Casio MTP4500D - a great chronograph watch nobody knows about

It's not exactly easy to find an affordable, good looking no-date chronograph watch

The ridiculously expensive way to get a no-date chronograph is, of course, the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona. No date on that. But I doubt you're ready to spend $13,500 to get one.

One of the very few companies that offers no-date affordable chronograph watches is Fossil with the Townsman and Grant models. Invicta is another, and I'll talk about that in a moment.

The Fossil offerings do look more elegant, but the Casio is more functional because of the slide rule bezel. Even if you use none of the mathematical stuff, you can use it easily as a second timer, literally meaning you get 2 timers in 1 with the MTP4500D.

Do I have a problem with a date complication? No. But a chronograph looks so much better without one.

For example, take the Invicta Speedway. That's a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona homage watch, and firmly in the affordable range. It's the right size, looks great, and I even like the name of it. But that date complication at the 4:30 o'clock position looks so tacky. If the Speedway didn't have that date complication, I'd seriously consider getting one.

However, look at the Invicta 1768 model. That's a "diver chronograph", which is weird, but no date on those. A little on the large side at 43mm, and it looks pretty darned good. But, again, large.

When you browse what else is out there and compare that to the Casio MTP4500D, that's when you realize how good the Casio actually is. It's got that just-right blend of usefulness, convenience a proper look for a chrono watch.

Published 2021 Apr 27