Toyota tuning house TOM’s is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year by teaming up with Casio for a special edition watch. The design of the Edifice EFS-S641TMS-1A was inspired by the TOM’s Toyota Starlet KP47, which ruled Japan’s 1970s racing scene. The car catapulted TOM’s to popularity and many aspects of it are now are commemorated by the timepiece’s thoughtful details.
Prior to the KP47’s racing debut, Toyota’s entry into Japan’s Minor Touring class was the third-generation (P30) Publica. It was often trounced by Nissan’s B110 Sunny, but its successor, the KP47 Publica Starlet, suddenly turned the tides in Toyota’s favor. The TOM’s tuned 3K-R engine propelled it to 22 pole positions, 20 victories, and three series championships. It also made the then-new TOM’s name the go-to spot for Toyota performance.
The Casio watch pays tribute to the game-changing car with design details inspired by the TOM’s KP47. The white, red, yellow, and green colors in the dial are from the car’s livery.
The dial’s 3 o’clock section features a dual-layer design with a honeycomb section derived from the Starlet’s grille and the modern TOM’s logo on top. Beneath it lies a purplish surface taken from the original 3K-R’s distinct valve cover hue.
The upper and lower inset dials are inspired by the TOM’s Igeta wheel, which the Starlet wore. The open 4-spoke design lets light through the dial, which charges the watch via solar power or fluorescent light. The watch can run for five months on a full charge.
TOM’s original logo is featured on the long band. The short band’s surfacing is a homage to the KP47’s B-pillar design. Both bands have a green edge color-matched to the logo.
The fixed loop is crafted from leather and colored white, red, and green to complement with the car’s livery. Meanwhile, the metal free loop is perforated, tapered, and painted black to correspond with the fender mirrors.
At the 36th minute the number 36 is etched into the crystal as a bridge to TOM’s current racing exploits. Last year the Toyota Gazoo Racing au TOM’s No.36 Supra took the GT500 Championship in SuperGT, with drivers Sho Tsuboi and Ritomo Miyata taking the Drivers’ Championships as well. It would be Tsuboi’s second such victory, having won both championships as a TOM’s driver in 2021 as well.
The case is made of carbon fiber reinforced resin, incorporating the suspension arm design for the lugs that have been a feature on many recent Casio Edifice watches. The TOM’s logo is etched into the back cover and the whole piece comes in a white, red, and green box reflecting the car’s livery.
We don’t know much about watches but this looks like a well designed piece with just the right amount of homage to the car it’s inspired by. Sometimes motorsports watches bear only minimal resemblance to the cars they pay tribute to. Perhaps watch aficionados can tell us in the comments if this is a cool piece or not. The watch retails for $300 and you can actually purchase it the US directly from Casio.
At $300, it is not a pricey watch at all so you will not target the watch nuts, it would be aimed at people who like a fun watch and who swaps often.
Otherwise you usually you want something a bit more understated, more subtle on your wrist, and that might be why most watch hommages feel too understated. This one feels very japanese, very “there are so much details in so little space” in a way, I expect them to sell all of these to japanese fans, and maybe a few elsewhere. It is just sooo perfectly japanese!
But with that much details and colors, why didn’t they go for a white, red and green woven NATO strap?
As an owner of a “few” Casio watches one solar and two G Shocks, I would buy this TOMS Casio.
I got this and have to say I am quite pleased with it. The details mentioned are cool yet subtle touches.
The box it comes in is nicely done as well.
Glad I was able to get it after missing out on the MF Ghost/Initial D one.