Casio’s Updates Its Classic Affordable Dive Watch with New Blacked-Out Versions

A subtle swap brings this $40 Rolex alternative even closer to the iconic Submariner.

Black Casio Quartz watch with white markers and a black resin strap against a blue gradient background.

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If you want to (and are able to) pay tens of thousands of dollars for a Rolex Submariner, then go right ahead. But for the rest of us, we love looking for affordable alternatives to the iconic dive watch.

When it comes to budget-friendly options, Casio has a couple of worthy choices. At the top end, its MDV Duro series is a solid pick. For around $85, you get a stainless steel case with 200m of water resistance and Submariner-like design cues. However, for some, the Duro has always felt a bit imitative. That’s why many fans prefer the MRW series.

The MRW still gives you desk diver vibes at around half the price. The trade-off is a stealthy black resin case and 100m of water resistance instead. But it always somehow felt more true to Casio’s core design philosophy.

Now the MRW dive watch gets a subtle update.

Black Casio quartz wristwatch with round dial, white markers, red second hand, and black resin strap. — Casio updated its MRW diver with a new date display, bringing it closer in looks to the Rolex Submariner.

It’s a date

Updating the MRW-230H, Casio has debuted the MRW-240H. Not much has changed from last time, but the brand has actually made a slight adjustment to get it closer to Rolex’s flagship dive watch.

Black Casio quartz wristwatch with green bezel, white hour markers, orange second hand, and date display. — The MRW is the brand’s affordable dive watch series with 100m of water resistance and stealthy black resin cases.

Stainless steel Rolex Submariner watch with black dial, green and silver bezel, and date display at 3 o'clock. — As you can see, the Rolex is a much different watch, but the MRW’s homage is still very much present and accounted for.

Both powered by quartz movements, the MRW-230H and new MRW-240H are nearly indistinguishable at first glance, but the latter swaps the day-date display for a simpler date window. Although it won’t have the cyclops magnification of the Submariner, it still nails the homage.

Black Casio quartz wristwatch with round dial, white markers, date display, and black resin strap. — This is the previous MRW-230H, which featured a day-date window and different dial text at the bottom.

The only other change to the timepiece is the water resistance text at the bottom of the dial. Instead of stating “WR 100M,” it opts for “WR 100BAR.” Not a deal breaker by any means, but nevertheless a curious update.

Two Casio Quartz wristwatches with black faces and bands, one with a green bezel and the other with a blue and red bezel. — Aside from the all-black variant, the MRW-240H also comes with green and Pepsi bezels.

If it ain’t broke

Almost everything else has stayed the same for the MRW-240H. This includes the resin construction with matching strap, the acrylic crystal over the dial, and the 44.6mm case diameter and 12.3mm thickness.

Visually, the watch matches up as well. You still get the thick hour hand offsetting the slim sword minute hand, which has always made the MRW easy to read.

Like its predecessor, the case is topped with a rotating bezel featuring a 60-minute graduated scale.

Availability and pricing

Only available for presale overseas, the MRW-240H is expected to land in the United States in the near future. In Japan, the watch is priced at ¥6,050 (~$39).

It debuts in all-black cases with three different bezel options: black, green and Pepsi (blue and red).

Casio MRW-240H

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About the Author: Ethan Brehm is an associate editor at Gear Patrol writing about footwear, watches, spirits, EDC and more. When he’s not shopping for his next G-Shock, he spends his time watching movies and planning a future road trip with his family. He firmly believes CDs sound better than vinyl.

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