At a cost of under $60, Thailand’s latest status symbol in politics has emerged. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has taken to gifting engraved Casio AE-1200WH digital watches to cabinet members, high-ranking officials, and allies, as reported by Bloomberg. The watch, featuring a retro world-map display, has garnered the nickname “Casio Royale” among watch enthusiasts. This gesture signifies a departure from the traditional luxury timepieces often associated with Thai politics.
Recipients of these engraved watches have become known as the “Casio Connection” within Thai political circles. According to Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat, who received his watch after a cabinet meeting, Anutin purchases these watches from small shops and markets during his trips around Bangkok, later having them engraved before presenting them to others. Siripong noted, “The value of what we wear isn’t just in its price. For me, it’s in the person who gives it.” This practice has led to speculation regarding political alliances and loyalty.
Casio Connection and Political Alliances
Thamanat Prompow, a key figure whose Kla Tham Party is seeking to join Anutin’s ruling coalition, has also been spotted wearing an engraved Casio watch, fueling discussions about a potential deal between the two parties. His party’s secretary-general suggested that the watch might have been a direct gift from the prime minister. However, Government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises downplayed the gesture, stating that the watches carry no political significance and are simply a reflection of Anutin’s practical taste and desire to share it with others.
Anutin’s Luxury Collection vs. Gifts
Anutin himself has a collection of luxury watches valued at over 60 million Thai baht ($1.8 million), including a recently worn Rolex Day-Date 40 at a birthday celebration for Newin Chidchob, a prominent figure in Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party. Newin was seen wearing a Richard Mille RM 30-01, as reported by Bloomberg. This contrasts sharply with the affordable Casio watches being gifted to others, highlighting a strategic shift in how political loyalty and status are symbolized.
Thai politicians have previously faced scrutiny for wearing expensive watches. In 2017, then-Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan was investigated for anti-graft after being photographed wearing several costly timepieces. He claimed the watches were borrowed from a wealthy friend who has since passed away. The National Anti-Corruption Commission eventually ruled that he had not intentionally filed a false asset declaration.
Read Also: Quince expands to UK challenging luxury markups
The Politics of Gift-Giving
The move towards more affordable watches like the Casio AE-1200WH marks a significant departure from the luxury timepieces that have long been associated with Thai political status. This trend suggests that luxury consumption is not the sole marker of status; personal touches and the value placed on an item by its giver can hold greater significance. Napon Jatusripitak, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, noted that such personal gifts can create a sense of obligation and loyalty among recipients, adding that gift-giving has historically been a means of cementing political alliances, albeit often controversially.
A Casio watch, despite being more down-to-earth than luxury brands, still conveys a sense of being an insider when given by the prime minister. Historically, luxury watches have rarely ended well for officials, as seen in the case of Yang Dacai, who was sentenced to 14 years for bribery after being photographed wearing 11 different luxury watches at the scene of a deadly bus crash in 2012.
Across Asia, there has been a backlash against politicians wearing luxury items, with the public using social media to express outrage and demand accountability. In South Korea, former first lady Kim Keon Hee was sentenced to four years in prison for accepting luxury gifts from a Unification Church official. This sentiment is particularly strong in the region, where internet users have leveraged social media to scrutinize the lifestyles of political elites, often leading to formal corruption allegations.
Gen Z’s Shift to Affordable Brands
This has led to increased awareness among Gen Z consumers that luxury is no longer a direct indicator of success but is instead often linked to corruption and political turmoil. As a result, there is a growing preference for more affordable and local brands, with Casio seeing a rise in sales across Southeast Asia, driven by Vietnam and Indonesia.
Dhika Lana, owner of Tanka Medium, a watch media outlet, observed that collectors are increasingly interested in brands like Casio and its G-Shock line, as well as Timex, seeking to explore beyond traditional luxury watch brands like Rolex. Lana stated, “Some of the watch communities want to explore what goes beyond Rolex; that’s the reason why there’s an increase in sales for microbrands.”