Review: CASIO EFK-100D-7A – The first automatic from Casio was it a triumph or tragedy?
Note: I appreciate that this is a late-to-the-party review, as the original EFK100 was released back in 2025. Casio has since updated this version with the EFK110 and has recently announced the EFK200. However, as this was the first, I thought it was worth sharing my thoughts. Plus, I can only review what I have! đ
Review Score: âď¸âď¸âď¸ââ (3 out of 5)
âCasio: a name known all over the world. Whenever I hear it, Iâm always taken back to my early school daysâa time when wristwatches didn’t deliver messages or track steps, and smartphones weren’t even a thing. Our phonesâ only games were Snake, and custom ringtones had to be manually programmed note by note. In fact, one of my greatest childhood achievements was recreating an almost note-perfect version of Blink-182âs “All the Small Things” on a Sony Ericsson flip phone!
Back then, digital watches were our smartwatches. They had alarms, stopwatches, countdown timers, lap timers, and some even had calculators (invaluable when snuck into math exams). A backlit screen allowed you to check just how far past your curfew you really were, letting you gauge exactly how much trouble you were in so you could start crafting an excuse. You could even impress your friends simply by checking the time in New York or Tokyo.
The classic, ultra-affordable F91W was a common sight, and classrooms were filled with single-tone “beeps” as buttons were pressed to cycle through small LCD menus.
Over time, those classic digitals have remained a staple in watch collections worldwide. Casio has evolved, too, continuing to produce classic affordable analog watchesâthe Duro being a shining example.
Theyâve also expanded into distinct lines like the ever-popular G-Shock, and, of course, the Edifice series. Edifice represents Casioâs premier sports watch line, designed around a philosophy of “Speed and Intelligence” that blends watchmaking technology with motorsport-inspired aesthetics. It seemed like the perfect range for Casio to accomplish something they had never done in their entire 50-year history of watchmaking: release a line of automatic watches.
The EFK-100 range launched in [Month, Year] across [X] different dial variants. As a watch enthusiast, I was keen; I felt like I needed one in my collection to own a piece of historyâa Casio automatic. Beyond that, I wanted the version I knew not many people would have. Upon its initial release, the white-dial EFK100D-7A wasn’t available in the UK, but it could be imported from Japan. My mind was made up, and no import fees were going to stop me.
When it first arrived, I loved it. Despite numerous reviews panning itâclaiming it was overpriced, lacked presence, and suffered from quality control issuesâI brushed the criticism off as typical “Casio hate” from people who just didn’t want to enjoy something different.
However, as time has gone on, Iâve come to see their point. The watch is okay: the dial looks nice and it wears reasonably well, but it doesn’t stand out. I rarely find myself reaching for it. It remains in my collection because it still feels like a unique piece of history, and don’t get me wrong, it isn’t a bad watch. But those other reviewers were rightâit is average. I got caught up in the hype for a watch that never sold out or became the “next big thing.” To top it off, Casio eventually released the white dial option directly in the UK anyway.
Iâve mentioned this timepiece across my social channels and journal posts. While I still like the watch, buying it remains one of my biggest purchasing regretsâespecially considering the added import fees. It provided my first real lesson in watch collecting: impulse buying can be an expensive habit.
That being said, there are still aspects of the watch I enjoy, and I do wear it occasionally. Letâs dive into the details.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Clean White Dial: Excellent legibility and high contrast with sharp hands and applied indices that catch the light well.
- Historical Significance: Represents a unique milestone as part of Casioâs first-ever entry into automatic watches.
- Decent Water Resistance: 100 meters of water resistance gives solid peace of mind for daily splash protection and swimming.
Cons
- Awkward Date Window: Small, lackluster date placement at 6 o’clock interrupts the otherwise clean dial aesthetic.
- Lacks the “Spark”: Fails to deliver that emotional connection or tactile charm that makes you want to stop and look down at your wrist.
- Uneven Weight Distribution: The lightweight bracelet causes the watch head to carry most of the mass, making it feel heavy by the end of a long day.
Specifications
| Movement | Seiko NH35A |
| Case Diameter | 39mm |
| Case Thickness | 12mm |
| Lug Width | 12mm (integrated) |
| Case Material | Stainless Steel |
| Crystal | Sapphire Crystal |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Bracelet | Stainless Steel H-Link Bracelet |
| Lume | Hands are (just barely) Lumed at the tips. |
| Complications | Date Window at 6 O’Clock |
Design
Visually, the EFK-100D-7A is a solid-looking piece. The standout feature is undoubtedly the white dialâit has a clean, crisp finish that catches the light well, with applied indices that give it a bit of depth. The hands and markers are sharp, offering high contrast against the bright backdrop, making legibility excellent in day-to-day wear. The dial looks good; the almost carbon-infused patterning shifts nicely from white to silver in different lights. It looks great; it’s clean but just interesting enough to draw the eye.
