The Ultimate Casio Royale AE1200 Filter Mod Walkthrough Guide

Thinking about modding your Casio Royale (AE1200) with a custom filter but not sure where to start?

This in-depth, step-by-step guide walks you through how to complete your first Casio AE1200 filter mod. From selecting the right tools and filters to critical dust removal and reassembly tips. With hundreds of successful mods under my belt, I’ve compiled the most comprehensive tutorial available online to help you avoid common mistakes and achieve a clean, professional-looking result.

PREPARATION

Prep 1: Acquire the base watch

There are four main variants that you will see:

Black w/ Black Rubber Band (Model: AE1200WH-1A), Amazon Link

Gold w/ Black Rubber Band (Model: AE-1200WH-5AVCF), Amazon Link

Silver w/ Black Rubber Band (Model: AE-1200WH-1CVCF), Amazon Link

Silver w/ Stainless Steel Band (Model: AE1200WHD-1A), Amazon Link

There are a few other variants as well, but these are the most common.

Prep 2a: Must Have Tools

1. Small Phillips head screwdriver

2. Double sided tape - a lot of people use super glue, it is messy, hard to reverse, and unforgiving. Double sided tape will serve you much better for this job. Specifically, I use normal Scotch double sided tape.

3. Scissors - I prefer micro scissors like these, but any scissors will do

Prep 2b: Nice to Have Tools

1. Tweezers - I like this tweezer set from iFixIt

2. Dust Removal Putty - I wouldn't skip this, it is the single best tool for removing dust from inside of the watch, and trust me I have tried a lot. Bergeon 6033-1 Rodico Green is what I use.

3. Gloves - like these, important to avoiding leaving fingerprints

4. A small tray - for loose screws

5. A soft cloth - for setting the watch down on, I use these microfibers but really most things will work

6. Strong light source

Prep 3: Acquire your watch filters

You have a couple of options here, gel filters or adhesive backed filters. My preference are gel filters for clarity, ease of dust removal, and quick reversibility. For the purpose of this guide I will assume you are using a gel filter.

For gel filters:

I sell pre-cut gel filters through my website JellyLab (self plug), these are 8 to a pack and are cut to various sizes to accommodate any design you might want to accomplish. I tested over 10 different gel filter providers and these are the highest quality I have found.

MODDING PROCESS

Step 1: Remove the watch from the packaging

Leave the circular protective glass cover on at this point, flip the watch over and lay it face down on your soft cloth.

Step 2: Remove the 4 back screws

As you remove them I recommend placing them in a small tray in order to avoid losing them.

Step 3: Remove the metal backplate

Once all four screws are removed you can lift the backplate off of the watch. There is normally a small amount of resistance so you can either use your fingernail to get under the corner or a pair of tweezers.

Step 4: Note the rubber waterproofing ring

Once the backplate is removed, you will notice a black rubber ring around the edge of the inside of the case. This ring + backplate pressure is what is responsible for your watch remaining waterproof. Be careful not to damage it with tweezers or other objects.

Occasionally, this ring will fall out when you remove the backplate. No worries! You will notice a tiny bump on a single outside edge of the black rubber ring. This notch slots into a notch at the 12 o'clock position on the back of the case. Just slot it back in.

Step 5: Remove the time module

Take your tweezers or something that is rigid with a small point (a fork would likely work) and pry the time module by making contact with a plastic wrapped corner. I normally use the top right corner. Avoid prying from the button pushers so that you do not bend them.

This will require a decent amount of force. As a general rule, the time module is built like a rock, so you don't need to worry too much about accidentally damaging it. Once done set the time module aside.

Step 6: Remove the faceplate

For this step many people try to use the tweezers to remove the faceplate. There isn't a lot of room between the faceplate and the front glass, it is easy to accidentally scratch the back of the glass. This is something you can't really fix.

To avoid this, simply flip the watch over and give it a good shake. The faceplate will fall out and you can avoid the sketchy tweezer work. If the black rubber waterproofing ring falls out, just refer back to Step 3 for reinstalling it.

