I like square G-SHOCKs more than any other watches.
This time, I am introducing a model I really love!
- It looks just like a G-SHOCK, but surprisingly, it is not one
- A little-known model that previously could only be obtained in Japan through imports
- Finally Officially Released in Japan!
An Inexpensive Casio That Looks Remarkably Like a Square G-SHOCK
This is W-218H-1B
the W-218H-1 from the Casio Standard line, often called an inexpensive Casio.
Surprisingly, this watch is not a G-SHOCK!
Where to Buy the Casio W-218H-1B
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A Model Fans Had Been Waiting to See Released in Japan
This is not actually its first appearance on this site.
I previously covered it in the following article.
I am introducing it again because there has been a major change. What changed?
Previously,
it was an overseas model that could only be obtained through imports
; now,
it has officially launched in Japan, making it easier to buy
.
(As CASIO's website makes clear, however, it is a web-exclusive release.)
An Irresistible Watch for Square G-SHOCK Enthusiasts
Some G-SHOCKs have never been released in Japan.
The DW-5300 is one of them.
I wanted to show an image from CASIO's website, but I could only find images on personal sites, so the Google image-search results page for G-SHOCK DW-5300 is shown here.
It looks like the W-218H, doesn't it!
The W-218H is a model inspired by this elusive watch, the DW-5300.
I once saw the DW-5300 in a book. At the time, I really wanted one.
Back then, some people thought it might have been the watch worn in the movie Mission: Impossible(Apparently, it was actually a different model.)
The W-218H has a flat bezel, but its 8 screw-like details and 4 grooves give it a distinctive look, making it look so much like the DW-5300 that you could mistake it for a G-SHOCK at first glance.
For G-SHOCK fans, seeing this design return was a pleasure, even in an inexpensive Casio.
However, for a long time, the W-218H was also unavailable as a domestic model in Japan and could only be obtained through imports.
Since the DW-5300 was never released in Japan, perhaps fewer people there felt attached to it, which may explain why this design remained unavailable domestically for so long.
The Band Is a Little Disappointing. Can You Fit a G-SHOCK Band?
When a watch looks this much like a G-SHOCK, the disappointing part is its band.
The band is thin and feels rather flimsy.
It feels thin and flimsy—not very reassuring.
That does make it light and easy to wear, though, so it is not all bad.
So, could you fit a G-SHOCK metal-core or fine-resin band instead…?
The short answer is yes, but it takes a little ingenuity.
I Tried Swapping in a G-SHOCK Band!
Here are photos showing the band swap I use on my own watch.
(The watch in the photos is the orange W-218H-4B2, which has not been released domestically in Japan.)
Casio Standard and G-SHOCK Band Widths
G-SHOCK and Casio Collection watches have different band widths at the attachment point.
The inexpensive Casio uses 18mm
The G-SHOCK uses 16mm
The G-SHOCK is bulkier, yet its attachment width is smaller.
So, if you fit the G-SHOCK band directly…
A gap exposes the watch's spring bar—it looks very awkward.
That is why fitting the band requires a small adjustment.
How to Fit the Band
What You Need: Sturdy Rubber Tubing.
I think tubing used for wiring or similar purposes would work well
Here is the kind of rubber tubing I mean. Cut 4 pieces approximately 1mm long.
They are not very visible, so you do not need to worry too much about making the cut surfaces perfectly neat.
Here is the result with the tubing inserted as spacers.
The design looks a little unusual but it feels good to wear.
You might ask why I bought an expensive G-SHOCK—in this case, the GW-B5600BC—only to put its band on a cheap watch body. That is simply my personal preference.
This approach requires buying 2 watches and therefore costs more; the appearance can look a little unusual as well, so I would not recommend it to everyone.
I use it every day, and it feels good to wear.
At a glance, it looks like the DW-5300 G-SHOCK I always dreamed of owning.
And it has an exceptionally comfortable fine-resin band.
It is extremely practical.
An Unusual Combination Is Possible, Too
I love orange—and this combination is possible too.
