SLEEPER OF THE VINTAGE

Casio is making vintage great again as its early designs are making a tsunami of a comeback among celebrities and trendsetters. We investigate its resurgent appeal.

- WORDS SUFFIAN HAKIM PHOTOS CASIO

IN THE WINE INDUSTRY, there's a phrase that brings joy to producers and epicures alike: 'sleeper of the vintage'.

This phrase describes a wine that performed surprisingly better than its peers in a specific year, or an entire vintage that was initially considered unimpressive but aged better than expected.

Right now, there are several Casio models having their own 'sleeper of the vintage' moment, and they are, coincidentally from the Casio Vintage collection. Casio Vintage is thriving, marketed as a “movement” that offers character and simplicity in a digital world.

And it's leaving a massive mark on popular culture, with several celebrities wearing the watches on their own accord. Polish football superstar Robert Lewandowski famously wore the sleek gold-plated A158WETG-9A at the 2022 Ballon D'Or awards.

In 2023's popular black comedy film Saltburn, the main character, played by Barry Keoghan, wears a vintage-style digital stainless steel Casio watch, integrating the humble timepiece into a high-fashion aesthetic.

The Casio Vintage line—nay, movement—has also given us collaboration models inspired by pop culture phenomena: Stranger Things and