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WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has ranked among the world’s richest people for nearly four decades. According to Forbes, his net worth currently stands at $107.6 billion.
Unlike Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who leans toward timepieces costing more than $1.3 million, Gates takes a more practical approach to watches.
Gates’ Watches
Instead of collecting high-end models, as many millionaires do, Gates has remained loyal to a single Japanese brand for decades: Casio. His choice underscores his pragmatic view of watches as functional tools rather than luxury accessories.
Gates owns at least three different Casio models, known for their reliability, durability, and practical design. The brand has recently surged in popularity with the resurgence of ’90s fashion trends.
One of Gates’ most frequently worn watches is the Casio Duro, an analog dive watch. He sported this model, also known as the Casio Marlin MDV-106-1AV, during a 2018 visit to Harvard University. It features water resistance up to 650 feet, a stainless steel case, and a black dial—all for less than $69.95.
Gates also favors the Casio MRW-200H-1B2V, a minimalist, all-black watch with LED lighting, long battery life, water resistance, and a stopwatch. With a price of around $30, it proves that functionality and reliability don’t require a fortune.
Another regular on Gates’ wrist is the Casio W214H-1AV Illuminator Sports Digital Chrono Watch. Unlike the others, this fully digital model embraces a strong ’90s aesthetic. Though originally priced between $20 and $30, it has been discontinued and is now available only on the secondhand market.
The “Nokia” of Watches
Gates’ loyalty to Casio isn’t unique. During the late ’80s and ’90s, the brand dominated electronic watchmaking with legendary, virtually indestructible models like the F-91W, which remains on sale more than 30 years after its launch.
Casio has experienced a resurgence in recent years, fueled by nostalgia and the exceptional reliability of its timepieces. Many consumers who grew up wearing Casio watches continue to embrace the brand, seeing its classic designs as both a nod to the past and a statement for the future.
Image | Casio | Steve Jurvetson
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