Casio 5000 G Shock

Casio G-Shock GMW B5000 Series: Five Things To Know

The Full Metal 5000 is a brand new, specially crafted all-metal timepiece. Inspired by the first G-SHOCK model, DW5000C, this upgraded original boasts a modern, lustrous, colorway while maintaining a vintage aesthetic. Casio Men's G SHOCK Quartz Watch with Stainless-Steel Strap, Silver, 25.85 (Model: GST-S110D-1ADR (G604) 4.6 out of 5 stars 343 $247.95 $ 247. 95 $350.00 $350.00. G-Shock While a previous Full Metal 5000 model had a laser-carved design, the GMWB5000RD-4 receives an elegant red stainless steel case and matching solid stainless steel band with a bold red IP.

The OG Casio G-Shock’s biggest moments in metal – so far.

In truth, it feels a bit weird, writing a hands-on with the Casio G-Shock GMW-B 5000 D-1 ‘Full Metal.’ Our news piece on it has been one of the highest trafficked articles recently; that’s statistics testifying to the buzz that an all-metal 5000-Series G-Shock we expected to receive. Casio celebrates the 35th anniversary of the original G-Shock with style that would put even the most self-indulgent Swiss brands to shame: by launching the solid 18ct gold, 70,000-dollar Casio G-Shock G-D5000-9JR ‘Solid Gold’, running for around 500-times the cost of your average G-Shock.

IT’S PART OF G-SHOCK’S SECOND EVOLUTIONARY WAVE
The GMW-B5000 was launched in 2018 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the first-ever G-Shock, the DW-5000.

G-Shock DW5000

While the watch bears aesthetic likeness to its forebear (more specifically, the 1987 version of the DW-5000, which was renamed as DW-5600), the GMW-B5000’s all-metal construction roots can be traced to the MR-G collection that was introduced back in 1996.

Clad entirely in metal, the MR-G series ushered G-Shock’s then-burgeoning ‘metal age’. Previously, all G-Shock were housed in resin cases, which had cushioning architecture to protect the watch’s digital module, and featured manifold protrusions to protect the buttons and screen.

The first MR-G from 1996

The MR-G collection – and subsequently, the GMW-B5000 - pushed the concept further with its all-metal construction, while keeping to G-Shock’s ‘Triple 10’ promise of ultimate toughness: minimum standards of 10m free-fall endurance, 10-bar water resistance and a 10-year battery life.

MORE THAN A FACELIFT
Contrary to what it looks like, the GMW-B5000 series is NOT just a makeover of the DW-5600. Replicating the design and profile of the DW-5600’s case and bracelet with exacting detail using metal components is one thing. But ensuring the watch’s robust utilitarianism and modern-day functionality demanded a thorough overhaul from the inside-out.

On the outside, the GMW-B5000’s case is the result of countless rounds of forging, cutting and polishing. Meantime, the metal bracelet replicates the look of the original model’s resin strap using a dimple-pressing process. Underneath the hood, the GMW-B5000’s inner case comprises a series of carefully constructed housings with redesigned architecture to hold and cushion the timekeeping module.

The collection’s evolutionary spirit can also be found in the tech it offers. The GMW-B5000’s digital module is boasts a variety of practical upgrades, such as Bluetooth connectivity with mobile phone app to access time-setting and phone finding features, amongst others; improved LED backlight display; enhanced film-based solar panel to suppress light while improving legibility; and state-of-the-art LCD screen.

THE FIRST STEEL AND GOLD ION-PLATED MODELS ARE LEGIT ICONS
Whether a lingering sense of awe from seeing a familiar G-Shock icon suddenly exuding regality; or the shrewd choice of hues (ion-plated silver or gold, no less), which helped the debuting GMW-B5000 watches make such deep impressions, the silver GMW-B5000D-1 and gold-plated GMW-B5000TFG-9 have now written themselves into G-Shock folklore as among the collection’s most stunning and storied debuts. It’ll be an understatement to say that the anticipation for the first wave of GMW-B5000 watches bubbled over in Singapore. Demand for both models proved overwhelming and were promptly sold out on the day of their launch in April 2018.

G Shock Manual

G-Shock GMW-B5000TFG-9 (left) and GMW-B5000D-1

THE WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE G-SHOCK IS PART OF THE FAMILY

G-D5000-9JR

As it was back in 1996 when the first all-metal G-Shock was introduced, the GMW-B5000 was designed to express a more elegant and sophisticated facet of the world’s toughest watch. Taking the vision seriously, the folks at Casio introduced the G-D5000-9JR together with the launch of the GMW series in 2018. Priced at approximately US$69,500, the watch is similar to the steel and gold-plated GMW brethren, except that the case and bracelet is made entirely in 18K yellow gold.

AND IT’S ONLY JUST BEGUN
Soon after introducing the GMW-B5000D-1 and GMW-B5000TFG-9, Casio followed up with a range of GMW-B5000s that span new metal cases to new material combinations.

GMW-B5000TB-1JR and GMW-B5000TCM-1JR

Fans are treated to limited editions like the GMW-B5000TB-1JR and GMW-B5000TCM-1JR featuring titanium cases and bracelets (with black DLC coating, and laser engraved camouflage black DLC coating, respectively), as well as more affordable options like the GMW-B5000G series (below), which come in a combination of metal bezels and resin bands. With more new iterations to come in 2020 and beyond, Casio sure is, ahem, putting pedal to the metal with the GMW-B5000 collection.

