Casio’s G-Shock has a reputation — and a well-deserved one, I might add — for being one of the toughest watches ever made. Way back in 1983, Kikuo Ibe, the man behind the watch, decreed that the watch needed to meet some pretty tough criteria: a 10-year battery life, water resistance of 10 bar, and the ability to survive a 10-metre fall onto a hard surface. In the decades since, the combination of extreme functionality and even more extreme durability has made the G-Shock the go-to choice for people who need a watch that can *really* take a beating. And, of course, this function-before-form aesthetic has led to the watch becoming a style icon in its own right. Fast forward to 2019 and there’s countless versions on offer, from fashion brand collaborations to high-end artisanal offerings and versions with fitness trackers inbuilt. Today, though, we’re looking at a watch that offers a compelling update of the classic. The look is classic G-Shock 5000 (the most classic, and one of the most popular G-Shock configurations), but the case is pure metal. Full metal cases are something pretty new for the traditionally plastic-based G-Shocks, with steel and gold tone models joining the tribe… Read More
6 milestones / gifting occasions that you should buy a watch for (that also make good excuses to buy for yourself)
Personally, I don’t need an excuse to buy a watch for myself. But I have, many times, used certain milestones as justification for a purchase whenever they have come under scrutiny. So whether or not you genuinely want to buy a timepiece to commemorate a special time in your life, or whether you just want a decent excuse to present to your family/partner/colleagues when you admit that the huge withdrawal from your savings account wasn’t fraud, read on. Graduation/Coming of age Stepping out into adulthood and graduating from high school and college are conveniently linked by the ages of 18 and 21. Both significant ages that occur at particularly tumultuous and stressful times in our lives — you could do with a treat to make it all worthwhile. Perhaps using a child’s first luxury watch as the carrot might be an effective route for parents to take if they are trying to encourage their progeny to study. I’m not sure bribing a child to work is an ideal way to encourage responsibility in later life, but at least it follows the notion that if you work hard you get rewarded. And given the pomp and rigamarole that can attend the purchase of a… Read More
INTRODUCING: Casio’s MTG-B1000RB is somewhere way over the rainbow
This watch is not for the faint of heart. Not only does the Casio MTG-B1000RB possess the legendary qualities of toughness for which G-Shock is famous, it’s also got one heckuva strong look. The look is achieved via vivid treatment of the metal bezel portion of the watch; it’s a rainbow-hued ion-plating treatment and, boy, is it a sight to behold. But before I wax lyrical about the glory of rainbow bezels, how about some backstory. The MT-G family was introduced by Casio way back in 1999, which means (and the maths wizards are already three steps ahead here) that the line celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. MT-G as a concept adds metal to the traditional G-Shock mix, adding an extra layer of toughness. This version ups the ante by adding an extra layer of dazzle — the treatment on the bezel is vividly chromatic, and changes, depending on the light. Casio say it’s inspired by the subtle lunar rainbow, but the reality is this watch is anything but subtle. Aside from the looks, it’s got everything you’d expect from a G-Shock: 200m water resistance, low-energy Bluetooth connectivity, solar power supply, more digital functions than you likely need and… Read More
MY 2 MONTHS WITH: The golden boy Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMW-B5000GD-9
I have a confession to make: In 2018, I, Cameron Wong, did not purchase a single watch for myself. Not on purpose, it just kind of happened. It’s not like I didn’t have any on my radar either, I just think that I was able to satisfy the itch all year long by having the luxury of being able to review watches for a living. At least that was until Christmas time rolled around, and my trigger finger began to twitch, and the golden tones of the Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMW-B5000GD-9 moved clear into my sights. Now I know I just confessed to not buying a single watch for myself all year, well, that’s still technically true, because this one was actually a “gift” — albeit one that I may have cleverly suggested to my wife. It was Christmas after all. My first impression was … man, is this thing gold — like really, really gold. Honestly, I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older, but I’ve found myself coveting more and more gold watches. I’m not quite ready to take the plunge with a solid gold AP Royal Oak (I wouldn’t say no though), however I felt that the… Read More
HANDS-ON: Heavy metal – the Casio G-Shock Full Metal GMW-B5000D-1
Anyone else ever play this game? Sitting at my desk during school, my friends and I would quickly double tap the start/stop button on our digi-stopwatches, trying our best to beat one another and see who could do it the fastest. I actually remember getting a digital watch just so I could play (and totally not to secretly practise at home). The watch I ended up getting, or at least what my now faded memory recalls, was a square 5000 series G-Shock. And this year the legendary resin-cased design celebrates its 35th anniversary, with Casio releasing the very first all stainless-steel version of the icon. First things first, this Full Metal take is every bit as tough as that very first bulletproof G-Shock – the DW-5000 brought to life in 1983 by Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe. Only now, instead of an entire outer case made of resin, the timekeeping module inside is suspended in all stainless-steel, with fine-resin cushioning sandwiched between. Everything else is much the same. The multifunction LCD screen is modelled on the original, except now it features Tough Solar technology with the familiar brick motif – as seen on various other G-Shocks – surrounding the outer edge… Read More
