If you’re a fan of rock music, particularly guitarists, Tomoyasu Hotei is a name that probably needs no introduction. He is a Japanese musician who has performed with David Bowie and recorded with Iggy Pop, as well as building a career of his own as a co-founder of the iconic Japanese rock band BOØWY. Casio has translated his recognizable GUITARHYTHM graphics into a G-SHOCK watch to celebrate his 45th anniversary as an artist.

The HOTEI 45th Anniversary G-SHOCK GUITARHYTHM Model applies the gray geometric pattern associated with the musician to both the face and the resin strap of a square G-SHOCK watch. This makes the watch a coordinated graphic object, so its identity is visible along the wrist rather than only when you’re looking at the display. It’s a collectible for fans of Hotei, but it could also appeal to those who like a restrained design palette that still brings personality to their choice of watch.

Designer: Casio

The watch itself lets the geometric pattern provide the visual energy. Instead of relying on bright colors, this collaboration brings together pattern, contrast, and the relationship between metal and resin. You get a stainless steel bezel around a resin case, giving the brand’s familiar square form a different execution from an all-resin watch. The black ion plating keeps the bezel visually connected to both the dark strap and face.

The watch has a red LED backlight that serves as a color accent when activated, with an afterglow function that keeps the display illuminated briefly after you release the button. The case back carries the GUITARHYTHM mark associated with Hotei, while the strap keeper has “45TH” printed on it, a detail with particular meaning for fans of the Japanese musician.

That pattern has a history beyond this anniversary. According to Hotei’s official biography, he created his geometric design as a teenager, and it has since appeared on merchandise and household goods. Carrying it across the strap makes sense here: there’s more room for the artwork than on the face alone. The dedicated packaging also carries the GUITARHYTHM pattern, extending the visual identity to the box. For a gift, that coordinated presentation adds something before the watch even reaches the wrist.

Underneath the graphics, you still get practical digital watch functions, including a stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm, and automatic calendar. Casio specifies shock-resistant construction and 20-bar water resistance, along with approximately five years of battery life. That means you won’t have another device to put on a charger every few days, while the timing tools give you reasons to use it beyond checking the time.

For readers who want music merchandise they can actually use, that’s the appeal. You can carry a connection to an artist without needing a concert occasion to wear it. The gray-on-black treatment also lets the watch express that connection without making a bright logo the main event. Still, the commemorative graphics are the reason to choose this particular version over a plainer digital watch.

The model, numbered GM-5600HT26-1JR, was detailed in Hotei’s October 7, 2026, announcement and is scheduled for general release in Japan in December. Its Japanese price is ¥36,300, including tax. A second Hotei store preorder window is scheduled for November 25–30, with those orders expected to begin shipping in early December. Those dates are planned availability, rather than confirmation that the watch is already shipping. The anniversary markings will mean the most to fans. The patterned strap is what gives the watch a broader design appeal, carrying Hotei’s visual identity beyond a small logo on the face.

The post Hotei’s G-SHOCK Brings Bold Graphics Without Bright Colors first appeared on Yanko Design.

I’m so used to wearing a watch, whether as a health tracker or just a way to tell time without looking at my phone. But sometimes I wish I could wear something that isn’t on my wrist. There are times I’d rather wear a bracelet instead or just keep my wrist free and unencumbered. There are ring health trackers available now, but I’d still want a watch or something that resembles one. If you’re a fan of the Casio A168, you’ll be happy to know that Casio has made a version for your finger.

The Casio CRW-002 Ring Watch is a finger-scale version of the iconic A168, so you can wear it as a piece of jewelry while still keeping many of the original watch’s features. It’s an alternative for those who prefer something smaller but still want familiar watch functions, especially telling time.

Designer: Casio

Casio used metal injection molding, or MIM, to reproduce the intricate case and band shapes in stainless steel. The glossy case contrasts with the matte-finished band, carrying over details that make it recognizable as a tiny Casio. I like that the design keeps the look of a watch bracelet rather than turning the display into a plain metal ring.

The electronics are a separate part of that shrinking process. Casio says high-density mounting technology and a miniature battery make the module approximately one-tenth the size of a standard watch module. It’s still able to retain three buttons and a six-digit display that shows hours, minutes, and seconds. You also get dual time, an automatic calendar, a 12/24-hour format, and a 1/100-second stopwatch.