Step 7: Taping the faceplate, set the other parts aside

While you work on the faceplate, I like to set the time module back in the case, this will help avoid dust getting into the open case.

Flip the faceplate around so you are dealing with the side with no lettering. We are now going to add our double sided tape which will hold the filter in place.

Assuming you are using a single filter which will cover all of the faceplate windows, you will cut very thin pieces of double sided tape and apply them in the following four areas.

Looking at the back of the faceplate:

1. Top right, just above the circular window (full width of tape)

2. Left of the circular window, right of the smallest mute window and map window (half width of tape)

3. Below the circular window, above the right side of the time window (half width of tape)

4. Bottom left, below the main time window (full width of tape)

Use the tweezers to place the small pieces of tape, ensure that the tape is not overhanging any of the windows as this will show up in the final result.

Tamp the tape down with the tweezers, the color of the tape should change from whitish to black as it adheres to the faceplate.

If you are using multiple filters (multiple colors), especially for the small windows, add additional tape around the edges of any window where a filter will be making contact. This is critical if you have cut small filters for the mute and map windows.

Step 8: Apply the filter to the faceplate

Remove the protective layer from the front side of the gel filter, leave the protective layer on the back side for now. This will help avoid dust and scratches.

Place the front side of the filter (now facing away from you) onto the back of the faceplate so that it contacts all of the double sided tape areas that you just applied. Ensure that the filter covers all of the windows and that there are no gaps.

Your placement doesn't have to be perfect as long as all of the windows are covered by the filter. If any of the filter edges are overhanging the four corners of the faceplate, trim the edges with scissors so the filter is within the bounds of the faceplate. This will make sure the faceplate fits back in the case smoothly.

Remove the back protective layer from the filter.

Step 9: Dust removal

To me, this is the most important step, and where our dust removal putty comes in.

Unless you are working in a dust free lab, some amount of dust will have accumulated in both the case and on the faceplate/filter. For this I like to have a strong light source nearby as it will help you spot each piece of dust. Once all of the dust is removed, move quickly regarding putting the faceplate/filter back into the watch case. The longer you wait the more time dust has to accumulate again.

I like to start my cutting off a small piece of putty and shaping it with my fingers into a point. You want to use small, deliberate taps with the putty in order to remove each piece of visible dust.

Start by removing dust from the back of the glass in the case. Again, small taps as to not leave any residue from the putty. It helps if you have a dark background to spot the dust.

Next move onto the faceplate/filter. Once you pick it up do not put it back down unless you are putting it into the watch case. There is often more dust on surfaces than in the air. Be sure to check the crevasses around the circular feature for dust, the front of the faceplate itself, and the edges of each window. Complete the dust removal on both the front and the back.

Step 10: Reassemble the watch

Once the dust has been removed, quickly place the faceplate back into the case. There is a small notch at the top left of the back of the case that the faceplate needs to slot into.

Next, take the time module and push it back into the case with your fingers. At this point I like to flip the watch around, remove the circular protective cover for the glass, and check for any dust one more time before committing to the reassembly. Don't worry, it is not uncommon for you to spot dust and need to repeat the previous step.

Once you are happy with the dust removal, use the tweezers to make sure each of the four button levers on the right and left sides of the time module a seated behind the button pushers. Typically, two or three levers will be unseated. Pull the levers inward and you should hear a small click as they fall behind the button pushers. The time module should also settle into the case more evenly as the levers are slotted in.

Ensure the black rubber waterproofing ring is still in place, remove any dust that may be on it. Return the backplate to the watch.

Screw in the four screws, I like to go top right, bottom left, top left, bottom right for an even pressure distribution. Make sure not to overtighten and strip the screws.

Step 11: Test the functions of the watch

Test each of the buttons to ensure everything is properly seated within the watch. If so, congratulations, you have just completed your first Royale mod!

If you want a visual walkthrough, I post a ton of short mod videos on my YouTube channel, LukeBuildsWatches