Casio Royale: a personal journey and clarion call
I have 3 metal bracelet Casio AE1200 (AKA 🌐 World Time, 👑 Royale), 2 resin strap versions, and 1 of their resin strap cousins, the AE1300 (⚽ Football timer??). Anthropomorphically, it's like the Royales are my (slightly off) good friends and the AE1300 is like that friend who's like 'look at how much I can count' so no-one likes him because he's too inscrutable. I've done only slight mods on them, if at all. For readability and to make them more "my own," I've twice removed the shadowy plastic piece that proclaims 10 year battery and gives minute markers too minute to mark. The metallics, which I have sized slightly differently for different times of day, are great for summer when sweat and swelling are plenty. But the resins are probably better for winter, say with a thin lining stuck to the case back (I use painters tape), since exposed metal on the skin chills my bones. I'd like to try at least one of them on a silk nato but I haven't taken that leap. (Actually that probably wouldn't be grippy enough, so no to the silk, at least on its own.) All this is really just me trying to say that the OEM resin AE1200 straps are a let down. Though I really like the case design, the store-bought versions of the watch are more "few hours at a time" watches than "all days." The problem is slipping. The Royale inevitably slips after a couple of hours, such that it points just enough in the wrong direction. A grippier strap or case back would help. Given my delicate nature, an easy solution like a tight strap is just off the table. The internet is keen to tell me there's a Vario leather strap that matches the lines of royale just beyond of the lugs by adding 24mm wings like the OEM design. A softer, silicone-like strap would likely feel and grip better, or so I'd guess based on my experiece with the GST B100 band. Of course the 18mm silicone options I've come across don't have those stylish (and surface area adding) 24mm wings which I would miss. Please vote and add your voice to my mental mishmash.
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The Vario World Time straps are a little stiff at first, but they are great once broken in. An added bonus is they fit and look good on a number of other Casios and even watches from other brands.
Seconding what @DigitalDivider said. Go with the Vario strap for winter.
The Vario World Time straps are a little stiff at first, but they are great once broken in. An added bonus is they fit and look good on a number of other Casios and even watches from other brands.
Good grip?
Glad you posted this. I'm a huge fan of Casio, especially their g shock. I'll check out the vario strap converters.
You could use any 24 mm band and cut out the edges to fit the silhouette of the case
You can squeeze in a soft 20mm nato. 18mm just looks weird on it. All these are 20mm but just squeezed a bit. Or melt the corner a tiny bit if needed.
The leather industry has some really nasty stuff going on so I'd avoid that personally. Often it's cat and dog skin from China which is the world's biggest producer and exporter of leather. And many other issues.
You could also try an expanding steel bracelet. They are very comfy if you size them right. (Not tight). You could get a wide one and just cut down the last one to fit 18mm.
Or you can just get 18mm expanding bracelets if you like that look.
You can squeeze in a soft 20mm nato. 18mm just looks weird on it. All these are 20mm but just squeezed a bit. Or melt the corner a tiny bit if needed.
The leather industry has some really nasty stuff going on so I'd avoid that personally. Often it's cat and dog skin from China which is the world's biggest producer and exporter of leather. And many other issues.
You could also try an expanding steel bracelet. They are very comfy if you size them right. (Not tight). You could get a wide one and just cut down the last one to fit 18mm.
I like that 20mm squeeze idea! Also, great pics, CitizenKale
Nato Adapter from jaysandkays and a normal 20mm Nato/Zulu
Nato Adapter from jaysandkays and a normal 20mm Nato/Zulu
I also use jays and kays adapter, but with 22mm straps.
Nato Adapter from jaysandkays and a normal 20mm Nato/Zulu
Ok, I see how the adapter functions and appears similar to wings. I like this thought.
I also use jays and kays adapter, but with 22mm straps.
I think I'm seeing color-matched adapters in this and @mer1981's image, which appeals. Also the adaptor to strap shape reminds me of the a700 milanese somehow. Can you get good wrist stability without tightness as I might expect?
I think I'm seeing color-matched adapters in this and @mer1981's image, which appeals. Also the adaptor to strap shape reminds me of the a700 milanese somehow. Can you get good wrist stability without tightness as I might expect?
It works well. I like it.
I went with a Ritchie canvas strap. And I love it.
I went with a Ritchie canvas strap. And I love it.
it looks great. Does that adapter come with it?
I went with a Ritchie canvas strap. And I love it.
Where did you get those adaptors? I'm looking for a good one for my DW290. Tks!
@ckim4watches @casio_tonneau they are some cheap ones I found on ebay. I bought them before I heard of Jay's and Kay's. I've heard they're the best. But these do work well.
I use the jayandkays adapters to fit 22mm straps to my casio royale. Highly recommend picking up the adapter so you don't have to screw around with cutting and trimming straps to fit the watch.
Here's what it looks like with a 22mm camo nato I also got from Jayandkays as well as a 22mm grey rubber strap from fossil
Good grip?
Yes. I even use one for my vintage Citizen CQ Solar Cell
I use the jayandkays adapters to fit 22mm straps to my casio royale. Highly recommend picking up the adapter so you don't have to screw around with cutting and trimming straps to fit the watch.
Here's what it looks like with a 22mm camo nato I also got from Jayandkays as well as a 22mm grey rubber strap from fossil
Killer fossil rubber and surprisingly nice look with a nato blue camo. To my eye the proportions on that rubber pic are just about perfect.
Killer fossil rubber and surprisingly nice look with a nato blue camo. To my eye the proportions on that rubber pic are just about perfect.
Thanks. I definitely recommend fossil straps they're really nice quality. The only downsides are that they don't make nato straps and they don't make any straps in the 20mm size.