Casio TS-200 – Restoration

The Casio TS-200 is one of those early-90s models that doesn’t appear very often, especially in its white resin case. Most surviving examples have yellowed badly over time, so finding one that can still be restored is a rare opportunity.

The watch I picked up was far from perfect. It arrived without a battery, wearing an odd leather strap, and someone had even painted part of the case black. At first glance, it looked more like a failed DIY project than a collectible.

Still, the TS-series has always been known for its playful design and futuristic details, and I wanted to give this one another chance. With careful polishing, peroxide whitening, and a proper strap replacement, the watch slowly came back to life.

In this post, I’ll walk through the process: the condition it was in, each step of the restoration, and the final result.

What was the initial condition of the watch?

When the Casio TS-200 arrived, it was clear that this would be a rescue project. The watch had no battery installed, which meant I couldn’t even check if the module was alive. Instead of the correct strap, it came with a cheap leather replacement that looked completely out of place on this model.

The biggest surprise was on the case itself: someone had painted the lower part of the front black, probably to hide yellowing or scratches. The once-white resin had dulled over time, and the acrylic glass was full of visible scratches.

It wasn’t a watch you could wear proudly straight out of the box. But that’s exactly what makes projects like this interesting: seeing potential where most people would pass.

👉 Collector’s note: White resin Casios from the 90s are notorious for yellowing and stress cracks around the lugs. Many TS-series watches didn’t survive intact, which makes a restorable example like this one a real catch.

How did I restore the Casio TS-200?

Step 1: Powering it back to life

The first task was simple: installing a new battery. After slipping in a fresh cell, the display lit up immediately. That moment is always satisfying — proof that the module survived the years of neglect.

Step 2: Replacing the strap

Next, I removed the aftermarket leather strap. It didn’t suit the watch at all. I fitted a new resin strap closer to the original style, which instantly brought back the right look and feel.

Step 3: Restoring the crystal

The acrylic glass had heavy scratches. I went through wet sanding with grits from 600 up to 2500, then finished with Polywatch. The cloudy surface slowly turned clear again, letting the dial show through without distortion.

Step 4: Polishing the case

The resin case was dull and tired. Using a car polishing paste, I worked it carefully over the surface. Bit by bit, the shine returned and the plastic started looking lively again.

Step 5: Whitening the resin

Finally, I tackled the discoloration. I applied 12% hydrogen peroxide cream (hair oxidant) and left the case under direct sunlight. The result was a snowy-white finish, very close to its original factory look.

👉 Important tip: peroxide works best on white and grey resin. On colored parts it often bleaches them toward white, so it’s best to avoid unless you want that effect.

The result: how does the TS-200 look now?

After the full process, the Casio TS-200 looked completely transformed. The snowy-white case came back to life, the crystal was clear and polished, and the new strap gave it the right vintage look.

Functionally, the watch worked perfectly after the battery swap. No missing pixels, no laggy segments — just a crisp LCD ready for daily use.

What I love most is how the restoration erased years of wear without losing the model’s character. Instead of a half-broken curiosity with paint and a random strap, it’s now a wearable piece of early-90s Casio design.

Honestly, this one turned out so well that it quickly became one of my favorite restorations in the collection. 😅⌚