Casio Edifice Honda Type R Edition Watch Review - ECB2200HTR1A
Because my daily driver is a 2024 Honda Civic Type-R, I tried to buy a Casio Edifice Honda Type R Edition. Unfortunately, by the time I learned that it existed, it was already sold out. There were a handful on eBay but they were all priced at triple retail, so I gave up on owning one.
Then a friend who knows that I have the car to go with the watch reached out and offered to sell me his! Sometimes you seek out a watch, and sometimes a watch finds you.
First Impressions of the Casio Edifice Honda Type R Edition
The dial is very busy, as is the strap. it's a fun watch to look at though. This watch reminds me of a high-end Casioak, which regular readers of this blog will know is a good thing for me. The materials and details make it look more expensive, however.
Casio Edifice Honda Type R Edition Details
To create the Type R Edition, Casio started with the racing-inspired Edifice Windflow ECB2200 series. It has a carbon fiber case, stainless steel bezel, sapphire crystal with AR coating, and integrated strap (some models have a steel bracelet).
The right side of the case uses standard round pushers, but the pushers on the left side are angular-shaped, aligning with the Windflow series model name (intended to look like air flowing over the wings of a Formula 1 car).
To turn that into the Type R edition, Casio loaded it with Honda styling touches. Front and center on the dial is a red H badge like you'll find on the front of every Type R car. Behind that, you'll find a mesh pattern evoking the grill of a modern Type R (and allowing light to reach the solar panel underneath).
Although available in other colors, Championship White is the signature color only available on a Type R (originating from the 1960s Honda F1 car). Casio paints the chapter ring in this color.
A yellow needle is used on the multi-function indicator dial. Type R models (other than US-Spec '97-'01 Integras which were badged as Acuras) use yellow needles on the gauges to aid legibility (on the current model it's shown digitally).
The timer start button adds a racy touch with with a red ring and R mark on the cap.
Wearing the Casio Edifice Honda Type R Edition
At 47mm wide, the Edifice Windflow is a large watch. But like its G-Shock cousins, it wears smaller than the dimensions indicate. The height is only 48mm and the carbon case makes it lightweight. It also doesn't have a traditional crown adding width and is under 12mm thick.
The dial is quite busy, but large white hands and hour markers mean that legibility isn't too bad. Like Casioak models, it has a feature to move the hands away from the LCD screen at the press of two buttons.
Said screen uses a negative display. These are not as easy to read as positive displays but look much better with the design of the watch.
The hour markers have polished surrounds, and appear to float over the dial.
The hands have the same Lumibrite as other Casios. The applications are broad, and unlike the Casioak, the hour markers are also lume-covered.
LEDs for its dial as well as a backlit screen provide additional illumination at the press of a button.
Casio Edifice Honda Type R Strap
The strap is made of Championship White leather and features a branded deployant clasp. Although the current Civic Type R has red Alcantara seats, the strap's lining is black. I expect this to look fresh for longer.
The keepers in in silver and black are meant to evoke the serial number plate installed in Type R cars.
The leather features model codes of past Type R models. You'll find the NSX (NA1, NA2), Integra hatches (DC2, DC5) and sedan (DB8), and the Civic hatchbacks (EK9, EP3, FN2, FK2, FK8, and FL5) and the Japan-only sedan (FD2 - see the ultra-rare Mugen RR here). Note that the Europe-only Accord Type R (CH1) is omitted.
Although StrapHabit doesn't currently sell straps to fit this watch, you can view our favorite straps for your other watches at the links below. You can also view our Guide to Choosing a Watch Strap.
-All Straps
-Best Sellers
-What's New
-Rubber Straps
-Accessories
Casio Edifice Honda Type R Edition Movement
The Edifice Honda Type R edition is powered by Casio module 5710. It features a different layout, but appears very similar to the module in GAB2100, aka the "Bluetooth Casioak." It packs all of the timer, world time, and alarm functions that you expect from a Casio. It also adds an analog 30-minute countdown display that uses the yellow needle.
Without Bluetooth connection, it is accurate to +/- 15 seconds per month. When paired with a smartphone, however, the time syncs seamlessly twice per day. It can operate for 7 months with no exposure to light or 18 months in power save mode. A power level indicator shows the current state of charge.
Conclusion
In my review of the Autodromo Group B (which I liked), I said that I often get turned off by automotive-inspired watches, especially those that are co-branded with a car company. Yet here I am with a Porsche Design watch and a Honda Type-R watch.
I decided that the Casio Honda Type R watch got a pass because of the way it fell into my lap. It will certainly be a fun watch to wear to the occasional cars and coffee. Additionally, it's built on a nice watch rather than something cheap. It's well-made, uses great materials, and has all of the features you'd expect from a Casio.
For more details on this sold-out model, you can visit the Casio website.
Casio Edifice Honda Type R Edition Specifications:
Name: Casio Edifice Windflow Honda Type R Edition
Reference Number: ECB2200HTR1A
Price: $400 (sold out)
Width: 47.6mm
Height: 48.2mm
Thickness: 11.9mm
Weight: 60g
Movement: 5710
Battery Life: 7 months with no light
Water Resistance: 100m
Crystal: Sapphire with AR coating
Strap: Leather/alcantara