Featured image: VSchagow, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The watch Walter White wears for most of Breaking Bad is a Casio CA-53W, a black resin calculator watch that Casio introduced in 1988 and has kept in production ever since.
Quick answer: The Casio CA-53W is an eight-digit calculator watch released in 1988. It retails for about $30 to $40, measures 43.2 by 34.4 mm, and runs on a single CR2016 battery that lasts roughly five years. Walter White wears it throughout seasons 1 through 4 of Breaking Bad, and Marty McFly wears the same model in Back to the Future Part II and Part III.
What Is the Casio CA-53W?
Casio launched the CA-53W in 1988 as the successor to the CA-50, keeping the same concept â a wristwatch with a working eight-digit calculator â but refining the case proportions and adding a few extra timekeeping functions. The watch sat at the affordable end of Casio’s Databank line and was aimed squarely at students and office workers who wanted computing on their wrist before smartphones existed.
The core layout is a small rectangular resin case with a liquid crystal display on top and a 4-by-4 rubber keypad below it. The display shows either time or calculator output; you switch between the two with a mode button on the left side. Everything is powered by a single CR2016 lithium button cell, which Casio rates at around five years of use.
In early 2020, Casio expanded the CA-53W family with the CA-53WF series, which added five color variants â rose gold, blue, green, black, and white â with an inverted LCD that shows light characters on a dark background. The core specifications remained the same as the original.
| Spec | CA-53W-1 (standard) |
|---|---|
| Case size | 43.2 Ã 34.4 Ã 8.2 mm |
| Case material | Resin with stainless steel case back |
| Crystal | Plastic |
| Strap width | 20 mm (interchangeable) |
| Movement | Casio quartz digital module |
| Battery | CR2016, approximately 5-year life |
| Water resistance | Splash-proof only |
| Accuracy | ±15 seconds per month |
| Weight | 24 g with strap |
| Approximate price | $30â$40 new |
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Casio CA53W-1 Calculator Watch
Casio CA-53WF Calculator Watch Alternative
Casio CA-500WE-1A Metal Calculator Watch Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
Walter White’s Casio in Breaking Bad
In Breaking Bad, the CA-53W is an intentional character prop. When the show begins, Walter White is a high school chemistry teacher supplementing his income with a part-time job at a car wash, and his watch matches that life. The Casio costs less than a textbook and has the feel of something bought without much thought.
The watch stays on Walt’s wrist throughout the first four seasons. By that point in the story he has earned millions of dollars, but he still wears the same $30 Casio â which is part of the point. Walt maintains his surface identity as a modest, unremarkable man even as his life becomes anything but. The watch is a small prop doing significant work.
In season 5, episode 50 (“Fifty-One”), Jesse gives Walt a TAG Heuer Monaco for his birthday, and the Casio disappears from the show. The shift is deliberate: Walt has crossed a line, and the watch marks the change. In the series finale, Walt leaves the Monaco on a gas station payphone, completing a symmetry that began with the Casio.
For the full story of both watches and their role in the show, see our complete guide to Walter White’s watches in Breaking Bad.
Marty McFly’s Watch in Back to the Future
The other major pop-culture connection for the CA-53W is Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Back to the Future Part III (1990). Michael J. Fox wears it on screen in both films as part of Marty’s recognizable teen outfit. A common misconception is that Marty also wears the CA-53W in the original 1985 film â he does not. In the first movie he wears the earlier CA-50, which Casio released before the CA-53W.
Casio marked the 40th anniversary of the original Back to the Future film with a special-edition watch, the CA-500WEBF, released on October 21, 2025 â “Back to the Future Day,” the date Marty and Doc travel to in the sequel. The CA-500WEBF uses the CA-53W’s silhouette as its base, with calculator buttons in the colors of the DeLorean’s time circuits, a flux capacitor engraved on the case back, and a VHS tape-styled box. It retailed for about $150 and sold out quickly after launch.
How the CA-53W Wears in Practice
At 24 grams with the strap, the CA-53W is light enough that most wearers describe forgetting it is on. The resin case and strap are not premium materials by any measure, but the combination is genuinely comfortable for everyday wear. The watch sits flat on the wrist and does not catch on clothing.
The display has no backlight on the standard CA-53W-1 (black version), which is a meaningful limitation after dark. The CA-53WF variants and some later CA-53W versions do include illumination, so it is worth checking before buying if night legibility matters to you.
The calculator works as advertised for simple arithmetic â addition, subtraction, multiplication, division â but the buttons are small enough that errors are common, particularly for people with larger hands. Reviewers consistently note that the keypad takes some practice before you can use it reliably without mispressing. Setting the time requires a pointed tool to reach the recessed adjust button, which is a minor annoyance.
