Casio G-Shock DW-5600 Review - Old But Still Gold?!
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The Casio G-Shock DW-5600 is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and iconic watches you can buy for under $100, alongside the legendary F-91W. The DW-5600 was the brainchild of Kikuo Ibe, a young engineer at Casio HQ, who undertook years of hard work refining the product for its eventual release in 1987. Prior to launch, Kikuo Ibe and the team created no less than 200 prototypes until a breakthrough happened in 1983, leading to the now famed G-Shock Shock-resistance core you can find in modern Casio G-Shock watches. This revolutionary technology has transformed the industry and made toughness affordable for the masses.
These things, these low-cost beasts, are some of the most robust on the planet, thanks to years of R&D, countless sleepless nights, and likely a truckload of cash! But, it's safe to say it was worth it, as this range is one of their most popular and well-loved in the horological community.
Since the first model debuted in the late 80s, the DW-5600 hasn't evolved a great deal physically; the core styling (and literal core) have remained true - as they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." However, that hasn't stopped Casio from experimenting. We now have countless cosmetic variants, some with internal techy upgrades. Despite all these new releases and new technology, my favorite will always be the original and speaking of, that is the main protagonist today.
While it's my pick of the ever-expanding range, is the OG the right one for you? Well, here's the information you need.
Iconic Styling Through and Through
I know I've already mentioned this, but it's true, the DW-5600 Classic is iconic. You'd have to be living under a rock to have not seen one of these in the wild or on the old interwebs. The original styling and wrist presence have little changed since it debuted, but it didn't need to. Casio nailed the design first time round, so why change it? Even their newer, outlandish, and sometimes garish offerings, still have the same DNA. The DW-5600 looks built for purpose, and that is to handle nearly anything you'd throw at it, which we will discover.
The DW-5600 gets its name ("The Square") from the shape of the case, and bezel. In reality, neither is what you'd call a true square, but the name stuck.
That aside, the DW-5600 is more layered than you'd think and it starts with the bezel. It protrudes a little from the case, and not only looks cool, but also acts as a barrier to help protect the crystal. It has additional depth baked-in, in the form of raised areas for the branding. The case sits under this and juts out with the two broad shoulders that house the metal buttons and enhance that robust look.
You might have also noticed there is a subtle difference between the two models we have on hand. The black variant is based upon the original 1987 release, whereas the military green is more minimalist, with some subtle tweaks to the display-surrounding text. It isn't drastic; if anything it's nice to see some versions with a bit of uniqueness. Other than that (and the color, obviously), these are the same, and that's what makes the range great. It's familiar, but there's variety if you want something a tad more experimental.
Built to last
Not only does the G-Shock DW-5600 look tough as nails, but it's also built like that too. Starting with the inner core, Casio uses something they call a 'Hollow Structure.' This unique feature is inspired by the inside of a ball, allowing the module to be supported minimally, enabling it to virtually float inside the case, nullifying lighter impacts. Casio then goes a step further by lining the inside with a cushioning material; helping prevent any errors if the watch is dropped or knocked with more force.
Finally is the outer resin shell. This large, 3D design has the previously mentioned protruding elements to protect the vital module further; preventing the case rear from impacting the ground directly in most scenarios.
What does all this mean in the real world? Well, if you've seen G-Shock advertising campaigns, you'll know that these are well built and were and still are designed to tackle nearly everything you can throw at them. I've been a DW-5600 owner for a while and can confirm this watch has had its fair share of knocks, scrapes, drops and dips in water, and it's still working as if it was fresh from the factory. Of course, these watches aren't invulnerable and can be damaged or even destroyed, but they're a lot tougher than your standard quartz or automatic watch. That's why many servicemen and women use G-Shocks in the field. Of course, given extensive use, the case will quickly show many scuffs and scrapes, but I don't think this is particularly a negative.
We've all likely damaged a steel watch and thought that was it; it's ruined, but a G-Shock almost looks good with damage. It gives every unit a unique personality.
