MDV106 Series | Unisex Analog Watch | 200M WR | Stainless Steel Case | Resin Band | 2 Hand Analog (HR, Min, SEC) | Date Display | Screw Down Crown/Screw Down Caseback | 3 Year Battery

I just received the watch, it's even more beautiful on the wrist, easy to adjust and read the time. It could have a magnifying lens over the date, but the design is very nice. It seems to be of very good quality. The rubber strap seemed a little too rigid; we'll see how long it will withstand the repetitive opening and closing motion. In any case, there's a compatible steel strap available for this model on Amazon for $15.00, so when I have to replace it, it will only be once. The manual doesn't provide any instructions on how to unlock the crown for date/time adjustment. It seems quite simple and obvious, but you just need to turn it counter-clockwise until you feel the crown is loose, then pull it out. The first click adjusts the date and the second click the hours. Excellent purchase, a very beautiful watch.

I am 80 and had many watches in my life, this one is 5 stars for quality and looks and reliability and price, wear it daily and love it. ❤️

Let me start this review by saying, had there been a 10 star rating, this watch deserves it! I watched at least a dozen reviews on YouTube (I know, I have no life) and decided to take a chance with it. I have a manufacturing background and the fit, finish, overall package is amazing for the money. The fact that it has a screw down crown, water resistant to 200 meters and a 120 click unidirectional bezel is amazing. The watch even has a nice weighty feeling and dose not feel cheap or cheesy. Even the included strap is comfortable and good quality. I currently own over a dozen watches including Seiko, Citizen, Tissot, and Tag Heuer, and I like them all but enjoy the looks, quality and value and wear the Casio quite a bit. *** Note, I have a 7 1/2¨ wrist and love the 44mm case size but it may be a bit overpowering for a small wrist. ***

The Casio MDV-106 (often called the “Duro” or “Marlin”) in its black dial version (typically MDV-106-1A or similar) is one of the most celebrated affordable dive watches out there. It’s a cult classic, famously worn by Bill Gates, and praised for punching way above its ~$50–$80 price point. Here are the key positive aspects: • Incredible value and bang-for-buck — At this low cost, you get a solid stainless steel case, 200m water resistance (suitable for swimming/diving), a screw-down crown, and a reliable Japanese quartz movement that’s accurate and low-maintenance. Widely known for being powerhouse or the best value diver — it is tough, reliable, and built to last with stories of it surviving heavy abuse. • Classic, versatile diver aesthetic — The black dial has a subtle sunburst effect (shifting from deep black to charcoal gray in light), clean high-contrast markers/hands, a unidirectional bezel, and the iconic marlin logo (on dial and caseback for the original versions). It evokes a Rolex Submariner vibe without copying it outright — minimalist, legible, and handsome on the wrist. The overall look is timeless and understated. • Surprising build quality and comfort — For the price, the 316L stainless steel feels premium with polished finishes and beveled edges. It wears lighter and thinner (around 12mm thick) than expected for a 44mm case, and many find it comfortable despite the size. The resin strap is basic but functional; but I switched it out for a black and grey nato strap. • Durability and everyday toughness — It’s a true “beater” watch — people rave about its ruggedness for daily wear, work, or adventures. The movement is quiet, accurate (often within seconds per day), and the battery lasts years. It’s not fancy, but it’s dependable and no-nonsense. • Legibility and functionality — Easy to read with large fluorescent markers ( lume is basic but adequate for the price — visible in low light without being exceptional). The date window is clear, and the bezel clicks positively. Many fellow reviewers and Reddit users (from r/DuroGang) call it a gateway watch into the hobby — affordable, fun, and impressive enough to spark compliments or even look like something much pricier. Downsides like weaker lume or larger size on smaller wrists are common mentions, but the positives overwhelmingly dominate for what it is. If you’re after a no-fuss, tough diver that delivers massive satisfaction without breaking the bank, the Casio Duro is still a strong recommendation in 2026. It’s legendary for a reason!

Watch with a great reputation (deservedly) for its good looks, water resistance, and reliably good quartz movement. Did I mention that Bill Gates has famously worn this watch?

I consider myself and by peers as definitely a watch collector and enthusiast at atleast at some level. I have everything Casio DW5600s to Omegas, Rolex Daytonas and know brands like Greubel Forsey and Alange-Soehne Phenomenal watch, accurate, and I used to work in a high end 4 star hotel in a exceptionally wealthy area with very wealthy clients and have gotten complimented on this watch many times, more times than even my Rolex Explorer 2 ever did. And to non watch people they’ve literally asked if it was Rolex. My only issue is the mineral glass does scratch a little too easily: The gold color option was not tacky or fake looking and wore well as an everyday or casual. I’m purchasing another one and having the crystal replaced with sapphire through a customizer though.

