Stranger Things – a Netflix phenomenon packed with Casio watches

Tags: Presentation | Casio | Classic | Retro

16.12.2025 | 4 MIN

We thought it would be just another grittier sci-fi story for teenagers. Instead, it took the world by storm. A series that, thanks to a finely honed premise and a script that keeps you in suspense from the first minute to the last, gets under your skin. The fifth and final season of Stranger Things has just kicked off, and its horror vibe will keep us chilled right through the end of the year. And the standout product placement? Casio watches.

Stranger Things ultimately succeeded for other reasons as well—above all, the performances. Alongside seasoned actors like Winona Ryder and David Harbour, the child protagonists were a revelation. Led, of course, by Eleven—played by Millie Bobby Brown (now Bongiovi). Over the ten years since the show launched, we literally watched them grow up—on screen and as actors. But what we’re interested in here is the watches they wore.

Veteran actors David Harbour (wearing a Casio B640) and Winona Ryder.

Another key element of Stranger Things is its pitch-perfect 1980s vibe. Yes, Stranger Things is a return to the past—and the props have to match. And what watch did practically every kid in the ’80s want? A digital watch! Casio was then (and has been ever since) the king of digital watches. So it’s no surprise the costume department zeroed in on Casio models. They were off by a few years here and there—but who’s counting, right? We’re not watching a documentary. Thankfully.

Dustin (on the left) wears a Casio F-91W in the first season—even though it wasn’t yet on the market at the time the story is set.

Eleven doesn’t wear a watch, although in the first season Mike lends her a calculator watch a couple of times to help her blend in. It was likely an unbranded piece used purely as a prop.

From the very first season in 2016, fans have diligently hunted down the watches that appeared on screen. The series featured plenty of interesting pieces, including an Armitron with an FM radio (worn by Dustin), a Qbert Nelsonic you could actually play Qbert on (worn by Will), orthe bright, cheerful Swatch Yel_Race (worn by Max).

Max wore a Swatch.

And of course, the show also featured plenty of Casio watches. Standouts included the calculator CA53W seen on Mike, Dustin’s F-91W, and the metal B640 worn by Sheriff Jim Hopper.

The final season is set in 1987, and more models make an appearance. The main attraction is G-Shocks—the props team had been saving those for the finale. Or did Casio have a hand in that?

G-Shocks debuted in 1983. They weren’t an instant hit—certainly not in Japan. It took a TV commercial featuring the watch as a hockey puck to kick-start their popularity. The U.S. market was the key driver.

Two years ago, Casio introduced the Casio Vintage A120WEST-1AER with Stranger Things motifs. Casio clearly recognized the show’s impact and the marketing potential, and teamed up with the Netflix series. Whether that influenced the watch selection in the fifth season, I don’t know. But I wouldn’t be surprised.

Several very interesting pieces appear. Among them are some of the earliest round G-Shocks, the DW-5750—worn by none other than the gang’s tech genius, Dustin. He’s no longer so little in the final season, so his watch gets an upgrade too.

And speaking of G-Shocks, we have to mention the DW-5600. You can clearly spot one on Lucas’s wrist. Based on the footage, it appears to be a DW-5600E, which didn’t launch until 1993; however, its direct predecessor, the DW-5600 series, did debut in 1987—and its predecessor’s predecessor, the DW-5000C, dates back to 1983.

Lucas wears classic G-Shocks.

Casio also gave the classic square G-Shock the special-edition treatment with the Casio G-Shock Original DW-5600STT-1ER Stranger Things Collaboration. The theme is obvious to anyone who’s even glanced at the show. The strap keeper is marked with the number 11. Not a numbered limited edition, but a special edition. Sold out? Of course.

But that’s far from everything. Will has grown up too, moving from a game watch to a Casio digital in the style of the B210.

But the character that interests us most is Steve Harrington, who’s undergone a major arc of his own. What does he wear in the fifth season? The AQ450. You can also find this model today as a retro reissue in Casio’s lineup—the Casio Vintage AQ800.

Steve is most likely wearing a Casio digital that today is known as the AQ800.

And it’s precisely this ana‑digi that Casio introduced as the second collaboration model tied to the show’s final season. The typically pixelated dial, reminiscent of the 1980s Sega Mega Drive, gives way to the tangled tendrils of the Upside Down, where Vecna is hiding.

Again, it’s not a numbered limited edition but a special edition, so it’s likely only a matter of time before it disappears as well. It comes in a box with the same black‑and‑white series motif, and the clasp is engraved 001.

Casio isn’t the only brand to do a Stranger Things edition. It’s been almost two years since Timex unveiled some stylishly thought‑out models on this theme. They clearly put more effort into the details, but on the show itself, Casio still stole the spotlight.

We’ll find out how the series ends on New Year’s Eve, when the final battle erupts. If you’ve already started the last season, please don’t drop spoilers in the comments. :)I’m very much a “whole season in one sitting” viewer.

What you can absolutely share, though, are other interesting watches that popped up throughout the series.

Sources:

• Netflix
• Casio

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