The case measures 25.2 × 18.2 × 6.2 mm, and the ring weighs 15 grams. Those numbers give you an idea of the scale, although they don’t tell us how comfortable it will be throughout the day. I’d want to know how the case feels against neighboring fingers and how easy those tiny buttons are to use.

There’s also an LED backlight and a Time Flash feature that produces a subtle pulse at a preset time or at the top of every hour. Casio describes Time Flash as entertainment rather than a dependable alert, and the light may be difficult to see in bright conditions. It’s a playful detail, but I wouldn’t rely on it for reminders.

You don’t lose water resistance entirely, but its limits matter. Casio rates it for daily-use water resistance, while the manual specifically excludes handwashing, swimming, and water-related work. You’ll need to remove it before washing your hands or using soap and detergent. That might seem like a small inconvenience for something like this, but it’s worth thinking about if you want a ring you can put on and forget about.

Fit is another thing to check before buying. The ring comes in a US size 10.5, with a 20 mm inner diameter. Two included spacers reduce that diameter to 19 mm or 18 mm. The bracelet-like detailing doesn’t mean you can adjust it like a wristwatch, so those three fit options won’t necessarily work for everyone. That’s something I’d want to try in person rather than guess from measurements.

Casio estimates approximately two years of battery life, so there’s no regular charging routine. The battery is replaceable, although the manual says replacement requires special tools and should be handled by the original retailer or an authorized Casio service center. For the US, Casio announced November 2026 availability, with the silver version priced at $135 and the gold-tone version at $155.

For me, the appeal is still being able to leave my wrist free without giving up a watch face. I’d need to get the fit right and decide whether taking it off at the sink would become annoying. But I do like the idea of choosing a bracelet for my wrist and letting a miniature Casio handle the timekeeping on my finger.

The post Casio’s Tiny Ring Watch Keeps Time Without a Wrist Strap first appeared on Yanko Design.

Without a doubt, the Casio F-91W is a legendary timepiece that is still available to buy for $20. While the digital watch has retained its nostalgic charm all these years, it is indeed a little left behind when it comes to smart functionality. Casio is set to change that now with the F-B100W timepiece, which adapts the modern functions expected in a smart timekeeper. The classic 1980s digital watch in the rectangular silhouette, upgraded with the goodness of step counting – I’ll take that any day!

On the outside, this Casio timepiece looks like the trusted F-91W, but inside it has more to offer, making it a sweet deal. For now, the watch is available in Japan for ¥8,800 (around $55), and it’s not surprising it has already been sold out, at least for now. That’s almost double the price tag of the original, which is still up for $22, but you’ll also have to factor in the generational leap in smart features this new model touts.

Designer: Casio

Most of the F-B100W’s functions are fairly straightforward, and the specifications are also very close to the original, measuring 41.9 × 38.1 × 8.8 mm and weighing 26 grams. The timepiece retains features including an amber LED backlight with adjustable glow, water resistance, an hourly time signal, and five daily alarm options. For improved comfort during long hours, the bio-based plastic strap now has improved ventilation slits. Major changes come in the form of a watch battery (as opposed to a rechargeable cell), which lasts for almost two years.

What’s making this Casio timepiece a big buzz already is the inclusion of Bluetooth, which automatically syncs time or toggles the alarms or dual time display. In the mix is the phone finder feature, which can be a really useful addition without all the unwanted nuances. What I’m most excited about is the addition of the step counter and lap split time function, which can be directly synced to your phone with the companion app. You can set goals, record up to 200 laps, and monitor the progress on the watch screen as well. For times when you get too engrossed in work, the F-B100W also sends an inactivity alert via a beep and on-screen prompt. Of course, that is an optional feature that can be turned off as well.

It doesn’t have any other smartwatch features like a heart rate monitor, sleep diagnosis, or even BP monitoring, but that’s the point. The retro-modern Casio watch has all the timekeeping functions, and the most essential smart features without making the wearer too finicky about the vitals. F-B100W comes in three color variants: 1AJF, 1BJF, and 3AJF, which have a black case with a positive LCD and retro blue, red, and yellow dial accents, and all black with a negative display and gray text, respectively.

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