Of course, there is one weak point to most affordable G-Shocks, and that is the crystal; it's only mineral. Now mineral is pretty good at surviving drops, though it's not particularly scratch resistant, so there is a trade-off versus harder materials like sapphire. Casio has sought to tackle this with the raised bezel, though that can only provide a limited amount of protection.
So these aren't totally invincible watches, but they can take a fair few big hits and keep going.
Proprietary band
The Casio DW-5600 is many things, but a strap monster it is not. Given the case design and well-integrated stock strap, you'll have difficulty finding viable aftermarket options without using bulky adapters.
This is primarily due to something I hinted at earlier. Casio designed the resin strap with extra bulges that prevent the case back from hitting the ground if accidentally dropped rear end first. In a way, this is a clever design, but on the flip side, the strap is trickier to replace and isn't the best out there.
I find the stock resin band is not the most comfortable, as the design prioritises durability over comfort. Of course, we can't expect high-grade FKM rubber or similar on an affordable offering such as this, though softer resin would be appreciated. Again though, this may have negative impacts on the famed durability.
Luckily, unlike many other G-Shocks, the DW-5600 is quite versatile and fits my slim wrist just fine, wearing better than expected in that regard. The 5600 is also pretty light, weighing in at just 53g (1.87oz), which prevents it from feeling cumbersome, despite the size. Nevertheless, this type of watch is naturally going to struggle to slip under sleeves of any kind. Of course, this is just my singular experience, and as we are all different, you could likely find this more or less comfortable to wear than I.
On the plus side, the 5600 has a broad scope to fit plenty of wrist sizes thanks to the abundance of adjustment holes in the strap. All this means that the 5600 will fit wrist sizes similar to mine (6 inches) as well as larger and possibly a touch smaller. Unlike some similarly-designed watches, the strap is not absurdly long, so you problably won't be left with a huge amount of excess. Keep in mind that the total lug to lug length (53mm approx) may cause the dreaded 'overhang' on skinny arms.
There's also a steel buckle present. This gives more peace of mind, as some rivals are stuck with an inferior plastic one, which could be a crucial point of failure.
Awesome legibility - Solid Functionality
Like many other fully digital Casio offerings, the screen is a highlight. The 5600 is what I would call "very legible" as the positive display is easy to read in most situations, and when the light fades, there's even a brilliant backlight. So you're never truly in the dark. On the other end of the spectrum, there's the negative display used on the Green version of the watch. These are arguably cooler aesthetically, though the legibility is substantially worse in most lighting conditions. The backlight isn't as potent either, which could swing your decision, depending on where you plan to use your G-Shock.
Out of the box, the 5600 has a base set of features that could help in a few daily situations. First up there is the main (home) screen which shows you the time, day, date, and month. Then there is a series of adjustable alarms, a timer, and a stopwatch, and that's your lot. Okay, this isn't the most feature-packed Casio out there, but it is very familiar to existing Casio owners. For more feature-packed options, you'll need to either pay a bit more or forego the G-Shock line and look at Casio's other alternative digitals.
Quick Specifications Check:
Case width: 43.5mm
Case height: 48.3mm
Thickness: 12.6mm
Lug width: 16mm
Case: Resin
WR: 200m
Module: 3229 (Quartz)
Accuracy: -/+ 15 seconds per month
Battery life: 2 year approx (battery type CR2016)
The Verdict
What can I say about the 5600 that I haven't already? Is it the best G-Shock that Casio has ever made? On a technical level, no. As it stands, it's not the most featured packed, it lacks the extra durability of some other models, and I don't find it super comfortable (but you might).
However, I can say the DW-5600 is an iconic watch that's very tough and affordable. Starting from around $70 (£60), depending on your location, it shouldn't break the bank, and it's now available in many variants, including some that are metal-cased and even ones with extra features like solar charging. If you don't like those I've reviewed here today, there is bound to be one out there that does float your boat; it just might cost you a few more pennies.
Disclaimer: The DW-5610 (green version) was purchased by Ben’s Watch Club for this review. Amazon covered the cost of the DW-5600 (black version) by means of an Amazon Influencer affiliate reward voucher. Amazon retained no creative control over this video, so all thoughts are my own.