What counts as an entry-level watch is different for everyone. It depends on the budget you’re working with and the kind of watch you’re looking for. But you’ll often find there’s a handful of brands that get mentioned on the regular. Some that come to mind are Seiko, Tissot, Orient and Citizen. Another is Casio, a Japanese watchmaker with a talent for creating sub £200 watches in both the digital and analogue territories.
Casio MTP-B145D - Credit Guest Author
Normally, when I think of Casio, I think of their retro square-shaped digital watches or their more robust line-up of outdoor-inspired G-Shock models. I’m not a huge wearer of digital watches (although I do own a Casio LA670 that doesn’t see the light of day much), and for that reason, it’s not often I pay much attention to Casio’s releases. Then one day, I was habitually scrolling through socials and saw a rather bold selection of Casio analogue watches with dials in yellow, green and red.
There are two features in a watch I struggle to say no to: an integrated case and bracelet and a bright coloured dial. So, to no one’s surprise, I was immediately intrigued by the new line-up of Casio MTP watches. The MTP series has been a permanent part of the brand’s portfolio since the 1980’s, largely offering robust stainless steel sports watches with clear, easy-to-read dials and simple quartz movements. And with the rise in colourful watch dials of late, Casio have added their own range of bright shades to the collection.
Casio MTP-B145D - Credit Guest Author
Of the three newest models in the Casio MTP-B145D Series with green, yellow or red dials, it was the latter that had my attention. There’s been a notable rise in red-dialled watches recently, and while I originally expected purple to be the dial colour of 2024, I’m starting to think it could now be shades of maroon, scarlet and cherry.
We’ve seen models launching like the Grand Seiko 44GS Hi-Beat SBGH345, the youthful NOMOS Club Non-Stop Red and the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Terracotta to name just a few. There’s been several Year of the Dragon watches sporting the hue of the Chinese New Year, too. But while these examples are undeniably beautiful, they are luxury watches with luxury price tags to match.
Casio MTP-B145D - Credit Guest Author
Then you have the Casio MTP-B145D-4A2VEF which is anything but “luxury”. And I mean this in the best way possible. The Japanese watchmaker has rather brilliantly stripped the genre of the stainless steel sports watch back to basics, providing us with all the necessary DNA we need to satiate our love of the design while keeping the price low. To save you from scrolling straight to the bottom, the Casio MTP-B145D- 4A2VEF retails for just £64.90.
Taking it out of the box, the Casio MTP-B145D-4A2VEF does feel like a sub £100 watch. It’s incredibly light and the bracelet in particular doesn’t feel all that solid. But, once on the wrist, the model definitely doesn’t look or feel equated to its price.
Casio MTP-B145D - Credit Guest Author
The case ticks all the boxes of a stereotypical integrated sports watch with a super slim barrel-shaped case with a smooth and brightly polished fixed bezel and case sides and a brushed case middle. It measures to 35mm wide and just 7.4mm tall with a lug-to-lug width of 40mm. It’s an ideal size for my five-inch wrist.
The case also sports a small knurled crown at 3 o’clock offering a 50 metre water resistant rating, a closed case back and mineral crystal glass. As mentioned, the bracelet isn’t its best feature, feeling overly lightweight for a stainless steel sports watch. But this is expected for a watch of this price, and I’ve tested watches with several zeros on the end of the price tag that have utilised bracelets close to this quality. I do love how the five-link construction looks with the bright red dial and it wears comfortably.
Casio MTP-B145D - Credit Guest Author
It's no surprise that the biggest draw of the Casio MTP-B145D-4A2VEF for me is the dial. The shade of red is amazing and looks even better in person thant it does in images. It’s a true cool-toned chilli red with a metallic sunray-brushed finishing that demands all your attention. It’s a light-catching dial with a simple layout inclusive of raised and polished stick hour markers and slim needle-shaped hands for the hours, minutes and seconds. A white backed date window is added at 3 o’clock and white printing is used for the Casio logo at 12 o’clock and the water resistant rating at 6 o’clock.
Housed inside the Casio MTP-B145D-4A2VEF is a Japanese made quartz movement. The exact calibre used isn’t mentioned anywhere but it’s highly likely a Miyota movement. The watch is a permanent addition to the MTP collection and as mentioned, retails for £64.90.
Casio MTP-B145D - Credit Guest Author
When you’ve surrounded yourself with watches for a long time, it’s easy to find yourself with a certain level of pretentiousness when it comes to affordable quartz watches like this. But we have to remember, more so than ever, not everyone has the financial freedom to spend their pounds on Rolex, Breitling or Grand Seiko. It’s brands like Casio, and models like the MTP-B145D-4A2VEF that still let folk enjoy beautiful watches with 1970’s inspired integrated cases and excitingly coloured dials. If you’re like me and you can’t say no to the same, I highly recommend the MTP-B145D-4A2VEF as your next purchase.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Casio
- Model: MTP-B145D-4A2VEF
- Price: £64.50
- Material: Stainless steel
- Movement: Quartz
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Dial: Red metallic with sunray-brushing
- Size: 35mm wide, 7.4mm tall
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Strap: Five-row link metal bracelet