So of course, like millions of other watch lovers, I eventually succumbed to the hype and purchased the venerable casio Duro. I held out for so long fearful of the 44mm size, mineral crystal and quartz sensibility. In the end what got me over the hump was losing yet another orient mako in the dust; my first one was lost at sea when a particularly robust wave in Hawaii hit it knocking it off it's bracelet and a second used model recently, when I foolishly tried to regulate it myself (risks of ebay purchases) and just couldn't keep away from the hairspring (this one also had a stuck day pusher so wasn't completely missed). I still had the OEM bracelet from the original mako, since I never really liked it on the watch, feeling it was too bulky for the 41mm case, and this was probably why I lost the watch (the aftermarket bracelet I swapped didn't fit as well). However I still kept the bracelet as it remained the only reminder of the watch which was gifted to me from friends and colleagues when I left a particularly loved place of work, for a move out of town. However, this time I waffled on getting yet another orient mako, as I wasn't as enamored of it as I was previously. I hated the bezel that looked great but could barely be turned. And I was never a fan of the day date window (too cluttered and date is sufficient) and non winding inaccurate automatic movement. I wore it rarely... So I decided this time to look into possible alternatives to fill the cheap name brand Japanese dive watch slot achingly waiting to be filled, and hopefully one with 22mm lugs so I could repurpose that bracelet and still be reminded of that gift. However all the options, aside from the mako, were well above 200$ (unless I risked going used and perhaps reenacting how I lost my last Japanese dive watch). I wondered if it was worth risking only $50 to see if the Duro would fit. And it did! And like so many others, after finally seeing the Duro in the flesh, I succumbed to it's charms. it's not that big...an omega planet ocean 43.5 is as big if not bigger so well wearable on my 7" wrist; also on casio quartz watches, the seconds hand hits all the markers! the lume while not superb still reads at 4am if charged before bed, which is better than my Invicta 1953. The sunburst dial and marlin logo is charming. And the 120 click unidirectional bezel is much better to use than the mako one and still aligned correctly, unlike the one on my 1953. Also the mako bracelet size and minimal taper fits this case size much better than it ever did on the mako. And the bracelet seems to elevate the duro as well, making it seem so much more premium. A match that works in so many ways! And now with many more watches in my collection, I see the value in having a quartz daily as it is always ready to return to when I've rotated something else in temporarily. Now I have a new daily beater that I like wearing a lot more. It allows me to see that gifted orient bracelet on a regular basis and keeps yet another important sentimental item in the rotation. So glad I went for it! Addendum: as this is the mdv 106 (vs the 107), this is the model that has the Marlin which is now discontinued per the license apparently not being renewed. I'm glad I got this version as it won't be available when the current stock runs out. Something to consider if you are on the fence and want a new Duro watch with the marlin logo on it.

As my eyesight gets worse with age, I was looking for a durable, waterproof, easy-to-read watch with a simple timer that looked great on my wrist. I own both a Fitbit and Apple watch – I was getting tired of being tracked all the time and getting notifications about everything (which yes, I know can be adjusted). I’ve owned Casio watches before and still have a G-Shock digital that’s been running great for almost 20 years, so after reading many reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere, it was an easy decision to make. I went with the black face and bezel model, although you really can’t go wrong with any of the other colors offered. It’s a classic diving watch that, in my opinion, looks sturdy, cleaner and more elegant than some of the more expensive competitors. Given Casio’s proven durability over the decades and the price point of this particular watch, you can't miss with this one. There are a ton of You Tube videos and review articles online about this diver (which is a bit of a cult classic it seems) – the vast majority of which are overwhelmingly positive, so I won’t add much more here that hasn’t already been stated there. One common “complaint” that I noticed though is regarding the stock watchband. Many are critical of it, but I tend to disagree. I did take the advice of some and tried a few different aftermarket bands – the Barton elite silicone, a Ritchie classic leather band, and a Ritchie nylon NATO strap (all available on Amazon). With the exception of the NATO, I personally found the stock Casio diver band the watch comes with to be the most comfortable of the others tried – not taking away from or knocking the others by any means, it’s just a “why spend the extra money” type thing for a $50-ish watch. Simply a personal thing… Re the NATO strap in my pics: I did keep the Ritchie Premium Nylon strap to compliment the watch. It really does dress it up and make the timepiece pop for more “formal” occasions if you will – and very comfortable too. For everyday use though, the stock classic diver-style band turned out to be the most practical for me – one I recommend over aftermarket options and especially for those in the trades or who are knocking around on the beach, out hunting, at the lake, etc. If I had to be critical of any aspect of this watch, it would be the luminescent capacity of the hands and markers – something also frequently mentioned in many of the reviews I read online. It’s marginal at best. When blasted with high intensity light, the markers glow brilliantly initially, but it does seem to fade quick. I mention it because if this is an important feature for you night owls, it is something to consider. For me, it’s acceptable and not enough of a factor for me to change my rating of the piece. Bottom line is that I highly recommend this waterproof diver. It’s superior quality with Casio durability and reliability at a price that can’t be beat. It keeps d***-near perfect time and doesn’t have to be charged on a daily basis or wound ever – just a simple, inexpensive battery keeps it going for a couple of years. You will not be disappointed with this one! Thx, DT Edit 2/2/2024: A word on timekeeping: Having owned this watch for a while now, it does GAIN a few seconds every month. I go to www.time.gov to set adjust time every now and then... It's still more accurate than my other watches though - amazing considering this is a $50-ish dollar piece. Highly recommend this watch!