The S100X boasts a hand-applied Japanese lacquer finish that takes a month to complete.
Can a simple calculator with a traditional segmented LCD screen be considered beautiful? Casio’s answer is the new S100X, which features a traditional Japanese hand-painted finish using sap from the lacquer tree. This gives the calculator a glossy black finish with warm red highlights on its edges, resulting in a luxurious appearance surpassing even a potential gold-plated variant.
Casio partnered with Yamakyu Shitsuki, a Japanese maker of lacquerware since 1930, to apply this unique finish to the calculator’s milled aluminum alloy body. It took master artisan Ryuji Umeda a month to complete this lacquering technique, as reported by Hypebeast. Consequently, the Casio S100X is limited to 650 units worldwide, priced at ¥99,000 (approximately $624).
Although it’s not an advanced calculator, the S100X includes currency conversion and tax calculation functions, along with a wide 12-digit display tinted blue to resemble fountain pen ink. It is powered by a built-in solar panel and a single coin battery expected to last for up to seven years with about an hour of daily use.