Hands-On With The Casio Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A — How Race Car Design Influences Watch Design

While I’m not necessarily a big motorsport fan, the Casio Edifice line of watches is always intriguing. The Japanese brand has made the world of racing the focal point of a significant branch of the brand’s watches. The majority of the crossover is made visible by the design elements that Casio uses for said models. As a big design fan, seeing how design spreads from one product category to another is always interesting. This is why I’m always curious to learn more about Casio’s Edifice line. The latest addition to the brand’s lineup is the Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A. The Windflow models are inspired by the wind flow around race cars. It has inspired the designers to integrate some remarkable details into this sporty Casio Edifice.

I still remember reading the German car magazine Auto Motor Und Sport a lot when I was young. My dad would buy the monthly magazine for years and kept a significant collection of them in the attic. When flipping through those magazines, one of the most intriguing aspects of cars was always their design. The magazine would feature images of clay models that would get altered on the spot. Additionally, you would always find different images of cars in wind tunnels where the CW-value or drag coefficient would be tested and made visible.

The inspiration behind the Casio Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A

Aerodynamics plays a much more significant role in the world of racing than in the design of consumer cars. It’s why for instance, Formula 1 wind tunnels are an absolute must in developing new car designs. By getting the specifics of airflow around race cars, designers and engineers are able to alter designs to optimize them and eventually develop a faster race car. As a young boy, I was fascinated by the images and stories about car development. As a result, this new Casio Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A piqued my interest.

At first glance, the design is not necessarily a look I would go for. The overall looks are defined by a combination of black, grey, and red colors and dynamic design elements. It fits the racing character of the watch perfectly. But once you get a second look, the slim profile and interesting case construction stand out. And on the case sides, you find the direct design influences inspired by the discussed wind flow around race cars. How? The pushers on the left side are quite the sight, and you immediately feel the link to the wings and spoilers of a race car.

The slim profile of the Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A

Let’s first start with some basics before we get into the design specifics. The Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A features a 47.6 mm × 48.2 mm × 11.9 mm carbon fiber reinforced resin case that is 100 meters water resistant. That makes it slightly smaller than the Edifice Sospensione ECB-2000D-1A that I reviewed late last year and uses the same case materials. The case is combined with a stainless steel bezel with an engraved 60-minute scale.

Two things stand out when you pick up the watch. The first is the low weight of the watch at just 59 grams, and second, the production quality feels excellent. The combination of materials resembles the materials used for modern cars and will appeal to race and sports car fans. On the right side of the case, you will find two regular pushers, making it seem like a normal watch. But on the left side is where you will find the design of the two pushers recombination with the carbon case that resembles the modern look of a race car. As Casio puts it: the case side is designed to evoke a sense of the wind flowing through a fender-pontooned formula race car. It’s a fun design element that immediately had me question the effects on the practicality.

A design where form and function meet

But soon after playing around with the watch for a bit, you will get used to the non-traditional shape of the pushers. It gives the watch a lot of character, especially after reading the story behind the design. I can see the appeal for a large audience of race fans. The case is complemented by a black resin strap that is very comfortable, and the design is also inspired by the design of race cars. The four openings at both ends are inspired by the air vents on sports cars. As you can see, the theme is well-integrated here.

You will see a combination of analog and digital elements regarding the dial. The time is displayed centrally with the large hour and minute hands. In combination with the lumed hour markers, the readability is great. As you can see, the lower part of the dial features a digital display allowing you to operate a wide array of functions like on your G-Shock. It’s quite an impressive list made possible by the Tough Solar module that powers the watch.

The Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A features a wide array of functions

Fully charged, the watch will operate for seven months without the need to charge it again.  That is impressive and convenient at the same time. Additionally, the accuracy of the movement is ±15 seconds per month when not linked to your mobile phone. The Smartphone Link connects to your mobile phone thanks to a Bluetooth connection. The Casio smartphone app will automatically set the time to your time zone. Additionally, Casio made a dedicated race app for the watches to access precision timekeeping inspired by the racing teams’ timing instruments. It will allow you to access a great number of extra timekeeping functions that are great for use during racing events.

And that is on top of the watch’s impressive set of functions. Amongst them are a countdown timer, a digital display of the time digitally in 12/24-hour format, a fully automatic calendar that displays the day and date, a timer, and a stopwatch function. The stopwatch measures elapsed time, split time, and final time with 1/100th-second accuracy for up to 24 hours. A fun feature is the so-called Hand Shift Feature, which moves the hands out of the way to provide an unobstructed view of the digital display. Lastly, the watch goes into power-saving mode when left in the dark. As a result, it saves energy and bumps up the battery life to 18 months.

Wearing the Edifice Windflow ECB-2200P-1A

Once on the wrist, the watch feels super comfortable. Thanks to the low weight and flexible rubber strap, you hardly have the feeling of actually wearing one at all. But a quick glimpse will remind you that you are indeed wearing a watch, quite a substantial one at that. But the pretty slim profile also adds to comfort. As said, the looks are not necessarily what I would go for but what stands out for me is that the watch pairs pretty well with a variety of styles.

Sure, the dial, case, and strap designs all have direct links to the colors and materials of the racing world. But overall, the look is sporty and versatile. At a retail price of €239, the Casio Edifice ECB-2200P-1A offers excellent value for money. Considering the materials used, the vast array of functions, and the overall quality, this is truly an impressive watch. Sure, you have to be a fan of its looks. But knowing that there are a lot of race fans, there will be a lot of fans of this watch. It’s great to see how Casio founded another purpose-driven brand next to G-Shock. And the Edifice ECB-2200 models might be Edifice’s most on-brand yet.

The new Edifice ECB-2200 is available now. For more information, visit the official Casio Edifice website.