Ollee Watch: giving a 30-year-old Casio A158W a new life - Igor Kulman

Last year, I came across a project called Ollee Watch. It is a replacement module for classic Casio digital watches that adds a few modern features while preserving their original look and character.

I found it interesting but did not take it any further. Ordering from outside the EU means exactly the sort of hassle I did not want to deal with: customs duties, VAT and long waits. Besides, I did not own a suitable watch where a module like this would make sense, even though watches have been one of my favourite hobbies for years, ever since I switched from the Apple Watch back to traditional watches.

That changed this year.

My grandfather’s Casio

I inherited my grandfather’s Casio A158W, which he had brought back from the US at some point in the 1990s. That makes the watch roughly 30 years old today.

I knew it very well. For years, I would set the time for him when I visited, usually twice a year when daylight saving time began or ended. Later, he stopped wearing it as much and moved on to various versions of the Xiaomi Mi Band that I bought for him over the years.

When I picked up the Casio, it was still running. The only problem was that the main button was stuck. All it took was opening the watch, cleaning it and freeing the button. A few years ago, I probably would not have attempted it, but after taking a beginner’s watchmaking course, it was nothing too daunting.

That was exactly when I remembered Ollee Watch and ordered one. Since the A158W is one of the supported models, it made perfect sense.

What exactly is Ollee Watch?

Ollee Watch is not a new watch. It is replacement electronics that take the place of the original Casio module.

According to the manufacturer, the Ollee Watch one is designed for Casio watches using module 593. Models tested directly include the F-91W, A158W, F-84W, A159W, A171W, W-59, A163W and A164W.

For me, it was a way to upgrade my grandfather’s old A158W, but it could make just as much sense in a brand-new watch. If you like the design of one of the supported models but miss some modern features, Ollee Watch offers an interesting way to add them.

The DIY module is not the only option, either. Ollee Watch also sells complete F-91W watches with the module already installed, so that is another route if you do not want to replace it yourself or do not have a suitable Casio at home.

The idea is very simple. You keep the original case, display, buttons and the overall feel of the watch, but gain features you would not normally expect from a Casio like this.

These include:

time synchronisation over Bluetooth

configuration through a mobile app

world time

a countdown timer

a step counter that syncs with Apple Health

location-based sunrise and sunset times

a configurable backlight, including its colour and intensity

new sounds

The most interesting part of the project is that all of this has to work within the limitations of the original Casio LCD: a display that was never designed for anything like it. The result is a range of rather creative ways to show information even when the available display segments are not really up to the task.

Installation

Replacing the module is very straightforward. The manufacturer says it takes around ten minutes, and that is about right.

You simply unscrew the case back, remove the battery, take out the original module, insert the new one and close the watch again. There is no soldering involved, just a little care and a set of small screwdrivers.

On first boot, the display shows a simple hello, which is a nice touch. The photo also shows the condition of the watch after all those years. The scratches and wear have not disappeared, but they are part of its story.

The package also includes an NFC tag that can be placed behind the display. I did not install it in the A158W, however. Ollee Watch explicitly says that it works only with all-resin models such as the F-91W, not the A158W. It would not make much sense inside a metal case anyway.

Using it

Once I had fitted it to the A158W, what surprised me most was how natural the whole thing felt. It is not another smartwatch trying to do everything. It feels more like a subtle extension of the original Casio.

For me, the most useful feature is Bluetooth time synchronisation. It is very convenient when switching between summer and winter time or travelling across time zones. Changing settings through the app is also much easier than clicking through them with the watch’s buttons.

I also like how the Bluetooth status is handled directly on the display. When the connection is active, the LAP indicator appears. It may be an unusual choice, but it works reliably and feels completely natural after a few days.

Another nice detail is the ability to change the backlight colour. The default green looks good, but on this A158W I eventually settled on red, which I think suits it...