One day, I got a message from John, a collector from Dublin, Ireland. He had a Casio TRW-31 yacht timer and asked me a simple question: could I repair it? First, I asked him the usual first-aid questions. Did he try a new battery? Did he do an AC reset?

John had done both. The watch came back to life, but not fully, and some segments on the display were still missing. My first guess was a loose fit between the module and the LCD. When the zebra strips don’t press firmly, the display can’t show every segment clearly. So my plan was to strip down and clean the module, then seat it tightly against the LCD again. I also planned to clean and lubricate the gaskets and button seals while the watch was apart.

John agreed and posted the watch on 17 September. Ireland is in the EU, so he didn’t need a customs form, which kept things nice and simple. 👍 The package reached me in Rzeszów on 26 September.

I was happy to see this one on my bench. The TRW-31 is a yacht timer, a Casio made to count down to the start of a sailing race. A countdown with missing digits is not something you want on the water. 😅

What Did the Watch Look Like When It Arrived?

When I opened the package, I checked the display first. It still showed only part of the segments, even with a fresh battery and an AC reset.

Next, I looked at the rest of the watch. The crystal was in poor shape, with plenty of scratches that made the display harder to read. After a closer look, I saw it was acrylic. That was good news, because acrylic can be polished.

The plastic case had scratches too, the usual marks from years on a wrist. Then I turned the watch over. The case back had many scratches, and one of the case back screws was missing. 🔧

Overall, the TRW-31 looked like a watch that had done real work. The display was the priority, but the case, crystal, and case back all needed attention too.

Casio TRW-31 – Restoration Process

Step 1: Cleaning the Module and Zebra Strips

I started with the plan I had discussed with John. I took the module out, cleaned it, and cleaned the zebra strips. I hoped this would be enough. A loose module or dirty zebra strips are a common reason for missing segments, and they are an easy fix.

After that, I put everything back together and checked the display. Several segments were still missing. This confirmed my fear: the LCD panel itself had degraded. No amount of cleaning brings a dead panel back, so I needed a new one. I told John the bad news on 27 September and started looking for a replacement.

Step 2: Hunting for a New LCD Panel

Finding parts for a vintage Casio is often the hardest part of the job. This time, I got lucky. I found a brand new original LCD panel for the TRW-31 on eBay from DIMAR, a seller in Spain: DIMAR on eBay.

The panel cost €20, plus €16 for shipping to me. I sent John the listing, he agreed, and I ordered it straight away. 🛠️

Step 3: Strip-Down, Cleaning and Gaskets

I didn’t want to sit and wait for the post, so I started the visual restoration in the meantime. First, I took the watch apart completely and reassembled the cleaned module. Next, I took out the pushers and washed all the hard-to-reach corners of the case, where old dirt likes to hide.

After that, I lubricated the pusher gaskets and the case back gasket. Fresh lubrication keeps the gaskets flexible, so the buttons move smoothly and the case closes properly.

Step 4: Removing Scratches from the Case

Next, I worked on the plastic case. I used sanding sticks with sandpaper from 1000 to 2500 grit. Sanding sticks give me good control on small surfaces and edges, so I remove the scratches without changing the shape of the case.

Sanding leaves the surface uneven, so I didn’t stop there. I went over the case with an abrasive non-woven pad, then with a white magic eraser. This gave the case a clean, even matte finish again.

Step 5: Polishing the Acrylic Crystal

The crystal was my favorite part of this job, because acrylic can be saved. I removed the scratches with sandpaper, starting at 1000 grit and going all the way up to 7000. Each finer grit removes the marks from the grit before it.

Finally, I applied Polywatch and polished the crystal with a felt wheel on a handheld rotary tool. The result was a crystal you can actually read the display through again. ⌚

Step 6: Refinishing the Case Back and Replacing the Missing Screw

The case back had many scratches. I removed most of them, but some were too deep to take out completely. After that, I restored the brushed finish and kept the brushing in the same direction as the original.

I also fitted a new screw in place of the missing one, so the case back now sits securely again.

Step 7: Installing the New LCD and Final Assembly

When the new panel arrived from Spain, I mounted it and assembled the module. Then I put the module into the case, fitted a new battery, and did an AC reset.

The watch started working perfectly, with every segment clear. 👍 To finish, I fitted a strap from my own storage. I sent John photos of the finished watch, and once he approved it, I shipped it back to Dublin via DHL.

restoring vintage Casio TRW-31: Final Result

The Casio TRW-31 is back in working order. The new LCD panel shows every segment clearly, so the yacht timer can count down to the start line again without guessing. The polished acrylic crystal is clear, the case has an even matte finish, and the case back has its brushed finish again. With a fresh battery, a new screw on the back, and a strap from my storage, it looks ready for the water. ⌚

I have to be honest about one thing. A few deep scratches are still on the case back. I removed most of them, but not all.

When I sent John the photos, his reply was short: “Looks great.” That’s the kind of message I like to get. 😄

Want Your Vintage Casio Restored?

This Casio TRW-31 is one example of the restorations I do. I restore vintage Casio watches for collectors and enthusiasts around the world, everything from straightforward cleanups to more complex repairs like sourcing and installing a brand new original LCD panel or polishing deep scratches out of an acrylic crystal.

You can see more of my previous projects here: 👉 casiorestore.com/projects-restorations

I work with collectors across Europe, as well as in Canada and the United States. I have already completed restorations for collectors from the UK, Scotland, Sweden, Ireland, Spain, France, and more. I ship with DHL within Europe and with FedEx to the US and Canada. 📦

Every project is discussed individually. I send you a quote in a private message, based on the scope of work, and I also tell you the shipping costs. This way, we always agree on everything before I start. 🛠️

The process is simple:

• Write to me on Instagram: @vintage.casio.restore
• Or send me an email: vintagecasiorestore@gmail.com
• Describe the problem with your watch, send clear photos, and tell me your country.

If your vintage Casio deserves a second life, I will be happy to help. 👍