Casio Watch Straps From Taobao: F-91W, G-Shock, and Every Model for Less Than a Coffee
The Casio F-91W is the most sold watch in history. It costs €12-18 new. So when I needed a replacement strap — the resin had cracked after three years of daily wear — the Casio service center wanted €14 for the part plus €8 installation. Twenty-two euros to fix a watch that cost less than that new.
On Taobao, F-91W replacement straps cost ¥5-15. That’s €0.70-2. I ordered five in different colors — black, navy, olive, clear, and a burgundy that Casio has never officially made — for a total of about €6. Installed each one myself in 60 seconds with a spring bar tool that came free with one of the straps. My €15 watch now has a €1 strap rotation and looks fresher than the day I bought it.
The Casio ecosystem on Taobao is enormous. From basic F-91W replacement bands to full G-Shock metal case conversions, Chinese aftermarket manufacturers produce parts for virtually every Casio model at 80-95% below what European retailers charge. This article covers the specific models, the specific parts, and the specific search terms to find exactly what your Casio needs.
→ General watch accessories overview: all watch accessories on Taobao
Casio F-91W and Vintage Digital Models
The F-91W, A158, A168, A700 — Casio’s iconic digital watches. In France, these are everywhere from the métro to Fashion Week. Replacing straps on these models is dead simple because they use standard resin bands with proprietary pin connections that aftermarket manufacturers have long since replicated.
| Part | Taobao price | Official/Amazon.fr price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-91W resin strap (black) | €0.70-1.50 | €8-14 | 82-95% |
| F-91W custom color strap | €1-2.50 | Not available from Casio | Exclusive to Taobao |
| F-91W strap + bezel set | €1.50-3 | €12-20 | 85-88% |
| A158/A168 stainless steel bracelet | €3-8 | €12-25 | 68-75% |
| Casio digital screen protector (5-pack) | €0.50-1 | €5-8 | 88-90% |
Custom colors are the Taobao exclusive. Casio officially sells the F-91W in black, and occasionally limited editions in blue or green. Taobao sellers offer 20+ colors including translucent, neon, pastel, and earth tones. A clear transparent strap on a F-91W is the kind of low-cost style upgrade that gets compliments from people who own watches 50 times more expensive.
Search term: Copy-paste “F-91W 表带” directly into Fishgoo‘s search bar or the Taobao app.
G-Shock: Straps, Bezels, and the CasiOak Metal Conversion
G-Shock modding is a global subculture — and Taobao is its hardware store. The platform hosts hundreds of sellers specializing in G-Shock aftermarket parts: replacement straps, custom bezels, strap-and-bezel color kits, metal case conversions, bull bars, loop protectors, and adapters that convert proprietary G-Shock lugs to standard 24mm strap compatibility.
Most popular G-Shock models on Taobao
| Model | Part type | Taobao price | Western modding shop price |
|---|---|---|---|
| DW-5600 / GW-5000 | Resin strap + bezel set | €2-6 | €15-30 |
| DW-5600 / GW-5000 | Bullbar / wire guard | €1-3 | €8-15 |
| GA-2100 (“CasiOak”) | Full metal case + bracelet | €15-35 | €80-150 |
| GA-2100 | Resin strap + bezel color kit | €3-8 | €20-40 |
| GA-110 / GA-100 | Resin strap + bezel | €3-7 | €15-30 |
| GW-M5610 | Composite band | €4-10 | €20-35 |
| Any G-Shock | 24mm adapter + NATO strap | €3-8 (adapter + strap) | €20-45 |
The CasiOak metal conversion
The GA-2100 “CasiOak” metal conversion transformed the G-Shock community. A €90 resin sports watch gets encased in a stainless steel shell that makes it look like a €5,000 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. Western modding shops charge €80-150 for the conversion kit. Taobao sells identical 316L stainless steel kits for €15-35.
I bought a GA-2100 for €85 new and a Taobao metal conversion kit for €22. Total investment: €107 for a watch that gets mistaken for luxury at every dinner party. The conversion takes about 15 minutes with the included tools — pop out the resin case, drop the module into the metal case, attach the steel bracelet. YouTube has dozens of tutorial videos if the included instruction card is confusing.
QC focus for metal G-Shock parts: Verify 316L steel marking (stamped on the case back or clasp), check finish consistency (brushed sections should be uniform), test clasp mechanism through QC photos or agent testing.
Search term: “GA-2100 金属表壳” (metal case) or “GA-2100 改装” (mod/conversion).
Casio Dress and Analog Models
Casio’s MTP and LTP series — the understated analog watches — use standard lug widths (18mm, 20mm, 22mm). This means any universal strap in the right width fits, not just Casio-specific parts.
| Model series | Typical lug width | Best Taobao strap type | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTP-V001 / V002 / V004 | 18mm | Leather, NATO | €1-5 |
| MTP-1370 / 1375 | 22mm | Leather, stainless steel | €2-10 |
| MDV-106 (“Duro Marlin”) | 22mm | Rubber, NATO, steel | €2-12 |
| Edifice (EFR/EFV series) | 22mm | Leather, rubber, steel | €3-15 |
The MDV-106 “Duro” deserves special mention — it’s a €40 dive watch that the watch community treats like an affordable legend. On Taobao, aftermarket straps for the Duro range from €2 NATO bands (giving it a vintage military look) to €8 oyster-style stainless steel bracelets (giving it a look well above its price class).
