Casio unveiled the TRN-50, a limited-edition timepiece that pays homage to the Casiotron QW02, the world’s first digital watch with an automatic calendar function. This release, limited to just 4,000 units worldwide, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Casio’s foray into the watch industry.
The original Casiotron, launched in 1974, represented a significant breakthrough in watch technology, leveraging Casio’s digital innovations from its calculator business to introduce the concept of a fully automatic wristwatch. It was distinguished by its ability to not only keep time but also automatically adjust its calendar for different month lengths, a pioneering feature that redefined user expectations of digital wristwatches.
Fast forward to today, the TRN-50 embodies the spirit and ingenuity of the original Casiotron, blending vintage design cues with contemporary technological advancements.
While it mirrors the iconic aesthetic of its predecessor, including the distinctive dark blue face and CASIOTRON logo, the TRN-50 integrates modern features such as radio-controlled time adjustment, solar charging, and Mobile Link functions for smartphone pairing.
The reimagined TRN-50 offers practical enhancements, including a super-twisted nematic (STN) LCD for improved readability and a Tough Solar charging system, ensuring longevity and reliability. It is capable of receiving time calibration signals from six stations worldwide and offers Bluetooth® connectivity for seamless smartphone pairing, ensuring accurate timekeeping anywhere in the world.
Casio has meticulously recreated the original watch’s exterior, maintaining its dimensions while upgrading the quality to meet today’s standards.
The case and band exhibit sophisticated textures, with the case top featuring a grind-mark finish and the sides a mirror finish, just like the original. The band combines separate hairline and mirror finishes, and the screw-lock case back carries the design motif of the original, complete with an engraved serial number for each piece in this limited edition.
In celebration of this landmark anniversary, Casio has ensured that the TRN-50’s packaging is made from paper materials to minimize environmental impact, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability alongside innovation.
Priced at $699, the Casio 50th Anniversary watch TRN-50-2ADR will be available for pre-order from February 28th, 2024, on Casio’s official website. Find out more about the Casio 50th Anniversary and the TRN-50 here. To re-order click here.
