Good replacement watch band for calculator watch?
August 24, 2013 7:16 AM   Subscribe

I wear a Casio CA53W calculator watch and I need a replacement band.

The resin band it comes with dries out and cracks after two years or so and replacement bands cost almost as much as the watch, only to also fail in a year or two. I'm not huge on aesthetics (obviously) but I can't find a 24mm band made from a different material that doesn't look weird juxtaposed with a cheap (fantastic, bombproof) plastic calculator watch. Any suggestions for alternative bands or sources for bulk purchase of replacement resin bands?
posted by ChrisHartley to Shopping (8 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
I like nylon "NATO" style watch bands - easy to find in 24mm via the google, ebay, etc. If the strap if too long you can trip it with scissors and flame it so it doesn't unravel.
posted by exogenous at 7:32 AM on August 24, 2013 [3 favorites]


Black NATO strap, like this one with PVD hardware.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:43 AM on August 24, 2013 [1 favorite]


Maratac is also a reputable high quality NATO strap dealer.
posted by oceanjesse at 7:45 AM on August 24, 2013


Considered just buying a new watch?

I say that because there's a good chance any replacement strap will cost more than a new watch. Also, Casio watches are pretty hard to match style with aftermarket bands.

That being said, I once made a strap for an inexpensive Casio using some velcro strapping that my daughter had from some project. Worked quite well, actually better than a Rainbow velcro strap I tried which seemed prone to fraying and slightly made the watch sit higher on the wrist due to the way the one piece design threaded through the pins and under the watch. My home made version was two piece, one hook strap and one loop strap, sewn with a small loop on one end to run the pin through.

Countrycomm sells some alternative watchbands that might fit your style, too.
posted by 2N2222 at 9:59 AM on August 24, 2013


As the owner of a Casio watch myself, I feel your pain. I've had good luck with watchbands that have a deployment buckle (like this one) instead of a standard buckle, as the first part to go on the normal plastic watchbands were usually around the buckle or the adjustment holes themselves. I've owned my current strap for about 4 years now.

Otherwise, the nylon bands suggested above are likely to be the most durable (I just never cared for how they look/felt).
posted by Aleyn at 3:10 PM on August 24, 2013


Try this Casio contact page. A few years ago I was able to get the exact replacement band for a Casio watch I'd had since 1988. Their bands do have weird dimensions that you can't find in a regular shop.
posted by Kriesa at 6:03 AM on August 25, 2013


Response by poster: Thank you for the answers. I tried a really crappy nylon/velcro watch band a few years ago but I'm considering trying a higher quality NATO strap one. The silicon watch band is a bit more attractive to me though, so maybe I'll try them both.
posted by ChrisHartley at 5:24 PM on August 31, 2013


Response by poster: Just an update, my wife bought me a new one of the same watch and they have changed the band - it now feels more like silicone than resin and the buckle is plastic instead of metal. We'll see how to holds up.

And a note to future googlers, the watch band is actually 20mm, not the 24mm I said that is listed in various specifications.
posted by ChrisHartley at 8:06 AM on September 25, 2013


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