CW&T Solid State Watch

Last updated: 11 October 2026

What the CW&T Solid State Watch is

CW&T is a two-person design studio in Brooklyn, run by Che-Wei Wang and Taylor Levy. They launched the Solid State Watch on Kickstarter in early 2020 as a tribute to the Casio F-91W, the cheap digital watch Casio has made unchanged since 1989.

The studio 3D prints the body, then casts, heats, vacuums and UV cures the Casio movement into it. All of that is done by hand, so every watch has small marks and bubbles of its own. CW&T calls it an experimental art project and makes a batch each week.

What it does, and what it cannot do

• The time you pick: you enter your time in UTC when you order, and the studio sets the watch to it before sealing. After that it can never be changed.
• No buttons: there is no alarm, no stopwatch and no light, because every button is under the resin.
• Battery: Casio rates the F-91W battery at seven years with daily light and alarm use. With neither in use, CW&T expects 10 years or more.
• Water: the case is solid resin with no air inside, so there are no seals to fail. CW&T says the display can be read from any angle underwater.
• The orange dot: a small fluorescent dot covers the date, because the movement does not allow for leap years and the date would go wrong after 29 February.

Key facts

• Price: US$199 from CW&T, about £150 before import charges
• Movement: Casio F-91W, 3V CR-2016 battery
• Size: 32 x 38.4 x 10mm and 19g, a little more than two £1 coins
• Lug width: 18mm
• Strap: light grey adjustable elastic strap with brushed metal hardware, for wrists from 145 to 215mm
• Accuracy: CW&T puts the worst case at plus or minus one second a day
• Lead time: made to order, and CW&T says to expect dispatch within one to two weeks

Who the Solid State Watch suits

• Casio F-91W fans: it is the same movement in a case built to last as long as the battery.
• Designers and makers: the hand casting and the visible flaws are part of the object.
• People who never adjust their watch anyway: it arrives set and stays set.

If you like watches that rethink how the time is read, our review of Nooka: Designing Time covers Matthew Waldman's watch faces.

The limits

The watch cannot change for British Summer Time. From late March to late October it will read an hour out, so you either add the hour in your head or, as CW&T jokes, buy two watches.

There is no backlight, so you cannot read it in the dark. There is no alarm either.

Once the battery runs out, the watch stops for good, because the battery is sealed in. CW&T expects that to take 10 years or more.

It ships from New York, so UK buyers pay import VAT on top of the price. Customs Duty may apply too, and the courier usually adds a handling fee before it delivers.

How to buy the Solid State Watch in the UK

I could not find a UK stockist, so the watch comes direct from CW&T's shop in US dollars. Because US$199 is more than £135, the courier collects UK import VAT, plus any Customs Duty, before or on delivery. GOV.UK explains how this works on its page on tax and duty on goods sent from abroad.

For a watch you can set yourself, the Mondaine Classic 40mm puts the Swiss railway clock face on your wrist.

Solid State Watch at CW&T

FAQs

How much is the CW&T Solid State Watch in the UK?

CW&T charges US$199, which was about £150 when I checked on 11 October 2026. UK import VAT, any Customs Duty and a courier handling fee are added on delivery.

Can you change the time on the Solid State Watch?

No. You give CW&T your time in UTC when you order, and once the watch is sealed in resin it cannot be changed. CW&T suggests time.is to work out your UTC time.

Does the Solid State Watch change for British Summer Time?

No. It stays on the time you chose, so it reads an hour out for part of the year.

How long does the battery last?

CW&T expects 10 years or more, because the light and alarm are never used. When the battery runs out, it cannot be replaced.

Is the Solid State Watch waterproof?

Yes. The case is solid resin with no air gap and no seals, so there is nothing for water to get through.

More from CoolCuration

• Eone tactile watch: a watch you read by touch, with ball bearings for hands.
• Google Pixel Watch 4 review: the opposite of a sealed watch, with every feature switched on.
• Gifts for designers: more objects for people who notice how things are made.
• Gifts for techies: presents for people who like their gadgets.

Prices, exchange rates and import charges change, and brands do not choose what we feature.

We are proud supporters of a safer more private internet via encouraging people to use Brave browser and are actively taking on Spammers as part of ProjectHoneypot. This site is hosted on servers that run on 100% renewable energy in the UK thanks to GreenWebHosting.

This site contains affiliate links, including to Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase or sign up for a service via these links, at no extra cost to you. All offers and promotions are accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change or withdrawal by the businesses featured. We cannot guarantee their continued availability. Read our full affiliate disclosure.

Reviews and opinions on CoolCuration reflect the personal experience of our writers at the time of publication. They are not professional endorsements and your experience may differ. Scores use our Cool Factor rating system and are given independently of any commercial relationship.

All content on CoolCuration is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations or an endorsement of any product or service. We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and do not offer personalised financial guidance. You should always do your own research or consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions.