Koyote's Baekga wears a budget Casio despite owning luxury watches

Baekga, a member of the K-pop group Koyote, has revealed that despite owning several high-end luxury watches, he regularly wears an affordable Casio model priced in the tens of thousands of won.

Baekga recently shared his watch collection, which includes pieces from prestigious brands such as Rolex and Vacheron Constantin alongside a Casio metal watch. He described the Casio as a model he wears often without worrying about the price, adding that the battery needs replacing only about once every three years.

The watch Baekga showed off is believed to be from Casio's standard analog line, the MTP-1302D series — a model combining a silver-tone case, a metal band and a white-toned dial.

Retail prices vary by distribution channel both domestically and abroad, but the watch generally sells for under 100,000 won ($74). On domestic resale platforms, the MTP-1302D-7A1V has recently traded in the 40,000 to 50,000 won range, while open-market listings show prices of roughly 30,000 to 60,000 won.

The MTP-1302D is a traditional analog watch. Measuring 38.5 mm across and equipped with a date display, it focuses on the essentials.

According to Casio's official specifications, the case measures 44.2 mm tall, 38.5 mm wide and 9.2 mm thick, with a total weight of about 105 grams. The stainless steel band fits wrists between 150 and 205 mm and fastens with a three-fold clasp.

The watch uses a three-hand configuration displaying hours, minutes and seconds, with a date window at the 3 o'clock position. The dial features minute-track markings along its edge and bar-style indices.

The crystal is mineral glass, a material widely used in entry-level and mid-range watches. It is more scratch-resistant than acrylic while remaining more affordable than sapphire crystal.

Water resistance is rated at 5 bar, equivalent to 50 meters. Casio markets the watch as a 50-meter water-resistant model suitable for everyday contact with water.

The case and bezel receive an ion-plating treatment. The MTP-1302D-7A1 series, which features a white dial, uses a silver-tone case and a stainless steel band.

Rather than packing in elaborate functions, the model focuses on the basics: telling the time and displaying the date. Unlike a smartwatch, it requires no charging or app connectivity, and unlike a mechanical watch, it needs no movement servicing.

Baekga said he replaces the battery "once every three years" — here is how a quartz watch works.

The MTP-1302D runs on a quartz movement powered by a battery.

A quartz watch works by using electrical current from a battery to vibrate a quartz crystal, converting those vibrations into a steady timekeeping signal that drives the hands. This differs fundamentally from mechanical and automatic watches, which draw power from a wound mainspring or the motion of the wearer's wrist.

Casio lists the expected battery life of the MTP-1302D at approximately three years, based on the SR626SW cell — consistent with Baekga's on-camera remark that he replaces the battery "about once every three years."

Battery life can vary depending on usage conditions. When the battery runs out the watch stops, but it can be used again after a replacement.

Timekeeping accuracy is rated at plus or minus 20 seconds per month — a margin that, broken down by day, is small enough for everyday use.

Compared with luxury mechanical watches, the differences go beyond price and extend to construction. High-end mechanical timepieces use movements made up of hundreds of components and typically require periodic overhauls involving disassembly, cleaning and lubrication.

Quartz watches, by contrast, are relatively simple in structure and can be maintained primarily through battery replacements. That practicality helps explain why Baekga — who owns multiple expensive mechanical watches — singles out the MTP-1302D as the piece he reaches for most often.

The MTP-1302D is not a discontinued vintage model, despite what some online posts claim. Those posts describe it as a vintage, discontinued product, but that does not square with current official information.

Casio Korea's official website still lists several models in the same series, including the MTP-1302D-1A1V, MTP-1302D-7A2V and MTP-1302D-7BV. The white-dial MTP-1302D-7A1V also appears on Casio's international website.

Casio Japan lists the MTP-1302D-7A1JF as having launched in November 2024, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of 6,050 yen ($38) including tax. Its core specifications — 5-bar water resistance, an approximately three-year battery life and a date display — are identical to the global version.

Prices in South Korea vary widely depending on the retailer and whether the unit is a parallel import. Recent online listings range from around 30,000 won to 60,000 won, while resale platforms have seen transactions around the 40,000 to 50,000 won mark. On overseas resale markets, prices can climb to around 100,000 won depending on supply conditions.

Casio classifies the MTP-1302D within its "Standard" analog watch lineup. The model combines 50-meter water resistance, a date display, a metal band and an approximately three-year battery life — all at a price point in the tens of thousands of won.