[ GUIDES ]
Collector Guides
Practical answers for digital watch collectors, written by collectors.
- Can I use a CR2025 instead of a CR2016?
CR2016, CR2025 and CR2032 share a diameter but not a thickness. What actually happens if you use the wrong one in a watch.
- Casio AC reset not working: what to try next
Tried the AC reset and the Casio is still blank? The checklist that finds the real problem: battery, contacts, method, and module quirks.
- Casio screen blank after a battery change
New battery, blank screen: why it happens on Casio digitals and the two-minute fix that solves most cases.
- G-Shock Tough Solar battery guide: charging, low battery and the CTL cell
G-Shock Tough Solar battery low? How CTL rechargeable cells work, how to charge them properly, and why a normal CR battery is the wrong fix.
- How do I change a watch battery myself?
Step-by-step guide to changing a digital watch battery yourself: case back types, tools you need, and the mistakes that damage vintage watches.
- Lost the tiny spring during a Casio battery change? Here's what to do
Lost the tiny spring during a Casio battery change? What it does, where it goes, and your real options for replacing it.
- My watch battery leaked. Can it be saved?
A leaked battery doesn't always mean a dead watch. How to assess corrosion damage in a vintage digital and clean what can be saved.
- Watch battery size chart: every common coin cell compared
Full watch coin cell chart: CR2016 vs CR2025 vs CR2032 and every common size — diameter, thickness, voltage and capacity in one table.
- What do watch battery codes mean? (CR, SR, LR explained)
CR, SR, LR — what watch battery codes actually mean, how to read them, and which chemistry your digital watch needs.
- What is the AC contact on a Casio, and how do I reset it?
Blank screen after a Casio battery change? The AC contact reset takes ten seconds and fixes it. Here's how it works.
- Why does my watch battery die so quickly?
New watch battery dead in weeks or months instead of years? The realistic causes, from old stock cells to hidden corrosion.
- How can I tell what year my Casio was made?
How to work out when your vintage Casio was actually made: module number, markings, catalogs, and the clues that narrow the year.
- How do I spot a fake Casio F-91W?
The Casio F-91W is one of the most faked watches on earth. The reliable tells: case back, module, display font, and where fakes come from.
- Is a vintage "water resist" watch still water resistant?
Is a 30-year-old "water resist" watch still water resistant? The honest answer, what the ratings mean, and what actually fails.
- Free watch collection spreadsheet template
A free watch collection spreadsheet template for Excel and Google Sheets: styled tracker with battery reminders and a live dashboard, plus a plain CSV. Ready to download.
- How do collectors keep track of their watches?
Spreadsheets, notes apps, or a dedicated tracker: how watch collectors actually keep track of what they own, and what information is worth recording.
- How do I find the manual for a vintage digital watch?
How to find the original manual for any vintage Casio or digital watch — usually free, official, and two minutes away.
- What is a Casio module number and where do I find it?
What a Casio module number is, where to find it on your watch, and what it unlocks: manuals, parts, and exact identification.
- Can a scratched watch crystal be polished?
Scratched acrylic or resin watch crystal? Most scratches polish out at home. What works, what doesn't, and when to stop.
- Casio not beeping: mute mode, or something broken?
Casio buttons silent or alarm not beeping? The mute setting, the missing spring, and the piezo disc — how to tell which one you have.
- Digital watch display faded or missing segments
Faint digits or missing segments on a digital watch: the zebra strip, the polarizer, and which faded displays can actually be fixed.
- How do I open a stuck watch case back?
Stuck watch case back: the safe techniques for snap-off, screw-down and screw-plate backs — and the moves that scratch or crack them.
- How to fix sticky or stuck buttons on a vintage digital watch
Sticky or unresponsive buttons on a vintage digital watch: why pushers seize, how to clean them safely, and what never to spray inside.
- What is LCD bleed and can it be fixed?
Black blobs spreading on your vintage LCD display: what LCD bleed is, why it happens, and the honest answer on whether it can be fixed.
- How do I set a Casio watch with 4 buttons?
Step-by-step: setting the time and date on a Casio watch with 4 buttons, including 12/24 hour format and the day-of-week.
- How do I set my watch after a battery change?
Just changed your watch battery? The right order: reset the module first, then set the time. Here's the full sequence.
- How do I set the day and date on a vintage Casio?
How to set the day and date on a vintage Casio digital: where the date fields hide, why the weekday sets itself, and the month/day trap.
- How do I set the time on a digital Casio watch?
How to set the time on any digital Casio watch: the universal button logic, what each button does, and what to do when it doesn't work.
- How do I turn off the hourly chime on a Casio?
That beep every hour: how to turn off the hourly chime (time signal) on a Casio digital, and why it turns itself on after battery changes.
- How do I measure my watch's strap size?
How to measure your watch's strap size correctly: lug width, length, and why vintage digital watches often need special sizes.
- My vintage resin strap is crumbling. What are my options?
Vintage resin watch straps dry out and crack. Your realistic options: NOS, aftermarket, adapters — and what to avoid.