For any Casio analog with standard lug widths, refer to the general strap material guide — leather, NATO, steel, and rubber options are universal across brands.
→ Use image search with a photo of your Casio to find matching straps
How to Search Taobao for Your Specific Casio
Method 1 (best): Search your exact model number + 表带. The model number is on the case back of every Casio. Examples:
| Your Casio model | Taobao search term |
|---|---|
| F-91W | F-91W 表带 |
| DW-5600 | DW-5600 表带 表壳 |
| GA-2100 | GA-2100 改装 |
| GA-110 | GA-110 表带 |
| A168 | A168 表带 |
| MDV-106 | MDV-106 表带 |
| MTP-V001 | MTP-V001 表带 |
Method 2: Photograph your Casio and upload to Taobao image search. The algorithm recognizes specific Casio models (especially G-Shock silhouettes) and returns compatible accessories.
Method 3: For analog Casios with standard lugs, search by width: “18mm 真皮表带” (18mm leather strap). This opens up the entire universal strap market, not just Casio-specific listings.
Installation Guide: 60 Seconds, No Watchmaker Needed
For F-91W and digital Casios: The strap wraps around a fixed spring bar. Push the spring bar pin inward with a small flathead tool (or even a paperclip), slide the old strap out, slide the new strap in, release the pin. Done. Literally takes less time than reading this paragraph.
For G-Shock resin strap + bezel: Remove 4 case back screws with a small Phillips screwdriver (included with most Taobao bezel kits). Lift off the old bezel. Slide out old strap. Reverse with new parts. About 5 minutes your first time, 2 minutes after that.
For the GA-2100 metal conversion: Same 4-screw removal, then transfer the watch module from the resin case into the metal case. Requires gentle handling — the module is delicate outside its case. Follow a YouTube tutorial for your first attempt. Takes 10-15 minutes.
For analog Casios with spring bars: Use a spring bar tool (€0.50-1 from Taobao) to compress and release the spring bar. Same technique as any standard watch strap change.
A spring bar tool or basic screwdriver set from Taobao costs €1-3 and eliminates the need for any watchmaker visit. The €20+ that a Casio service center charges for strap installation is pure labor that you can do yourself with a €1 tool and a 60-second learning curve.
Real Cost: Casio Accessory Haul
| Item | Cost | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 3x F-91W straps (black, olive, clear) | €3 | 30g |
| 1x DW-5600 strap + bezel kit (navy) | €4 | 45g |
| 1x GA-2100 metal case + bracelet | €22 | 180g |
| 1x MDV-106 NATO strap (bond stripe) | €1.50 | 18g |
| 1x Spring bar tool set | €1.50 | 35g |
| 1x Screwdriver set (for G-Shock) | €2 | 40g |
| Total | €34 | 348g |
€34 for parts that would cost roughly €180-350 from official Casio service or Western modding retailers. The 348g barely affects shipping when added to a clothing haul — maybe €3 in additional shipping cost.
For French buyers: this order stays far under the €150 douane threshold. Tax-free shipping with TVA included. No customs surprises.
FAQ
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Are Taobao Casio straps genuine OEM parts?
Most are aftermarket compatible — same dimensions, same materials, not made by Casio. Some Taobao sellers do sell genuine OEM Casio straps sourced from Chinese distributors. Check the listing description: “原装” (yuánzhuāng) means original/OEM. “兼容” (jiānróng) means compatible/aftermarket. Both work perfectly; OEM costs 2-3x more but carries the Casio brand mark on the strap.
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Will a cheap G-Shock strap affect water resistance?
The strap itself doesn’t affect water resistance — that depends on the case back seal and crown seal, which you’re not replacing. Aftermarket straps fit the same way as OEM straps. However, if you’re doing a full bezel replacement, ensure you reseat the case back screws to the correct torque. Over-tightening or under-tightening can affect the seal.
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Can I find parts for discontinued Casio models?
Often yes — Taobao’s aftermarket ecosystem is vast and sellers produce parts for models that Casio no longer supports. The DW-5600, which has been in production since 1987 in various forms, has the deepest aftermarket parts catalog. Even for rarer models, image search with a photo of your watch often surfaces compatible listings.
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How long do aftermarket Casio straps last?
Budget resin straps (€1-2): 6-12 months of daily wear. Mid-tier (€3-6): 1-2 years. Premium (€8+): comparable to OEM lifespan of 2-3 years. At €1 per strap, replacing annually still costs less than one OEM replacement.
→ Order Casio parts through Fishgoo — zero fee, 5 QC photos
→ All watch accessories on Taobao
