Casio AQ-305 Ana-Digi Watch (Module 388)

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 Casio AQ-305 Ana-Digi Watch (Module 388) Coming Soon

8/5/2023

Hello Casio Watch enthusiasts. I hope you are all well.

I have just purchased the watch below from an auction site (about 30 minutes ago).
 It should be here later in the week.


Module 388


Looking forward to receiving this watch.

"Only needs a battery", the advert reads. I've heard that old excuse before, many times. Let's hope it a good example of an AQ-305, with no battery leakage or internal damage.

The watch arrived today (16/5/23) and looks in quite good condition. However, looks can be very deceiving as I have learned before at my expense. Also, this watch is more than 25 years old at least, so I am not holding my breath waiting for high expectations. Buying vintage watches comes with a risk you have to accept, if you want to have that watch in your collection. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. With that said, I only paid £17 including delivery for the watch so I thought it was worth the gamble. 
 
Let's have a look at the watch.


As you can see, the watch is in quite good cosmetic condition considering it's over 25 years old. I'm not sure it's the correct strap, as I can find little to no information on this watch whatsoever. 


At the back of the watch, I have indicated the module number (388) with an orange arrow.


The watch back is actually clipped onto the watch (blue arrows) and as I stated earlier, the watch requires a new battery. Therefore I need to remove the watch strap in order to access the bottom of the clips.


With the strap removed, I can now access the clips and remove the watch back.


With the back removed, I now have access to the battery compartment and the internals of the watch. After a visual inspection, I was pleased NOT to find any evidence of battery leakage anywhere. However, I will remove the old battery just to be on the safe side. I also need to identify the battery and order a new one of a decent brand.


This is another Casio watch that has a clip retaining the battery in position. Again, I carefully used a sewing needle to release the clip and remove the battery. When the battery was removed, I also inspected the battery compartment for any signs of leakage. Again, I am glad to report no signs of previous battery leakage. Happy days. However, I have noticed that the rubber seal is missing from the watch case which I will need to replace. DOH!


When I had removed the battery, I refitted the watch back to protect the sensitive electronics until the new battery arrives.


I have identified the button cell (battery) as an LR920 or AG6 equivalent and I have just ordered a Sony battery for the job. Please note, I always used a good brand battery for all of my watches and not the one's from the pound shop as it is a false economy. Those cheap batteries will leak and destroy your watch from the inside out.

That is it for now my friends but as soon as the battery arrives, I will update the post.

Well my friends, the battery did turn up not long after I wrote this post. However, the watch doe's not work and is beyond repair. This is an absolute shame as the case and strap are in excellent condition. I was very upset as you can imagine and so I have left it until now to tell you. 


However, you have to remember the age of the watch and it may simply be at the natural end of it's life.
As I said the case and strap are 99% perfect so I could sell them on to recoup a little money.

Update 18/10/2023

Hello there guys, this is just a small update to what I am doing with the AQ-305. In the four months since learning that the watch module was broken beyond repair. However, I decided at the time to keep the watch as I would not get a lot for the watch in it's present condition. As I said those many months ago, it is an absolute shame that the module is broken as the rest of the watch is in excellent condition. My plan has been and still is to find a suitable 
AQ-305 (or similar) donor watch and take the module and put it into the excellent condition case I have. However finding a reasonably priced 305 has been very difficult as the price of these model's have appreciated quite a bit. So, at this point it is simply a waiting game to try and find the donor watch. 


  As you can see, the case and strap are in excellent condition and a shame to throw away. 
I will find a donor watch, it's just a matter of time.

Until I update this post, thank you for reading and take care fellow Casio enthusiasts.

18/10/23
11/06/2023

Casio Tribe 2023

UPDATE 11/1/2024

Hello fellow Casio enthusiasts from around the World. Firstly, Happy New Year.

After (almost exactly to the day) six long months of searching for a Casio AQ-305, I have finally found a donor watch (at a decent price) that is worthy of being re-cased. As you may remember, the watch I bought did not work but the case and strap were in very good condition. I intend to take the module out of the new donor watch and place it into the old watch case with it's own strap. 
As I had previously stated, it didn't have to be AQ-305 donor, watch but it must have the 388 module fitted as any other variant will not fit in the case. As it turn's out, the watch I found is an AQ-305 with the gold dial, hands and indices.


And here is the watch I have purchased and it doesn't look too bad. However, if you look closer, the gold plate has worn through on the shoulders of the case. The LCD segment also looks a little faded. I hope it is just a failing battery or poor lighting conditions.


The above picture shows better detail of the worn gold plating.


A rear view of the watch showing the module number (388) and the model type AQ-305.


The gold plating is also fading from the strap.


The bottom end of this strap has seen better days but it doesn't affect the plan I have in mind. The gold plating is also worn on the strap clasp and looks cheap.


And a final close up of the new donor watch.

Well my friends that is it for this small update. Until the watch arrives, please take care.

casiotribe.com 2024

11/1/2024

UPDATE 12/1/2024

Welcome back Casio fans from around the World. I hope you are all well.

As I said yesterday, I had bought an AQ-305 and it arrived today. It is as the seller described so you would think I would be happy. Well, I was very happy until something unforeseen happened during the re-casing procedure. Let me show you.


But before that, the above picture shows a comparison between the donor watch (top), with the recipient at the bottom.


Another comparison picture showing the donor watch on the right and the recipient watch on the left. As you can see, the donor watch has a lot of the gold plating has worn off.


One more comparison picture, this time showing the watch strap adjustment. As you can see the donor watch bottom strap has seen better days.


A close up picture of the donor watch.


 The picture above show's the recipient watch is ready (and clean) for the transplant. Happy days...


DISASTER STRUCK when I opened up the donor watch as the minute and second hand fell off as I removed the module. After trying and failing to replace the hands (and bending them), I did manage to get the minute hand back in position but it doesn't move. In all the watches I have repaired, this is the first watch that the hands have fell off. I can only imagine it is the age of the watch. I am in no way blaming the seller, nor myself for this upsetting disaster. I am truly wounded by this encounter.


However, I am not going to dwell on this event as there are parts within the watch that I did not have. The green arrow above points to a rubber back case gasket that I didn't have. I also didn't have the plastic module holder (blue arrow) so I can at least draw some good from this unfortunate incident. 
At this point I must go back to searching for yet another donor watch. I hope it doesn't take another six months of searching, but that's all I can do for now.

And with that said, I will start my search immediately and report of any changes as soon as I can.

Until my next post, take care!!

casiotribe.com 2024


Hello, my name is Mr.B. I have started this blog as I have owned and loved (and still do) Casio watches for more than 40 years. I would like to explain the many reasons why I still own and wear a Casio Watch. I want to share details, upgrades and maybe a vintage Casio watch restoration post. I will also show you my humble, but very cherished Casio watch collection . I will also show my beloved and aged GW-M5600, I have owned and worn for the last 13 years. I will also be adding further watches to the collection and adding a detailed post for each and every watch. I also want to show you how to avoid a fake watch and what to look for when purchasing a Genuine Casio from any seller.

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