On the left is a modified W-218H-4B2 with the fine-resin band supplied with the GW-B5600BC
On the right is a modified GW-M5600 with the metal-core band supplied with the GW-M5610BC
. Both are exceptionally comfortable to wear.
There are 3 main types of interchangeable bands for the 5000/5600 family.
Of these, standard bands and metal-core composite bands are available online as genuine CASIO parts.
I could not find the fine-resin band shown in the photos above for sale online as a separate part.
It seems the only way to get one is to buy another G-SHOCK, such as a GW-B5600BC, and remove its band.
Here is the genuine standard band
Where to Buy a Casio DW-5600 Replacement Band
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Here is the metal-core band.
Where to Buy a Casio Metal-Core Band for GW-M5600BC, GW-M5610BC, and GW-6900BC
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Swapping them takes a little practice, but a spring-bar tool should make it possible.
Where to Buy a JOREST Watch Band Adjustment Tool Set (20 Spring Bars, 13 Replacement Tips)
a JOREST Watch Band Adjustment Tool Set (20 Spring Bars, 13 Replacement Tips)
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3 Models Released in Japan, Plus Other Recommendations!
The current Japanese release includes 3 colors.
There are also other versions sold overseas, including various models available through Amazon and Rakuten—here are some recommendations.
The 3 Official Japanese Releases
The following 3 models have officially launched in Japan.
Where to Buy the Casio W-218H-1B
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Where to Buy the Casio W-218H-5BV
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Where to Buy the Casio W-218HC
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Recommended Overseas Models
Here are some recommended overseas models available from online retailers.
First is the orange W-218H-4B2V shown in the band modification above.
Where to Buy the Casio W-218H-4B2V
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Next is the W-218HD-1AV, which I think of as a budget full-metal look-alike.
Its appeal is that it looks like a full-metal G-SHOCK at first glance.
Where to Buy the Casio W-218HD-1AV
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It also fulfills the dream of what the elusive DW-5300 might look like if it had been made full metal, like the GMW-B5000D.
(It is not actually full metal; the bezel has a painted finish.)
They look similar at a glance, but as you can see below, the price difference is more than 10 times.
Where to Buy the Casio W-218HD-1AV
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Where to Buy the Casio GMW-B5000D-1
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Unlike a G-SHOCK, the W-218H does not have a raised bezel.
That means the display is more exposed to scratches, so a screen protector is worth considering if scratches bother you.
Where to Buy a Screen Protector for Casio W-218H
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Video Guide: W-218
Features
There are no particularly unusual features, but it has water resistance, as you would expect from a Casio watch.
It may not be as exceptionally tough as a G-SHOCK, but Casio watches are durable.
A fall from a few meters will not break it, though it may leave scratches.
• It also has a stopwatch, one alarm, and a light.
• Another feature is its long battery life of 7 years.
• Electronic-clock features are not included
(CASIO watches tend to keep time fairly well, so adjusting it once a month should be sufficient for normal use.)
There is no built-in way to mute the beeps when you press the buttons.
I modified mine to silence the beeps and use it that way.
(The modification is not complicated: simply place a small piece of tape between the small spring inside the watch and the case back.)
My Take
I recommend this watch to
- people who find G-SHOCKs expensive but want the square G-SHOCK look on a smaller budget
- people who admire the DW-5300 G-SHOCK or feel nostalgic about it
—those are the kinds of watch fans I have in mind.
Because this model is inexpensive,
- people who do not want to scratch an expensive G-SHOCK could use it as an everyday watch
—I think that is a good option, too.
(Not wanting to scratch a G-SHOCK might seem to miss the point, but I understand the feeling.)
With a little ingenuity, you can also make a G-SHOCK band work on it.
The W-218H costs considerably less than a G-SHOCK, so why not consider buying one?
I recommend it.
Specifications
| Model | W-218H |
| Size (L × W × H) | 44.4 × 43.2 × 10.8 mm |
| Weight | 37 g |
| Band Material | Urethane |
| Bezel Material | Urethane |
| Features | Water resistant to 5 atmospheres |