The standard polyurethane strap is one of the weaker parts of the package. It feels thin compared with straps on Casio’s G-Shock or Mudman lines. The good news is the 20mm lug width and drilled lug holes make strap swapping straightforward, and a NATO or resin replacement costing a few dollars makes a noticeable difference. Thick NATO-style straps may be a tight fit due to the lug clearance.
Battery replacement is a simple job because the CR2016 is a standard cell available at any electronics or pharmacy. Based on Casio’s specifications and the experience reported by long-term owners, five years is a realistic lifespan between changes under normal use.
CA-53W Versions and Which to Buy
The standard CA-53W-1 in black is the version you see on both Walter White and Marty McFly. It sells for roughly $30 to $40 from major retailers and Casio’s own stores. If you want the watch as it appears on screen, this is the one to buy. The CA-53W-1Z is a similar variant sold in some markets with minor regional differences but essentially the same specification.
The CA-53WF series, released in 2020, offers the same core specs in more playful colors. The inverted LCD â white characters on black â is easier to read in many lighting conditions than the original dark-on-light display. Prices are broadly similar to the standard model. If you want something a little more current-looking while keeping the calculator-watch concept, the CA-53WF is a reasonable step up.
For buyers who want the aesthetic in a more durable, metal-cased form, the CA-500WE-1A replaces the resin case with a stainless steel bezel and case back while keeping the same digital module and 8-digit calculator. It retails for about $90. The Casio A168 covers similar territory with a metal case and a retro look, reviewed separately on this site.
Alternatives to the CA-53W
If the CA-53W’s combination of calculator, retro styling, and low price interests you, a few other Casio models are worth considering depending on what you want to spend and what trade-offs matter to you.
| Model | Case | Calculator | Backlight | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA-53W-1 | Resin, 43 mm | 8 digits | None | $30â$40 |
| CA-53WF | Resin, 43 mm | 8 digits | Yes (some variants) | $35â$45 |
| CA-500WE-1A | Stainless steel bezel, 40 mm | 8 digits | Yes | ~$90 |
| Casio A168 | Stainless steel, 38 mm | None | Yes (EL) | ~$30 |
| Casio F-91W | Resin, 33 mm | None | Yes (LED) | ~$15 |
The Casio AE-1200 offers a different direction â world time, multiple alarms, and a larger display â at a similar price, and is worth a look if the calculator function is not important to you. For something more rugged in the Casio lineup, the Casio Duro MDV-106 is a 200-meter diver at under $50 that Bill Gates has been photographed wearing.
FAQ
What watch does Walter White wear in Breaking Bad?
For the first four-plus seasons, Walter White wears a Casio CA-53W calculator watch. In season 5, Jesse gives him a TAG Heuer Monaco Calibre 12 (reference CAW2111.FC6183) for his 51st birthday, which he wears until the finale.
Is the Casio CA-53W the same watch Marty McFly wears?
Marty McFly wears the CA-53W in Back to the Future Part II (1989) and Part III (1990), but he wears the earlier CA-50 in the original 1985 film. The two models look similar, which is why the misconception is common.
How much does the Casio CA-53W cost?
The standard CA-53W-1 retails for about $30 to $40 from major online retailers and Casio’s official stores. Pre-owned examples sell for less, and the colored CA-53WF variants run about $35 to $45 new.
Is the Casio CA-53W waterproof?
No. The CA-53W is splash-proof only, meaning it can handle brief contact with water such as hand washing or light rain, but it is not rated for swimming, showering, or any submersion. Casio does not assign it a formal ATM water resistance rating.
Can the Casio CA-53W calculator actually be used?
Yes, the CA-53W performs real arithmetic with its eight-digit display and 4-by-4 keypad. The buttons are small enough that mispresses are common, and it handles only the four basic operations â no memory functions or scientific calculations â but it works as a functional calculator for simple sums.
What is the difference between the CA-53W and the CA-53WF?
The CA-53WF is a 2020 update to the CA-53W line that adds five color options and an inverted LCD display (light on dark), which many users find easier to read. The core module, case dimensions, and features are the same as the original CA-53W-1.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Casio CA-53W
- Strapsco: Worn and Tested Casio CA-53W Watch Review
- Teddy Baldassarre: Walter White’s Watch in Breaking Bad
- Notebookcheck: Casio CA-500WEBF Back to the Future 40th Anniversary
- Exquisite Timepieces: The Stylish Wristwear of Breaking Bad