(ANALYSIS) Pope Francis is known for his aesthetic: simplicity and modesty with plain white robes, a few silver pieces of jewelry, and black orthopedic shoes. His wristwatch is no exception: A Casio MQ24-7B2.

When you’re the Bishop of Rome, the sovereign monarch of a tiny nation, and head of one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, “modesty” can be a bit subjective.

While Pope Francis is undoubtedly a humble pontiff, it can be hard for the average Catholic to find much in common with his wardrobe. Not many members of the universal church can afford a silver crucifix the size of a ping-pong paddle, and custom Italian robes are out of the budget for most families.

There is, however, one way Catholics can get a little closer to the papal look without breaking the bank; Catholics can own the same watch as Pope Francis for little more than the cost of a Starbucks coffee.

The Roman pontiff has been often spotted with a simple black and white timepiece on his wrist. It’s usually hidden under the sleeves of his robes and often too small to easily identify from pictures.  Online watch enthusiasts have guessed it to be an analog Casio MQ24-7B2. 

In a short email exchange, Casio confirmed the watch’s make and model for the first time.

“It seems like Pope Francis wears Casio's MQ-24,” said a Casio representative in their first public confirmation that the pontiff is wearing one of their watches. “The model is one of our basic watch lineup and loved by many people all over the world.”

“Basic” is the key word here.

The MQ24 is one of Casio’s most budget models, featuring minimal water resistance, no date window and a standard, non-sweeping second hand. Its face is undecorated, featuring just three pieces of text: the Casio logo, a labeling of its quartz movement (the cheapest available), and its certification for water resistance.

Hours on the watch are written in easy-to-read, plain Arabic numerals. It features no luminescent marks for telling time in the dark, and its band is made of a simple black resin.

It is, by all accounts, the most basic watch that Casio offers. It costs $8.

Pope Francis seems to have bought his watch himself, or else ordered it to be purchased. Casio confirmed that the watch was not a gift from them. Indeed, they didn’t know that their watch was being bought by the pontiff.

“No, we haven’t heard from the Vatican,” said a Casio representative.

In contrast to Francis, previous popes of the 20th and early 21st century have often sported some of the finest timepieces available, far out of the price range of the average member of their flock.

Pope Benedict, once named a style icon by Gentlemen’s Quarterly, received a variety of watches as pontiff from foreign diplomats.  He famously wore a beautiful watch to the press conference where he announced his resignation as pope, an “Erhard Junghans” branded timepiece from his native Germany. 

The model was reported to cost a couple thousand dollars, though he didn’t purchase it for himself. He received it as a present from Volker Kauder, a German politician.

Pope Saint John Paul II, Benedict’s predecessor, was akin to Francis in his humble aesthetic, favoring less flashy vestments and simpler episcopal accessories. 

However, the exception to this modesty was his signature timepiece from the most famous luxury watch brand in the world – a Rolex DateJust. The watch was a more modest stainless-steel model, foregoing the precious metal versions available such as gold. It was a constant companion throughout his decades of papacy.

The Casio MQ24-7B2 is not a fashion statement. It’s the cheap, utilitarian tool of a man with a lot of appointments to get to on time.

It’s up to each Catholic’s personal tastes whether they prefer their pope to wear a pricey gift on his wrist or if they’d rather the pontiff keeps it casual. There’s certainly been a lot of both luxury and modesty in the history of papal accessories, and each successor brings their own personality to the office.

But it’s clear from this Casio that Pope Francis sits on an end of that spectrum that’s quite the opposite of his immediate predecessors.

Timothy Nerozzi is a writer and editor from northeastern Pennsylvania. He covers religious issues with a focus on the Catholic Church and Japanese society and culture.