Japan's Casio recently released a high-end desktop calculator model S100X on its official website. It is hand-painted with traditional Japanese lacquer art and is priced at about 99,000 yen (approximately $624). It is limited to 650 units worldwide and is officially positioned as a "craft-level calculator that can be placed on the table." Although this product only uses a traditional segmented LCD display and is not a scientific or graphing calculator, the investment in materials and workmanship make it more like a design object for enthusiasts and collectors.
The S100X is made of an aluminum alloy one-piece machined body, and then handed over to Yamakyu Shitsuki, a Japanese company that has been engaged in lacquerware production since 1930, for surface coating. The paint is taken from the sap of the raw lacquer tree, and is hand-painted and polished through multiple processes. Finally, it presents a high-gloss black body with a warm red smudge effect at the edges. According to reports, the lacquer master Umeda Ryuji is responsible for the lacquering process of this product. From the beginning of painting to the completion of the finished product, a single calculator takes about a month. This is one of the reasons why its output is extremely limited and the price is much higher than ordinary calculators.
In terms of functional configuration, S100X does not pursue complex calculations, but emphasizes daily business and desktop usage scenarios. It has built-in currency conversion and tax calculation functions, and is equipped with a wide 12-digit display with a slight blue tone. It is said to be inspired by the visual effects of pen and ink. The power part adopts a dual power supply design of solar panels and button batteries. Under the premise of daily use of about one hour a day, Casio states that a single battery can theoretically last up to seven years, trying to avoid the maintenance burden caused by frequent battery replacement.
In terms of appearance, Casio claims that instead of gold-plating the S100X, it should use traditional lacquer to present a more low-key and luxurious texture, combined with high-precision metal body processing and detail polishing, making the whole machine look closer to a craft jewelry on the desktop than an ordinary office tool. The official also released a promotional video, highlighting its "Made in Japan" and Lacquer Art Edition positioning, further emphasizing its collection attributes and brand craftsmanship heritage.
Currently, this S100X is only available in limited form, with a total of 650 units for the global market. Interested consumers can learn more through channels such as Casio Japan’s official website. As mainstream electronic devices continue to develop towards intelligence and touch screens, Casio uses an "old-school" segmented display calculator to try to use traditional craftsmanship and fine workmanship to arouse people's attention to the texture and durability of the physical tool itself.