HANDS-ON: The G-SHOCK GBA800HTH-1A Hilltop Hoods Special Edition
Fergus NashIt doesn’t make you Australian if you’ve heard of Hilltop Hoods, but if you haven’t heard of Hilltop Hoods then you’re probably not Australian. The pinnacle of Aussie hip hop royalty have been partying with huge crowds since their formation in 1996, and are now officially the group with the most Number 1 albums in the country. It’s not often that musical acts get to collaborate with G-SHOCK, but it makes a whole lot of sense that Hilltop Hoods receive the honour, considering the intrinsic entanglement between ’90s hip hop, skate culture and streetwear. The Casio G-SHOCK GBA800HTH-1A Hilltop Hoods Special Edition takes one of the biggest personalities from the G-SHOCK catalogue and injects it with the Hoods’ character.
The case
The G-SHOCK GBA800 shape seems to solely exist to be noticed, with giant proportions and a knobbly silhouette that stands off the wrist from a mile away. This titanic approach to watchmaking has formed an integral part of G-SHOCK’s charm since their inaugural 1983 release, with the bulk primarily protecting the digital module within, and secondarily capturing a masculine, almost tongue-in-cheek flavour. The proportions, which seem outlandish on paper, are like the watch is daring to be worn, which only benefits the wearer and signifies a carefree attitude.
The diameter across is 48.6mm, with an effective lug-to-lug length of 54.1mm on the integrated resin strap. The thickness is 15.5mm, providing the shock protection as well as the 200m water resistance. As much as the size is large, it actually conforms to the average wrist fairly well thanks to the lug curvature, and the resin construction keeps the entire package down to only 61 grams.
The dial
With a murdered-out black backdrop as the dial, the stylised Hilltop Hoods logo is absolutely unmissable, placed at 10 o’clock, obscured only when the bold white hands pass overtop, to keep the time legible. Even the digital display at the bottom has been grey-washed to emphasise the bright logo and purple accents, but it can still be read at a glance when necessary. The G-SHOCK GBA800HTH-1A Hilltop Hoods Special Edition is laden with the group’s signature colour, with purple filling the text around the bezel, lining the top of the strap, and printing the Hilltop Hoods text explicitly, indicating the special edition also on the strap.
The functionality
Of course, with a G-SHOCK, you’re not just going to be concerned with the looks and size of the watch, but its digital features too. The G-SHOCK GBA800HTH-1A Hilltop Hoods Special Edition uses technology from Casio’s G-SQUAD range, packing in tonnes of functions. The most handy of these would have to be the Bluetooth connectivity for mobile pairing that allows automatic time-setting to keep the watch accurate, as well as being able to set alarms, world times, and other settings remotely on your phone without the need for fiddling with pushers.
Other features to be expected from a G-SHOCK are all accounted for, such as a stopwatch accurate to 100ths of a second, a countdown timer with auto-repeats, up to 5 daily alarms, a double LED backlight with selectable durations, step counter, a full perpetual calendar to the year 2099, beep muting, 12/24-hour formatting, and of course the regular timekeeping. It takes CR2016 batteries with an approximate 2-year lifespan.
The verdict
If you’re a G-SHOCK collector or just a Hilltop Hoods fan who needs a digital watch, it’s really hard to pass up the G-SHOCK GBA800HTH-1A Hilltop Hoods Special Edition. Although the group’s branding is distinct, it’s not so distracting that you couldn’t wear it as your daily option. The VIP edition comes in a special box with a 7” screen that shows a Hilltop Hoods interview, discussing their experience with the pandemic lockdowns as well as the G-SHOCK collaborative experience (however, this was exclusive to the G-SHOCK Australia online store and has now sold out).
The G-SHOCK GBA800HTH-1A Hilltop Hoods Special Edition pricing and availability:
The G-SHOCK GBA800HTH-1A Hilltop Hoods Special Edition is available from most Casio G-SHOCK retailers with no indication of how limited the production is. Price: $349 AUD.
| Case Material | Resin |
| Case Dimensions | 48.6mm x 54.1mm x 15.5mm |
| Water-Resistance | 200m |
| Dial | Black |
| Straps | Black and purple resin |
| Movement | Digital module |
| Power Reserve | 2 years |
| Complications | Hours, minutes, digital screen |
| Price | $349 AUD |