hen you want to wear a legend, but your wrists are already out of real estate, the Japanese watch industry finds an unexpected way out. Casio is getting ready to launch the CRW-002 model in November — a shrunken version of the iconic A168 digital watch built in a ring form factor. According to CasioBlog, the price tag for the new gadget will sit right around $135. The idea is dead simple: take a recognizable design from the past, squash it down to the size of a signet ring, and sell pure nostalgia for the price of a decent smartwatch.
The inspiration comes straight from the classic Casio A168, whose unmistakable design cues have been squeezed into a tiny housing. You are not just getting a miniature display; you are buying a souvenir from the past where even the band of the ring mimics the metal bracelet of a classic Casio watch. This piece will be manufactured using metal injection molding.
What the tiny ring can actually do
Despite its microscopic dimensions, the CRW-002 packs a set of features straight out of a normal digital watch. The manufacturer managed to cram electronics capable of performing real tasks into that tiny body.
The new gadget displays the time in two time zones at once and supports both 12- and 14-hour formats (wait, 12- and 24-hour formats). Hidden inside you will also find a 60-minute stopwatch, a calendar, and an LED display backlight.
A standout feature is the Time Flash function. It automatically turns on the backlight at the start of every hour, as well as at specific moments set by the owner.
In practice, the ring functions not just as a miniature watch, but as a glowing reminder. What we have here is an amusing toy for anyone ready to drop one hundred and thirty-five dollars on a gadget you will need a magnifying glass to read.
Key takeaways
For $135 you get a pricey souvenir with the design of a cult watch strapped to your finger, not a practical tool. This device is purely for brand loyalists willing to put up with a microscopic screen for the sake of nostalgia.