Casio Expands its Mechanical Range with the CMK-100 Collection, an Accessible, Compact Titanium Explorer-Style Watch

For many years, Casio has been exclusively known for its quartz and digital watches. Indeed, in over 50 years of watchmaking, Casio has never produced a mechanical watch… Until last year, with the introduction of a game-changing collection, the Edifice EFK-100 Automatic, the first-ever mechanical offering from the brand. Accessible and pretty nice in design, there were no real doubts regarding Casio’s intention to compete with its compatriots, Citizen and Seiko, thus breaking the decade-old Japanese duopoly. Casio now expands its automatic range with the new CMK-100 Collection, a lineup of 5 watches with titanium cases, cool field watch cues (and some undeniable inspirations…), compact dimensions, a solid list of specs and a (very) fair price.  

After the sporty, integrated-style Edifice EFK-100, Casio is back with its third (there was indeed another Edifice collection, the EFK200) mechanical collection, this time looking at the field, exploration design. At first, the 5 watches from the CMK-100 collection look classic on paper, with a design that is not without recalling that of a Tudor Ranger or other typical watches from the field category. Now that we’ve taken the obvious resemblances out of the equation, let’s look at what this new range has under the hood.

First, we’re looking at watches made of titanium, which is rare in this super-accessible category. The case, compact at 38mm in diameter, is also relatively thin and short – 11.4mm and 44.7mm in thickness and lug-to-lug. The case is available in different versions, either natural titanium (for three models) or ion-plated in dark grey or rose gold. All models also benefit from a titanium carbide (TiC) coating to enhance abrasion resistance. Finally, some notable features: screwed caseback, screw-down crown and sapphire crystal. Again, a combination of features that isn’t always present in this price range. Water-resistance is rated at a comfortable 100m. The design, as said, is all traditional, with a wide flat-top bezel, a knurled crown and nice polished accents on the edge of the bezel and the case. There’s a bit of Tudor Ranger, a bit of Serica Field… It certainly isn’t the most singular design, but it all works pretty well.

The same can be said about the dial, again playing on classic codes of the genre. The dial is embossed with a strong grained texture as well as a combination of baton markers and Arabic numerals – which seem to have a nice 3D effect, and are all coated in luminous material. Depending on the version, the dial can be black with white lume, dark grey (on the grey-coated model), black with vintage lume or brown (on the rose gold-coated version). The pencil hands are equally lumed and have a brushed effect, and a date sits classically on a white disc at 3 o’clock.

Inside the case, the Casio CMK-100 Titanium Field Automatic relies on an undisclosed Japanese automatic movement. That said, we’re talking about a 21-jewel movement running at 3Hz, and boasting 42 hours of power reserve. All seems to indicate a Miyota 8215, a shift from the Seiko NH35 used in the Edifice EFK-100. A solid movement with a good reputation that will do its job trouble-free.

Finally, and again depending on the version, Casio associates its CMK-100 with either a titanium bracelet (CMK-100TD-1A), a cloth strap (CMK-100TC-1A and CMK-100TCC-8A) or a leather strap (CMK-100TL-1A and CMK-100TCL-5A). The full titanium watch weighs 98 grams, and the versions on a strap weigh 55 grams.

Now available worldwide from authorised retailers, the Casio CMK-100 Titanium Field Automatic collection is priced from EUR 299 (black dial, nylon strap) up to EUR 399 for the version on bracelet. For more details, please visit www.casio.com.