The Casio MQ-24: Why This Humble Quartz Watch Is The Perfect Travel Companion
Some watches earn a place in your suitcase because they’re precious. The Casio MQ-24 earns it because it isn’t. Today, I’ll explain why this humble quartz three-hander might be the ideal travel and adventure watch, and why it deserves more appreciation than it gets.
Every watch enthusiast knows the pre-trip dilemma: do you take the nice watch and spend the journey worrying about it, or leave it at home and feel naked? For me, the answer is often a Casio watch that costs about as much as an airport sandwich. The MQ-24 is light, cheap, and endlessly dependable. It also has far more charm than its price suggests.
The Casio MQ-24: a simple watch that asks for nothing
The Casio MQ-24 is about as simple as a wristwatch gets. According to Casio’s specifications, its resin case measures 34.9mm wide, 38.8mm from lug to lug, and just 7.8mm thick. The entire watch weighs approximately 20 grams on its resin strap. Inside, a quartz movement offers accuracy of ±20 seconds per month and a battery life of roughly three years. The classic MQ-24-7B features three hands, bold Arabic numerals, and nothing else.
The MQ-24 typically sells for less than US$30. In Japan, it belongs to a family of budget models that fans affectionately call chīpu kashio, or “cheap Casio.” Yet its clean design is appealing enough that the MoMA Design Store sells it, too. Few watches look equally at home in a museum shop and a supermarket.
Why the Casio MQ-24 is a great travel watch
Travel is where the Casio MQ-24 really shines. At 20 grams, you barely notice it on a long-haul flight, while its 7.8mm thickness lets it slip easily under a shirt cuff or jacket sleeve. Because it’s quartz, there’s no winding or worrying about the power reserve after a few days in your bag. Simply pull the crown, set the hands to local time, and push it back in. Changing time zones takes seconds.
It’s also the least stressful watch I own. Nobody is likely to give an MQ-24 a second glance in a busy market or on a crowded train. If you lose it, someone steals it, or you leave it in a hotel bathroom, replacing it costs less than a taxi ride. That peace of mind is worth more to me than an elaborate complication. The analog dial is practical, too. Its bold numerals and contrasting hands make it easy to check the time at a glance, whether you’re looking at a departure board or catching the last ferry of the day.
The Casio MQ-24 as an adventure watch
Let’s be honest about its limitations. Casio describes the MQ-24 simply as “water resistant,” so I’d limit its exposure to rain, splashes, and hand washing rather than take it swimming. The resin crystal will also pick up scratches, and there’s no lume for reading the time in a dark tent. Those are reasonable compromises at this price, but they’re worth keeping in mind.
Still, the resin case and strap have practical advantages. They won’t rust or feel cold against your skin on a chilly morning, and the lightweight construction makes the watch comfortable during a long hike or bike ride. If the strap breaks, an inexpensive replacement is all you need. If the crystal becomes too scratched, replacing the entire watch is hardly a major expense. Its simplicity also means fewer things can go wrong. There are no buttons to press accidentally or complicated settings to remember. It simply tells the time, which is often all you need on an adventure.
An appreciation of the Casio MQ-24
It’s easy to dismiss the Casio MQ-24 as a disposable watch, but I think that misses the point. It has been a longtime fixture in Casio’s catalog, and the brand has resisted the urge to load it with unnecessary features. That kind of restraint is refreshing. The MQ-24 strips watch wearing back to its essentials without sacrificing legibility or character.
There’s no elaborate heritage story, waiting list, or fear of getting the first scratch. You wear it, check the time, and get on with your day. For those of us who spend far too much time thinking about watches, that simplicity can be liberating.
Concluding thoughts
Casio has since expanded the design with steel bracelets and sunray dials in the MQ-24D and MQ-24DA, but the resin original remains my favorite. It’s the watch I reach for when the destination matters more than what’s on my wrist. That carefree approach to watch wearing is also what eventually led me to buy a 5600-series G-Shock, which I’ll share more about in a future article. I’ve grown increasingly appreciative of Casio because it’s a brand that makes watches for everyone.
There’s something charming about a watch that doesn’t try to be more than it is. The MQ-24 is simple, legible, and affordable, and I’d happily wear it in almost any casual setting. I might choose something else for a dressier occasion or extreme water sports, but as an uncomplicated everyday and travel companion, it’s hard to beat. Do you have an inexpensive watch that goes everywhere with you? Let me know in the comments!
