Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s office has distributed $57–$60 Casio watches that have quickly become a political status symbol among cabinet ministers, senior officials and political allies. The watches, which are engraved with the prime minister’s name, feature a distinctive retro-futuristic design and a world-map display. Recipients are informally referred to as having a “Casio Connection.”
Outlets describe the watches as a cheaper alternative to traditional luxury-watch markers of influence in Thai politics, where wristwatches are commonly used to signal status and closeness to power. Multiple reports cite the watch’s low price and its association with the prime minister as key reasons it spreads through political networks. One outlet highlights the “Casio Royale” nickname, while others focus on the watch’s origins as gifts from the prime minister to officials and supporters, turning a mass-market product into a recognizable marker of political proximity.
