Honda and Casio have teamed up to create a special edition wristwatch that honors a historic milestone in the Japanese manufacturer’s motorsport journey. But, the most interesting bit of this all is that rather than focusing on Honda’s upcoming return to Formula 1 as an engine supplier in 2026 (how cool is that), this timepiece looks back to a defining moment in the brand’s racing history.
The new Casio Edifice ECB-2300HR-1A is a commemorative watch marking the 60th anniversary of Honda’s first Formula 1 victory, at the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix. That race saw Richie Ginther take the Honda RA272, a car with both engine and chassis developed by Honda, to a groundbreaking win, making it the first Japanese car and engine to triumph in the sport’s top class.
Designed in actual collaboration with Honda, the watch incorporates several vintage racing cues. The bezel is finished in Championship White, a colour that needs absolutely no introduction to Honda aficionados such as myself, that is the colour associated with brand’s early F1 cars. Also, a red ring around the dial recalls the RA272’s nose and the Japanese Hinomaru graphic, and a subdial at 9 o’clock is styled to resemble an analog tachometer from the 1960s.
To top it all off, a gold “60” at the top of the scale celebrates the anniversary, as a small easter egg for those in the know. These design choices go a bit beyond just being for “aesthetics”, they translate the character and legacy of an iconic racing machine and the brand responsible for it into a modern timepiece that enthusiasts can actually afford and wear daily.
And if you thought that these details alone were enough to make this an over the top design, wait, because there’s more! The case back is laser-engraved with Honda’s logo, the strap features white leather with a section of text referencing the RA272’s 1.5-liter V12 engine, a layout that was unusual for the time (and still awesome), the gold-plated buckle carries Ginther’s victorious car’s number “11” along with the Latin phrase “Veni, Vidi, Vici”, and inside, the strap is lined with red suede patterned after technical drawings of Honda’s creation.
Despite its vintage inspiration, the ECB-2300HR-1A is a fully functional modern watch. It uses Casio’s Tough Solar system, recharging via sunlight or indoor light, and pairs with a smartphone over Bluetooth for easy setting adjustments. It is also packed with features, including a stopwatch, world time, countdown timers, a perpetual calendar, alarms, LED lighting and even a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating and carbon-and-steel suspension style lugs emphasize durability and subtle motorsport character.
Unlike many automotive-inspired watches that carry premium price tags, this Honda tribute model is relatively accessible. It has launched in Japan with a retail price of ¥66,000 (about $730). With Japan being the initial market for this, if you really want one, you should be prepared to import one independently. Group buy, anyone?
