How Durable Are Casio Watches?

Casio’s are often seen a great beater watch, which basically means it’s the type of watch you can wear and not worry about it and if it gets banged up, it will be okay.

But are Casio’s actually durable?  …well of course they are, otherwise they wouldn’t be getting use as beaters.

Casio’s are extremely durable, they really are hard wearing and they can take a lot. This is why people like them. The fact they are super affordable is just a bonus. There are plenty of other cheap brands out there and they are nowhere near a popular, simply as they are not as robust, but let’s look at what actually makes Casio’s so durable.

Casio’s Are Made With Durable Materials

When we look at Casio’s they may seem like cheap plastic watches …which they are, but this isn’t a bad thing.

The plastic resin they use is very strong and isn’t going to crack or break very easily. Whatever mix of plastics they are using; it’s a very durable substance. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it break. I mean, I’m sure it’s happened, but it’s rare, this stuff is solid. 

If you have one of their watches that are made from stainless steel …well this is a very strong material that is commonly used in watches, simply as it is extremely durable.  

Both Casio’s resin and stainless steel is very hard wearing and will not just fall apart on you. Of course both types of material will pick up scratches, but that is only cosmetic, structurally they are very sound.

Casio’s Have Plastic Screens/Crystals

One of the few negatives parts of Casio’s is the screen, which is made out of a plastic …which means it can scratch. 

Usually people like to it when watches have a sapphire crystal, which are pretty much scratch resistant. However, the fact that Casio’s do not have sapphire may seem like a negative, but I don’t think this is actually that bad.   

I have many Casio’s for many years and the reality is they will get scratched, but they are not as easy to bang up as some plastic crystals and I have a feeling they have done something to the plastic  to make it a little tougher than usual.  

I have really only scratched the screen of a Casio after really scraping it on something quite hard. I’m talking about fully smacking my wrist off a brick wall kind of thing.

I have other watches, like my Vostoks, that also have acrylic crystals and these seem to pick up scratches from just looking at them.

I really wouldn’t worry too much about your Casio’s screen you can be pretty rough with them and the fact they have a plastic glass shouldn’t make you be more cautious, they are very durable and are quite resistant to most scratching.     

Casio’s Are Constructed In A Way That Makes Them Durable

When we actually look at how Casio’s are constructed you can see how it can help them be more durable.

I’ve already mentioned how the materials used are tough, but if you actually pull everything apart, there isn’t a lot that goes into a Casio, especially the digital watches. There are no moving parts. There are no delicate cogs which makes them more robust. A little circuit board is going to be more durable than a tiny hairspring moving back and forth on pivot. 

The quality of the construction is also very good. They are well put together watches and even though they are cheap, they are made to a very high standard.

(You can read more about – Is Casio A God Tier Watch Brand?)

Casio Are Water Resistant

A part of the construction that can help with them be more durable is the seals. Every Casio has some sort of water resistance and they seem to have done a very good job of this.

A lot of their watches are only classed as “water resist” which really means splash proof, but the reality is a lot different. Casio are quite conservative with their water resistant rating and while we should really listen to them, no one really does.

Myself and pretty much everyone else has been swimming with a supposedly slash proof Casio and had no issues. The watches can handle a lot more than what is stated and this just makes the argument for Casio’s durability even stronger. 

(You can read more about – Are Casio Watches Suitable For Swimming Or Diving?)

Casio’s Have Great Battery Life

An often missed area of discussion is the battery life of Casio’s. They are often extremely long lasting and this does help with their durability. You can always pick up your Casio watch and know it will be running.

I do love mechanical watches, but it is a little annoying if you are in a rush and to have to wind it up and set the time. I have also had the issue of looking down at my wrist and realising the watch has stopped.

This isn’t going to happen with a Casio and in fact the batteries can last up to 10 years on some models, which is just crazy. Getting a battery replaced is very cheap, or doing it yourself is easy and only having to do this every 10 years is pretty incredible and blows a lot of the competition out of the water. 

(You can read more about – What Is The Best Casio Watch For Everyday Use?)

Casio Straps Are Usually Their Weak Point

While Casio’s are extremely durable, they do have one weakness …their straps.

If you have a Casio on rubber strap, this will usually perish at some point. Usually a crack will form where the buckle and hole meet. It makes sense, there will be more pressure here and it can slowly wear things down.

I need to point out that this does take a while. It can be a good 5 years, so you still get a lot of wear from these straps before they do break.

Also, it really does not take much money or effort to change the strap. While it is an inconvenience, it is not the end of the world.

Unless you have a metal bracelet, this is always going to happen eventually with any watch you buy, so it is not an issue with only Casio’s.   

Casio’s Can Be Shock Resistance

A lot of Casio’s durability can be summed up by saying they are shock resistant. This of course comes down to the fact that they are made from strong materials, have few moving parts and that these are all assembled to a high quality, as I have already discussed.

The truth is that the normal everyday Casio really can take a beating. I have dropped every one I have owned and they have all been fine …I would not want to do this with a mechanical watch.

Of course if you speak to Casio they will tell you to be careful and say their watches are not that shock resistant …but they will also tell you about G-shocks.

The G-shocks kind of gives you a clue about what they might be about …they are very shock resistant. They are specially designed to be shockproof and the movement is housed inside the case in a way that allows it to be cushioned, so it can take extra forces compared to an average watch. 

I would say you can bash about the average Casio and have no problems, but if you want to be sure your watch can take a beating, buy a G-shock, they are the kings of durability and are basically indestructible.  They take all the strengths of normal Casio and supercharge them.

(You can read more about – Is The Casio G-Shock Square The Only Watch You Ever Need?)

Conclusion

Hopefully now you can see that Casio’s really are very durable. They are loved by many and often used as beater for good reason, they can just handle anything and then when you go to G-shock, you really are safe in the knowledge that your watch is going to be fine, no matter what.

If you want a watch that is hard wearing, just get a Casio.

(You can read more about – Frequently Asked Questions About – Casio Watches)