However, the date window at 6 o’clock feels a bit lackluster. It sits on the smaller side and feels slightly untidy, failing to match the watchâs clean overall aesthetic. Personally, I feel the watch would have been better off without it.
The case follows classic integrated-bracelet sports watch proportions. It mixes brushed surfaces along the top with polished bevels along the flanks, which adds a subtle premium touch. Although the case measures 39mm in diameter, it wears larger on the wrist. At roughly 12mm thick, it carries a fair bit of wrist presence, sometimes sitting high enough that you always know you’re wearing it.
The bracelet features a standard three-link design with predominantly brushed finishing. While it looks the part from a distance, handling it reveals where costs were managed: the links feel a bit lighter than you might expect for a watch at this price point, and the clasp is fairly standard pressed steel. Overall, itâs an attractive design on paper, but in hand, it lacks that extra bit of finishing weight that makes a design feel truly dynamic or premium.
Performance
Smooth Engine, Missed Execution. Under the hood, the EFK-100D-7A runs on a Seiko NH35A movement. I’ll let that sit for a moment: a Casio with a Seiko movement. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a reliable standard automatic movement with a 40-hour power reserve and hacking/hand-winding capabilities. In daily wear, it keeps solid timeârunning well within acceptable limits for a daily driver. The winding action through the crown feels smooth enough, and the sweeping second hand gives you that satisfying mechanical movement you simply don’t get from a standard quartz Edifice.
Given that this was Casioâs first foray into automatic watches, I understand why they opted for the NH35A (or NH34 series). It makes sense to utilize a tried-and-tested movement to gauge market interest before throwing massive investment into manufacturing an in-house automatic caliber. At the very least, the rotor is customized and branded with the Edifice and Casio names.
Where the performance stumbles is in the execution of the hardware. The crown is unbranded and feels a bit smaller than it should be, making it slightly fiddly to pull out and adjust the time or date. Water resistance is rated at 100 meters, which provides plenty of peace of mind for daily splashes and swimming, but the watch lacks a screw-down crownâa feature many enthusiasts expect at this price point.
Then thereâs the lume. While the hands and indices do have a luminous coating, itâs noticeably weak. It charges up under direct light, but it fades far too quickly in the dark, leaving legibility in low-light conditions fairly poor.
Ultimately, the movement itself is a reliable workhorse that does its job without fuss, but the surrounding hardware choices keep the overall performance from feeling like a true step up for the Edifice line.
On The Wrist
Comfortable, but Hard to Love. On paper, the EFK-100 is actually a surprisingly comfortable wear. The lug-to-lug distance is reasonable, allowing the case to hug the top of the wrist without any awkward overhang. At roughly 12mm thick, it slides under a shirt cuff easily enough, making it a viable option for both everyday office wear and casual weekends.
I often include this watch as part of my office rotation, but I frequently notice that by the end of the day, it begins to feel a bit heavy. That comes down to the weight distribution, which is a bit of a mixed bag: because the integrated-style bracelet feels quite light, the watch head carries most of the mass. It never feels uncomfortably top-heavy, but you are always aware that the weight isn’t evenly balanced around your wrist. The bracelet drapes reasonably well without pulling hairs, but the stamped clasp lacks micro-adjustments, meaning finding that absolute “sweet spot” fit can take some trial and error.
In day-to-day use, legibility is fantastic thanks to the high-contrast white dial, and it sits flat enough that it doesn’t bump into doorframes or desk edges. But this is where the emotional side of wearing a watch comes in: while it fits fine and wears comfortably, it just lacks that tactile “spark.” It sits on the wrist like a perfectly functional, completely average watchâcomfortable enough to forget youâre wearing it, but without the charm that makes you constantly want to pull back your sleeve to take another look.
Final Thoughts
My opinion on this watch is still split. On one hand, it still feels like a bit of a collector’s item. One of Casio’s first automatic watches, a little piece of history on the wrist. However, remove that statement and grandeur, and the EFK100 is an average automatic watch.
The dial looks great with the carbonesque pattern keeps it interesting and makes it stand out. The overall finishing of the watch is solid and feels good, but there are drawbacks: the bracelet could be better, the clasp is basic, and the date window looks unrefined. All in all its a good solid watch, but at around ÂŁ270, is it as good as, say, a Seiko or Citizen equivalent? I would say no, it’s not.
I am, and always will be, a big fan of Casio; it’s a staple of my collection, and my go-to affordable brand. However, as much as I first enjoyed this automatic, once the hype wears off, it’s just an ok watch. That being said, it’s still in my collection and still gets the occasional wear.
Want a different take on Casio’s first automatic? Check out In The Loupes Unboxing and First Impressions video, or want to check out a review of the newer EFK110? Then 2 Broke Watch Snobs has you covered.
