I remember buying my first “grown-up” Casio G-Shock sometime around 2014. It felt like a follow-up to the Baby-G my parents gave me when I was a kid, only this time I was spending my own money and paying attention to things like references, modules, and case designs. The watch was some kind of blacked-out DW5600 from Casio’s Military Series lineup with a negative display. I eventually sold it, but the core appeal of that watch never really left me. The square case and the feeling that it could handle just about anything made a lasting impression.
That memory came back recently when I covered the release of Casio’s new DW-5600MNC series. Among the different colorways, one model immediately reminded me of that old Military Series piece. The difference this time was what Casio had done with the strap. Rather than leaving the customization to the aftermarket, the DW5600MNC-1 arrives with a FIDLOCK magnetic clasp and an elastic nylon strap setup that feels like something a dedicated G-Shock enthusiast would have assembled after several rounds of trial and error.
Casio was kind enough to send one over for review, and I spent some time with it during a recent trip to Port Orchard, Washington. After wearing it through travel, daily errands, and the kind of activities that make a square Casio G-Shock feel most at home, I came away with a few thoughts. Let’s get into it.
A Square That Still Makes Sense
The DW5600 is one of those watches that rarely needs an introduction. The shape has remained largely unchanged since the original DW-5000 arrived in 1983, and there are very few watches at any price point that can claim that kind of longevity without feeling trapped by nostalgia.
I’ve spent years bouncing between the square platform and the 6900 series as my favorite branch of the G-Shock family tree. The answer changes depending on what I’ve been wearing lately. At the moment, though, the square has my attention. There’s something about its proportions and straightforward design that continues to feel relevant no matter how many new Casio G-Shock releases come and go.
That familiarity made the DW5600MNC-1 an easy choice for a long weekend of travel. It’s still unmistakably a 5600. The case dimensions remain compact despite the intimidating numbers on paper. At 48.9mm long, 42.8mm across, and 13.4mm thick, it wears far smaller than many modern sports watches. The lightweight resin construction helps tremendously here. At just 53 grams, the watch never felt top-heavy or cumbersome, even during long days on the wrist.
Whether I was hiking muddy trails, walking along the shoreline, sitting through long drives, or getting caught in the kind of rain the Pacific Northwest seems to produce on demand, the watch disappeared into the background in the best possible way. That’s exactly what I want from a square Casio G-Shock.
The Strap Is The Story
As much as I appreciate the DW5600 platform, the reason this particular model exists is the strap. The moment I picked the watch up, it was obvious that Casio was trying something different. Instead of the familiar resin strap, the DW5600MNC-1 uses an elastic woven strap paired with a FIDLOCK closure system. The material has a surprising amount of stretch, allowing the watch to conform naturally to the wrist without feeling restrictive. On my 6.75-inch wrist, it immediately felt more comfortable than the standard resin setup.
After a weekend of wear, including several hikes, beach walks, travel days, and plenty of wet weather, the strap remained the highlight of the entire package. It never became irritating, never felt overly tight, and never developed the hot spots that sometimes appear with traditional resin straps after extended wear.
What I found most interesting was how familiar the concept felt. Over the years, I’ve seen countless G-Shock owners replace factory straps with aftermarket elastic systems in search of greater comfort. The DW5600MNC-1 feels like Casio finally acknowledging that trend and offering its own version straight from the factory. The result feels less like a standard production watch and more like a thoughtfully assembled enthusiast build. Unfortunately, the clasp doesn’t quite reach the same level of execution.
Casio describes the system as incorporating magnetic and mechanical locking. In practice, the magnetic component feels like the primary retention method. During my week with the watch, the clasp opened unintentionally a couple of times. It wasn’t frequent enough to make me distrust the watch, but it happened often enough that I became aware of it.
Part of the appeal of the platform is absolute confidence. Once I strap on a Casio G-Shock, I generally stop thinking about it. Here, I occasionally found myself checking the clasp after more active moments.
The solution doesn’t seem particularly complicated. I’d love to see a future version incorporate a more substantial locking mechanism that physically secures the connection while allowing the magnets to assist with alignment and ease of use. The comfort is outstanding but the security still needs refinement.
Everything Else Remains Familiar
Beyond the strap, this is fundamentally the same DW5600 formula that has worked for decades. The bio-based resin case retains the durability people expect from the platform. The watch is shock resistant, rated to 200 meters of water resistance, and built with the same practical mindset that has made square G-Shocks such dependable companions for outdoor use.
The module is equally familiar. The stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm functions, hourly signal, auto-calendar, and LED backlight all work exactly as expected. Accuracy is rated at approximately plus or minus 15 seconds per month, and the CR2016 battery is expected to provide around five years of service.
The watch simply does what it’s supposed to do. During my time with it, I never found myself thinking about battery life, durability, or reliability. I just used it. For a watch designed around utility, that’s a compliment.
The Negative Display Remains A Weak Point
If the clasp represents my biggest concern about the new features, the display represents my biggest issue with the watch as a whole.
My review sample came in the fully blacked-out configuration, complete with a negative display. Visually, it looks fantastic. The monochromatic appearance ties everything together and reinforces the understated military-inspired aesthetic that originally drew me toward the watch. The problem appears once you step outside.
Legibility suffers noticeably in bright conditions, particularly when glare enters the equation. During hikes and beach walks, there were several moments when reading the time required more effort than it should have. That’s frustrating because these are exactly the situations where a Casio G-Shock should excel.
I’ve owned negative-display G-Shocks before and generally know what to expect, but this particular execution felt especially dependent on favorable lighting. If I were buying one of these for myself, I’d strongly consider one of the other DW5600MNC variants with a traditional positive display. In fact, my ideal version of this watch would combine this all-black strap and case combination with a standard display. That would be an easy choice.
Wrapping Things Up
After spending a week with the DW5600MNC-1, I came away feeling that Casio is heading in the right direction. The strap is excellent. It’s comfortable from the moment you put it on and remains that way throughout long days of wear. More importantly, it feels like Casio is paying attention to how enthusiasts actually use and modify their watches.
The clasp still needs work. The negative display remains a compromise. Neither issue was severe enough to overshadow the experience, but both kept the watch from feeling completely finished. Even so, I think this model succeeds.
At $165, it occupies an interesting middle ground between the basic square G-Shocks you’ll find at big-box retailers and the increasingly specialized models higher up the lineup. It feels more distinctive than the entry-level options without abandoning the simplicity that made the DW5600 popular in the first place.
I also wouldn’t be surprised if this becomes a popular starting point for future modifications. The platform already feels closer to a custom build than a stock watch, and I suspect enthusiasts will continue pushing the concept further.
For me, the DW5600MNC-1 feels like an early version of something with a lot of potential. The idea works. A few details still need refinement. After a long weekend of hiking, driving, beach walks, and rainy Pacific Northwest weather, I found myself hoping Casio continues developing it. That’s usually a good sign.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.