Casio AQ230 - Why Is This Retro Ana-Digi Watch Still So Popular?

Published: Oct 14, 2025

The AQ-230 for sure has a legendary status in Casio’s vintage collection. Retro-charmed analog dial combined with digital functions, plus a Cartier Tank–style slim rectangular case—all that in a very affordable price range, even for small budgets. It’s light, easy to wear, and slips under any sleeve, making it an effortless daily. Dress it up or keep it casual—the retro ana-digi vibe just works. This all sums the watch up, but still-let's look in detail.

Close-up of a Casio AQ-230 silver rectangular watch with analog dial and small digital window, on a brushed metal bracelet.

Close-up of a Casio AQ-230 silver rectangular watch with analog dial and small digital window, on a brushed metal bracelet.


Quick specs

  • Brand / Model: Casio AQ230 / AQ-230A-7AMQY in this Review
  • Case size: 38.8 × 29.8 × 8.1 mm
  • Case material: Resin / Chrome plated
  • Bracelet material: Stainless steel
  • Strap width: 18mm
  • Clasp: Adjustable Clasp
  • Movement: Quartz Caliber 5154 movement
  • Crystal: Resin glass
  • Dial: Silver with sunburst effect
  • Price: View on Amazon

Retro Case, Modern Feel

The slim rectangular case, featuring a stepped bezel and softly beveled edges, gives the AQ-230 its distinctive mixture of retro and modern style. It’s a simple build—chrome-plated case with an acrylic crystal—but the crisp edges, brushed bracelet links, and polished accents come together cleanly for the price. The silver dial keeps things minimal with printed markers and a discrete digital window at 6 o’clock, under indoor light it reads cool and metallic, while bright sun can pull a warmer, almost champagne tint from the finish.

Legibility is good enough for daily wear, though not tool-watch sharp. The slim, faceted hands and stick markers help, but the reflective acrylic and sunburst dial can wash out at certain angles. There’s no lume on the hands, and I do miss it at night — especially since the digital display also lacks a backlight, unlike many other Casio models. In complete darkness, you simply can’t read the time, which is a bit disappointing. I really wish Casio had included a backlight feature here. Th digital window is small—fine for a quick date/time check once you’re used to it.

Controls are straightforward: A recessed pusher on the right side sets the analog hands. Each press advances the time by 20 seconds, and it can only be accessed using a toothpick or another pointed tool. On the left side of the Casio AQ-230, the pushers are dedicated to controlling the digital functions of the watch. These buttons allow you to cycle through different modes, adjust settings such as the time, date, and alar. The water resistance is rated at a basic "Water Resist". Some sources say it is essentially equivalent to 30 meters, but in any case, it’s surely enough for everyday situations like hand washing or getting caught in the rain.

Top-down close-up of a silver Casio AQ-230 rectangular ana-digi watch on a metal bracelet, white dial, and a small digital window at 6 o'clock.

Closer look at AQ230's silver sunbursted analog dial and digital display

Slim Dimensions, Easy Wearability

The AQ-230 is small by modern standards. The rectangular case measures about 38.8 × 27.8 × 8.1 mm, and because there aren’t extending lugs, it wears even smaller than the numbers suggest. The folded-link bracelet drops straight down from the case, so the watch hugs the wrist and slides under any cuff. Weighing around 45 grams, the watch is impressively light yet maintains a solid, well-built feel once properly sized. It’s the kind of piece you can put on and comfortably wear all day.

On my 17 cm (≈6.7 in) wrist, the fit feels just right: compact, neat, and dressy. In my opinion wrists between 14–18 cm (≈5.5–7.1 in) range can definitely handle this watch. Below 14 cm it can still work thanks to the flat caseback and quick bracelet drape; above ~18.5–19 cm (≈7.3–7.5 in) it may look intentionally vintage-small, which still some people would love. If you’re unsure about fit, you can check our the wrist-check tool at lugwatch.co to see how it would fit your wrist.

Wrist shot of a silver Casio AQ-230 rectangular ana-digi watch on a metal bracelet, white dial, small digital display at 6 o'clock showing time
Christopher Ward The Twelve 38 mm — dial macro of Glacier Blue texture and indices

Casio AQ-230 on my 17 cm (≈6.7 in) wrist - slim rectangular case, clean analog dial with the small digital window at 6, easy daily wear.


Bracelet and Strap Options

The stock steel bracelet is classic Casio: lightweight folded links with a gentle taper (about 18 mm at the case down to ~15 mm at the clasp). It fells not cheap, may a little jangly, but it drapes nicely and feels right for the retro vibe. Brushed surfaces with small polished hits keep it tidy, and once sized it wraps the wrist smoothly and helps the watch wear super light.

The clasp is the handy sliding, tool-free adjust type—you pop it open, slide to the next notch, and lock it down. On hot days or after a big meal, that quick extra millimeter makes all the difference.

Unlike integrated designs, the AQ-230 uses standard lugs, so third-party straps are for 18mm lug width wide open. Leather dresses it easily up for formal occasions.


Analog and Digital Features

Close-up of a Casio AQ-230 watch flipped over, showing the brushed rectangular stainless-steel caseback with engraved specs and the attached folded-link metal bracelet.

Casio AQ-230 caseback — brushed stainless-steel back with spring bars and the lightweight folded-link bracelet.

The AQ-230 runs Casio’s tried-and-true quartz ana-digi module—simple, reliable, and cheap to maintain. The analog hands and digital display are set independently, so you effectively get three time zones: one on the analog hands and two on the digital side (home time plus Dual Time). You also get a daily alarm, 1/100-sec stopwatch, hourly signal, and calendar. Accuracy is the typical Casio ±30 seconds per month. Battery life is about 2–3 years on a standard coin cell, and replacements are quick and inexpensive.


Final Thoughts

The Casio AQ-230 may not feature premium materials like a stainless steel case or sapphire glass, but that’s exactly part of its charm. It’s a simple, honest watch that has quietly gained popularity around the world. Its design perfectly balances vintage character with modern minimalism — the analog-digital layout feels nostalgic, yet remains fresh and stylish even today.

What makes it truly special is its versatility. You can wear it with anything — it looks sharp with formal attire yet feels just as at home in everyday life. There’s an effortless coolness in its simplicity; it doesn’t try to stand out, but somehow always does. And at such an affordable price, the AQ-230 proves that timeless style doesn’t have to come at a high cost — which is exactly why so many people love it.

Tags:CasioAQ230Budget WatchHands-On ReviewQuartz WatchAnalog DigitalVintage StyleRectangular Watch