G-Shock Legit Check: Real vs Fake Guide (2023)

Last Updated on November 10, 2023 by Ch David

Trying to learn how to spot fake Casio G-Shock watches? Just want to know whether you are looking at a real or fake Casio G-Shock watch?

You are in the right place. Just by reading this fake vs real Casio G-Shock guide, you are going to easily know how to authenticate these tough watches.

With each step of this guide, you are going to see reference real vs fake Casio G-Shock images that will help you easily identify the flaws on the fake watch, as well as the properly defined details on the genuine pieces.

How to verify if your Casio G-Shock watch is fake

You can tell the difference between original and duplicate G-Shock via the 3-button test. Fake watches often don’t have this function in place. Authentic buttons must always work properly.

This is always an easy giveaway for a replica Casio G-Shock.

1. The 3 button test

In the above, we’ve shown you how the 3 button test should work:

• If you press the specific 3 buttons (A, B and D – in other words, the button on the left side and the bottom button on the right side, in most G-Shock models) on the G-Shock at the same time, its display will show all the pixels on.
• Furthermore, if you press the 4th button (button C – top right button) you can cycle through this hidden menu and ultimately get to see the module/movement number.

Fake watches very often don’t have these buttons working. Pressing them won’t perform any action.

2. Case back engravings

As you can see in the image with the fake vs real Casio G-Shock watches above:

• The fake watch has its engravings at the wrong font weight.
• In fact, the fake watch has its “SHOCK RESIST” inscription too thin.
• The rounded inscriptions all around the watch are too thick on the fake watch.

3. Packaging

Just as always, let’s quickly inspect the image with the authentic vs replica Casio G-Shock watches below.

• The authentic G-Shock has its aluminium case encased in a cardboard box.
• A lot of the fake Casio G-Shock watches don’t have their aluminium case in a cardboard box.
• Fakes often come without any packaging.

4. User’s manual

The manual is the little book that gives you information on how to use all functions of your Casio G-Shock.

Now, let’s have a look at the comparison between the authentic vs replica Casio G-Shocks.

• Replica Casio G-Shock watches have a manual with more than 50% of the text written in Chinese
• That’s something not to be seen in genuine manuals.
• Some G-Shock replicas don’t even offer a manual, or at least not for the correct model number.

The authentic Casio G-Shock watches must have the code matching the one on the MRP sticker, and at the same time, the code can also be checked on Casio’s website.

Keep in mind that the authentic Casio G-Shock watches must have their matching model number on the box, the manual and on the rear side of the watch’s case.

A quick mention:

• The steps we’ve written so far are the BEST ways to authenticate this item
• The next few steps are still reliable methods…
• … but they apply to non-top-versions of replicas available for this item

If in doubt, we recommend double-checking the steps we’ve explained above this line.

5. Weight

The watch’s specific weight can be found in multiple reliable sources over the Internet, including authorized dealers, so it can be cross-checked with the item being authenticated.

Make sure the weight of the watch you are authenticating is matching the official weight description that can be found within authorized dealers of the Casio G-Shock.

6. Clasp

The clasp is the little feature of the Casio G-Shock that helps you close the strap, and so, it is what ties the watch to your hand.

In the image with the fake vs real Casio G-Shock watches above:

• The fake clasp is missing the inscription which is present on the genuine item.

Looking at the authentic watch’s clasp, you can see how there is the “CASIO” text engraved on the inner side of the metal clasp.

7. Lume effect

The lume effect stands for the chemicals that are available on specific elements of the watch and that light up once they are charged.

These help you tell the time when you are in a dark environment.

In the image with the real vs fake Casio G-Shock watches above:

• The replica watch doesn’t have its lume effect.
• On the fake watch, the feature is completely missing.
• Therefore, as much as you’d try to charge the fake watch as in the image above, it won’t light and shine.

The authentic watch has its hours and minute hands lit, as they were charged and properly shining in the dark.

