The sub-$150 tier is where Casio does some of its most likable work. While the spotlight usually lands on G-Shock collabs and heritage digital reissues, the brand keeps turning out simple steel analog watches that are truly affordable and ask nothing of you. The latest example spent over a year overseas before finally making the trip stateside. Casio has now released the MTP-B146 series in the US, with three models pulled straight from a customer vote.
The MTP-B146 line debuted internationally back in 2024, and this past April, Casio put five variants up for a vote through its Casio Lab Showcase to gauge US interest. The three winners are what we’re getting: the MTP-B146D-1AV with a black dial, the MTP-B146D-2AV in light blue, and the MTP-B146G-3AV, which pairs a green dial with a gold ion-plated case and bracelet. The steel models come in at $110, while the gold version runs $130.
The signature feature here is the day window at 12 o’clock, which spells out the full day of the week rather than the usual three-letter abbreviation. It joins a standard date aperture at 3 o’clock, applied stick markers, and elongated sword hands. Some coverage has framed the day display as a move that pushes the watch further into dress territory. I’d argue the opposite. A big day-name window is pure office-utility charm, closer to the department store day-dates of the 1980s than anything you’d call formal. It gives the watch character, and character usually reads casual.
Sizing should work for a lot of wrists. The case measures 35mm in diameter and 40.8mm lug-to-lug, with a slim 8mm profile and brushed surfaces set against a polished bezel. Compared to the MTP-B145 from 2024, the lug-to-lug reportedly grows from 40mm and the thickness from 7.4mm, so the day complication cost almost nothing in bulk. The rest of the punch list is standard Casio fare: quartz movement, mineral glass, 50m of water resistance, an 85 gram steel bracelet with a one-touch three-fold clasp, and a claimed three years of life from a single SR920SW battery. Casio rates accuracy at about 20 seconds per month.
Starting at $110, this territory is crowded with Casio’s own catalog, from the A168 to the endless MTP-VD models that sell for half as much. What the B146 offers over those is a little more finishing effort and a complication you don’t see often at this price. Whether the full day spelled out across the top of the dial reads as charming or gimmicky probably depends on the buyer. All three models are available now on Casio’s US site, and it’ll be interesting to see whether the vote-driven rollout becomes a pattern for how Casio brings its overseas catalog here. I actually like the colors we got here in the U.S. and I’d probably snag the black dial if I was in the market for one.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.