for G-Shock's 40th Anniversary celebrations. When you have a watch that sold out overnight and "broke" the internet, you would want to keep capitalizing on it. Even in 2023, new editions appear, including a metal variant that looks even more like the AP. I can't lie, I wasn't the greatest fan of the GA-2100 when it came out, I shied away from the massive hype but over the years I have come to appreciate its design and even embrace it. It was the first of the new generation of G's like the current GA-2200M and deserves its Top 5 place.
Omega X-33 Speedmaster
Omega X-33 Speedmaster - Credit Watches of Lancashire
One of the more divisive Omegas of all time, and some argue a stretch too far of the classic Speedmaster name. Yet this watch is a thoroughbred NASA and ESA-qualified Omega with as much (if not more) zero-G time as any professional space watch. While the X-33 may lack the glamour of an analogue Apollo-era Speedmaster, it is about as high-end as a digital watch can get and, arguably, is one of the most functional and valuable watches ever to accompany an astronaut. It offers an exceptionally advanced quartz heart powering a combination analogue/digital dial with numerous space flight-friendly functions controlled by an intelligent crown.
The most helpful astronaut functions on the current X-33 are programs that measure Phased Elapsed Time (PET) and Mission Elapsed Time (MET). MET could be the time since the commencement of an EVA or even the whole mission.
Omega X-33 Speedmaster - Credit Watches of Lancashire
PET is the time to a predetermined event or the time since that event occurred which can also be defined as negative and positive time. Perhaps of little value to Earth-bound mortals, but exceptionally useful when spacewalking outside the ISS to measure egress and ingress times. Complex stuff, it may be, but these functions and the fact that Tom Stafford (Apollo 10) designed the X-33, definitely help this Omega be one of the most significant digital watches of all time.
Superb pre-owned X-33s are available and very sought after. The ESA still has early-generation watches, making them a fine addition to a space watch collection. Our images are used with the kind permission of Watches of Lancashire, who currently have this stunning model.
Garmin Forerunner 55
Garmin Forerunner 55 - Credit Guest Author
We seldom cover "smart" watches in the Magazine, but the significant useability and proliferation of Garmins merit inclusion in my Top 5 list of digital watches. If a simple analogue Field Watch is not your choice, then a model like the Garmin 55 will most likely be. As I've stated before for the WatchGecko Magazine, I'm lucky to live in a mountainous part of the UK. It is beautiful walking territory, and certain brands seem to walk past my window daily: Berghaus, North Face and many Garmins.
Unlike many watches of this style, the Forerunner 55 is only 42mm in diameter, so it is sized more like a conventional tool watch. Yet within that relatively small case lies a vast array of features that will prove invaluable to those who embrace the outdoors. There is quick acquisition of GPS mapping technology, bio-metric measuring, distance and activity tracking. The watch oozes robust functionality, allowing it to sit nicely against more conventional G-Shocks yet providing more critical programs. With pedigree from the brand that brought us the excellent FENIX range, the Forerunner has a solid foundation to be one of the best outdoor smart digital watches on the market.
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E - Credit WatchGecko
Based on the first DW-5000 G-Shock, my DW-5600E is the quintessential digital watch. It is an evolution of the formative model, looking remarkably like it but with more advanced technology.
Forget about the functions that the watch has; they are the same as any other digital watch. It is the look of this watch that people crave. DW-5600 has the classic square look that appeals to a specific demographic buyer. It is precisely how a G-Shock should look. Honestly, I had a problem initially with the GA-2100 CasiOak because it looked so different from my (admittedly narrow) view of a G-Shock. G-Shocks, to me, were square, functional units that sat on your wrist and were subjected to rough treatment in a desert or a jungle. The thought of having one as a fashion watch hadn't occurred to me. Thankfully, I have evolved beyond this archaic view and now thoroughly embrace the CasiOak, but I still see the DW 5600 as the perfect G-Shock, maybe even the perfect digital watch.
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E - Credit WatchGecko
The style and ethos of the concept is timeless. Whilst some of the more modern G shocks may date and look in 10 years' time "a bit 2023", I would wager my last pound that the DW-5600 will still be in production with a design unchanged.
