The DW-5600 has been around since 1987, and in that time it’s become one of the most modded watches on the planet. Enthusiasts have been swapping out its resin band for cloth straps for years, chasing a more comfortable, more athletic wearing experience on a platform that was already just about perfect. Casio watched all of it happen. Now, with the new DW-5600MNC series, the brand is essentially canonizing that mod, shipping three colorways of the iconic square G-SHOCK with a factory-installed FIDLOCK magnetic cloth strap.
A Brief History
For those who haven’t heard the story before, the DW-5600’s roots go back back to Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe, who launched what became Project Team Tough in 1981 after watching his father’s watch shatter on impact. The result was the DW-5000C in 1983, a watch built to survive a 10-meter drop, resist 10 bars of water pressure, and run for 10 years on a single battery. The 5600 was the follow-up in 1987. It’s a slightly slimmer take on that same ethos, and it’s been a cornerstone of the lineup ever since and one of the most legendary timepieces ever.
Enter FIDLOCK
German inventor Joachim Fiedler founded FIDLOCK (a portmanteau of his name and the word “lock”) to solve a problem conventional buckles never quite cracked: a reliable, one-handed fastening process. Debuting nearly two decades ago, this system combines powerful permanent magnets that guide components into alignment with a mechanical lock that holds them securely, even under vibration, impact, or bad weather. You’ve likely seen their hardware on cycling helmets, motorcycle gear, and technical luggage. Some watch brands have gotten in on the action from time to time, but you’ll more commonly see FIDLOCK bands as after-market Apple Watch swaps. The G-SHOCK, however, is the most natural fit we’ve ever seen.
Three Looks, One Upgrade
The DW-5600MNC comes in three colorways that go perfectly with their respective FIDLOCK straps. The DW-5600MNC-1 is a stealthy all-black unit with an inverted display. Meanwhile, the DW-5600MNC-8A2 is the gray variant with neon yellow accents, which leans into a gorpcore aesthetic. Its strap comes in black with burnt orange accents. Lastly, the DW-5600MNC-7A8 rounds things out in a white case with a multi-colored band accented in navy, orange, and yellow. All three feature the same 42.8mm square resin case size with 48.9mm lug-to-lug and 13.4mm thickness.
The cloth band itself stretches up to 2.7 times its original length, which means fit is truly adjustable in a way that standard resin bands are not. Custom band adapters make the whole system work seamlessly with the 5600 case. If you get all three, you can potentially swap the cases with the strap you want instead.
Spec Sheet
Model: DW-5600MNC-1 / DW-5600MNC-8A2 / DW-5600MNC-7A8
Case Size: 42.8mm
Case Thickness: 13.4 mm
Lug-to-Lug: 48.9mm
Case & Bezel Material: Resin / Bio-based resin
Glass: Mineral glass
Strap: Stretch cloth band with FIDLOCK magnetic buckle (145–215mm)
Movement: Quartz digital
Water Resistance: 200m
Light: LED Super Illuminator (white)
Battery Life: Approx. 5 years (CR2016)
Colors: Black (inverted display), Gray/Yellow, White/Multi
Pricing & Availability
The DW-5600MNC series launches this month, initially in Japan at 19,800 yen (~$127). International availability hasn’t been confirmed at time of writing, but is very possible in the coming months.
Recap
G-SHOCK DW-5600MNC FIDLOCK Straps
The DW-5600MNC is G-Shock’s first factory-built square watch to come strapped with a FIDLOCK magnetic cloth band, turning one of the modding community’s most popular DIY upgrades into an official release.