8. Bezel branding

Even though it may seem like a simple spot to check, remember that spots like this can easily tell you the authenticity of a Casio G-Shock, as replica manufacturers don’t always pay the right amount of attention to these small details.

In the image with the real vs fake Casio G-Shock watches above:

• The fake watch has the wrong inscriptions.
• At the top, the fake watch says “S-SHOCK” instead of “G-SHOCK”.
• At the top of the dial, the fake watch says “SKMEI” instead of “CASIO / MULTI BAND 6”.
• The fake watch’s “MODE” text is too thick, too big and wider than the authentic watch’s text.

Back to the authentic Casio G-Shock watch, you can see how its “MODE” inscription is thinner and smaller than the same inscription on the fake watch.

9. Hand colours

In most cases, the counterfeit-manufactured Casio G-Shock watches have their hand’s tips coloured in the wrong shade.

• The fake watch’s hand uses one single colour for the entire length of its hands.

The genuine Casio G-Shock watch has its hands grey, and the tip at the top of the hands is coloured blue, unlike the fake watch’s hands which have just one colour for the whole metal, instead of having only the tip coloured.

10. The 12 o’clock pointer

• The fake watch’s pointer at 12 o’clock has triangle-shaped edges.

The authentic Casio G-Shock watch’s pointer at 12 o’clock has square edges. The real one is shaped almost like a square, unlike the fake watch’s triangle-shaped pointer.

11. Time precision

• Some fake watches have present differences when it comes to time precision.

Authentic G-Shock watches must have a precision of ±15 seconds per month.

So, after inspecting your watch for a month, or using specific tools (like mobile apps, or a tool named Timegrapher), you should notice that if it is a genuine item it will have a delay of a maximum of plus or minus 15 seconds in that month – which comes down to ± 0.5 seconds/24 hours.

Shortlist: Verify your G-Shock watch in 30 seconds

1. Have the three-button test on your watch, as the replica items commonly have their buttons not working properly.
2. Look at the engravings on the back case of your watch, as the fake items commonly have their text at the wrong thickness and inconsistently engraved.
3. Verify the packaging of your watch, as the fake items tend to have missing elements, like the aluminium case box.
4. Check the manual of your watch, since the fake items miss it or often have over 50% of the text written in Chinese.
5. Examine the weight of your watch, as the fake items have their watch at the wrong weight.
6. Inspect the clasp of your watch. Fake ones commonly miss their engraving on the inner side of the clasp.
7. Try testing the lume (glow in the dark), because the fake items usually miss the chemicals which craft the lume, therefore having no lume at all.
8. Verify the text on the bezel of your watch, since the fake items tend to have the wrong inscriptions, and that aside, the text is usually at the wrong thickness.
9. Check the colours of the hour and minute hands’ tips. Mostly, the fake watches have their hands’ tips using the wrong colours.
10. Examine the 12 o’clock hour marker on your watch, because the fake items tend to have their pointer shaped as a triangle instead of the authentic square look.
11. Verify your watch’s hour precision. The authentic watches should not have an accuracy different than the maximum of ±15 seconds per month.

The 11 detailed real vs fake G-Shock Casio steps outlined above might not be so practical when you are in a hurry or when you want to buy the item online.

That is why we have compiled this quick 60-second solution to authenticating your Casio G-Shock watch. Below are the top 11 indicators that can help you determine if you have a fake or real G-Shock watch.

Check if your Casio watch is original with our experts

If you need help with the authentication of your Casio G-Shock watch, we’ve got you covered.

All you have to do is send us high-quality pictures of your G-Shock watch and we will get back to you with the results within 48 hours. The results will also come with a report on why we believe your Casio watch is fake or authentic.

That brings us to the end of our guide on how to spot fake vs real Casio G-Shock watches. We will continue to update this article as better and newer comparisons are put out.

Need our opinion in regards to the authenticity of your watch? It’s a service we provide.

Alternatively, we have free authentication resources for watches: written guides and video tutorials.

Thank you for reading this,

Ch Alex