I think your battery longevity is the longest I’ve ever heard of. I had an old AW-500 that went I think 10-11 years. That’s my best.

There are some pros and cons to the newer 4 screw G Shock backs. They are certainly lighter than the traditional screw in backs, and probably cheaper to produce. However, there are some potential problems with that design as there are questions as to how many times you can change the batteries on that design before the threads in the resin case lose their functionality. General consensus is that the older screw in back system is both a more structurally sound and elegant design.

Thanks for reading,

petew

I wanted to get a new one, since the old watch served me so well. Found the current version at Walmart for $48. While the front looked the same, it’s actually DW5600E now. Also, gone is the kind of full screw back like classic watches. The DW5600E uses the lighter duty 4 mini screw back design. Moreover, the Dual Time function seems to be gone in DW5600E.

What do folks here think about the newer back design?

Cheers, Greg

I believe that’s a much harder question, there the DW-5600C was produced in large numbers, while the DW-5000C is pretty rare. Maybe a research on the DW-5200 wouuld be interesting.

Hi Greg,

I also know there are at least 3 models. If I’m correct, GQ-100, GQ-200 and GQ-300. I would love to see a GQ-200 model released as a G-Shock. This clock is huge and the alarm is very loud. I took it with me on vacation and could wake up an entire small camping with it. Also the EL is very bright. I do not know much about the Muscle time, but I can’t find them very much for sale.

Cheers,

Sjors

Overload in CO

I love those Muscle Time clocks…keep meaning to pick one up. There are at least three different models right? Now how cool would it be if Casio released a G that looked like the GQ-200…

Cheers, Greg

I’m just speculating, but I have heard that Casio or Team Tough turned down one or two models before the DW-5000C was accepted for production. It is said the Casio Muscle Time was shaped after the first turned down G-Shock designs.

With your comment that might be the case…

Cheers,

Sjors

This is a phantastic article. I have read about bits and pieces, but you have made an awesome summery of the DW-5600C type G’s. I have a Japan A and a Japan H, both with 691 module. I have spare batteries, but I think it will take a long tome before i have to change that.

Cheers,

Sjors

Bryan - I appreciate the kind words. One of the difficult aspects of collecting a non-mainstream item such as vintage digital watches is the almost total lack of solid reference info. It can be quite frustrating to work on collecting a series when you’re not quite sure what all is available, which items are truly rare and what to look for. I hope that, as other examples are found, we can add to this list.

Thanks to GMT+9 for hosting this article!

Cheers, Greg

Your solid article on classic Casio DW-5600 G-Shock caseback variations is an example of the ideal of the Internet realized. You share expert information, illustrated with excellent photos, freely for all to enjoy. To top it off, your writing style is polished and engaging. Bottom line — we are grateful you so generously shined a light on what lies underneath DW-5600 screwback/caseback design.

Thank you very much for allowing GMT+9 the honor of publishing this article. Petew thinks your article is a resource that will be read and discussed by G-Shock fans around the globe — including Nihon-jin collectors on Japanese watch forums — for years to come. Not to lay it on too heavy, but I heartily agree.

Regards,

Bryan

The Casio PINDEX is their product index that was a part of the CAPOES library put together to aid repair people and dealers. The one I have is from 1993. It’s a comma delimited file that lists products distributed to that time (not just watches) and has info on distribution dates. Unfortunately, because the file was compiled after the fact, the info is not always accurate and the list is not complete. At this time it’s the closest thing we have to a reference direct from Casio.

The main difference on the earlier G-Shocks is the letter after ‘Japan’ but there are some other oddities. One neat thing is that the DW-5000 has the ‘Shock Resist’ script placed differently than on the other early models. Another is that some ‘Japan H’ models appear with and without a serial number.

I have a DW-5700 that is a 691 Japan Y caseback and since the 5600 and 5700 were introduced around the same time frame I believe that there must be a few 5600’s with a Japan Y back. And since the early G’s were made in the Japan Y and B casebacks it’s an easy leap to figure that perhaps there is a Japan B 5600 out there. I hope to see some more caseback variations…

Cheers, Greg

This story exemplifies this attitude perfectly. Before casiophile mentioned this idea to me, it never even crossed my mind that one could collect screwback 5600’s based on caseback designs. “Brilliant” was the first thought that came to my mind.

After reading this story, like any other G Shock fans with screwbacks in their collection, I pulled all mine out to see what I had, hoping that perhaps I had a rare variant. My sole 5600 is a lowly 901H Type I circleback. I did note however that with some AW-500’s that I had, the 5600 rules do not seem to apply. Fascinating.

A couple of questions for you casiophile:

1.)You mention Casio PINDEX. I’m not sure what this is.

2.)Have you done any caseback research on the other early screwbacks and if so, are you finding similar variations?

Thanks!