GMW-B5000G

Alvin Wong

Editor-in-Chief

Alvin promises not to be a douche when talking about watches. He may have scoured the Basel and Geneva watch fairs for the past 15 years, and played an instrumental role to the growth of Singapore's pioneering horological and men's lifestyle publications, but the intrepid scribe seeks to learn something new with each story he writes.

To many, G-Shocks are seen as robust ‘daily beaters’; inexpensive and mass produced, yet tough enough to survive the harshest of conditions. But they are much more: a symbol of Japanese engineering and industrialisation prowess; or simply over engineered tool watches.

What would come to mind when one thinks of 100% in-house manufactured timepieces? Probably something from Switzerland or Germany. While Europe is a traditional stronghold of the mechanical watch, Japan is a master of ubiquitous technical innovations. Solar. Quartz. Just to name a few. It also happens to be the birth place of the ‘unbreakable watch’, a.k.a Casio G-Shock – something that perhaps only the Japanese can pull off.

This brings us to the subject of our discussion: the Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000. Launched during Baselworld 2018, the watch commemorates 35 years since the G-Shock’s debut. But is it still the “indestructible” watch that we’re all acquainted with? Without further ado, we present our detailed hands-on review of the watch. Except that this is not just any other GMW-B5000, but the author’s own.

Review: Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000

In total, there are 4 different variations of the watch. The one covered is referenced GMW-B5000D-1.

Historical Perspective

The idea of an “unbreakable watch” was conceived by Kikuo Ibein 1981 – then a Casio engineer. He specified three stringent design parameters which the watch had to pass. That is, every watch had to ensure a 10-year battery life, 10-bar water resistance and 10-meter dropping shock resistance. Or better known as “Triple 10 requirements”.

Exploded view of the GMW-B5000, showing the various components which reinforces toughness. Picture Credit: www.casio-watches.com/

Engineering such a feat proved to be a technical challenge – one that would take over 2 years with 200 prototypes tested. The final design incorporated 10 layers of shock protection, including a urethane rubber pumper and stainless steel screw down back. But its most ingenious innovation was the solution devised to protect its electronic quartz module: a free floating quartz mechanism suspended in a urethane foam cradle, with the outer buttons and LCD module attached with flexible cables. The final product was coined “G-Shock” – short for Gravitational Shock, and a term befitting the watch.

Sidebar: A G-Shock holds the current Guinness World Record for surviving the heaviest vehicle driven over it. We have also done our own robustness test. See the video here. In addition, NASA has flight certified 5 G-Shocks models for use in space. All serves as a testament to its robustness.

The original G-Shock DW-5000C from 1983 (pictured above) is Casio’s first attempt at a shockproof, waterproof and practical watch – brainchild of Kikuo Ibe. Picture Credit: www.antiwatchman.com

In April 1983, the DW-5000C became the first commercially available G-Shock. The concept proved to be a commercial success, selling 19 million units by 1998. And in 2017, Casio shipped its 100-millionth G-Shock.

Case and Display

The first feature to strike the eye is its sleek metal case. Set from stainless steel, the GMW-B5000 is the first watch in the 5000-series to sport a full metal construction.

The GMW-B5000C sports a full metal construction – a first for the series. It retains the iconic rectangular case shape but with build quality that oozes quality.

The case retains the iconic rectangular form factor of the original but boasts none of the typical qualities you’d associate with G-Shocks: no sight of funky coloured rubber and plastics. Instead, its metal build oozes quality and feels premium in hand. And, we dare say it’s one of the nicest G-Shocks ever made – the blend of polished (not coated!) and brushed surfaces is well executed, giving it a bright and seductive appearance at every angle.

The GMW-B5000 is built to a high engineering standard with excellent fit and finish. The case is a handsome blend of brushed and polished metal.

Finishing and detailing is what you’d expect from a watch at its price point: impressive but nothing quite breathtaking. It is done to a high engineering standard. Manufacturing is consistent throughout, with tight tolerances and every component fitting well. Perhaps a rather convenient grab-and-go everyday piece; robust yet chic. A slight niggle would be the buttons, which we found to be somewhat firm and occasionally requires a bit of fiddling to activate.

A design quirk is its rigid end links, which makes the fit slightly smaller on smaller wrists.

Casio G Shock 5000

At 49.3mm by 43.2mm, this watch is, by G-Shock standards, conservatively sized. It sits well on an average wrist due to a 13mm case thickness and offers a palatable amount of wrist presence. (The author has smaller than average 5.5″ wrists and is able to pull it off.) It also has a good balance between heft and size – heavier than a Rolex Submariner at 167 grams, but wears comfortably once correctly sized. However, the fit may be slightly awkward due to its rigid end links, which sticks out and causes the watch to overhang.

Excellent viewing angles thanks to its super-twisted nematic (STN) display, and a improvement over its predecessor. Text appears sharp and are highly legible.

The watch uses a super-twisted nematic (STN) display with neutral-coloured background. Texts are crisp and highly legible. It offers overall excellent viewing angles, though the display can appear washed out at certain positions. Additionally, the watch is equipped with a Super Illuminator LED – Casio-jargon for LED backlight. It is senses ambient light and light up accordingly, ensuring a effortless time-telling experience in all situations. There is no brightness control, but the backlight has a nifty ‘fade-in/fade-out’ feature which is easy on the eyes, especially so in darkness.

Solar cells in ‘brick’ patterns decorate the perimeter of the LCD – a homage to the original.

Surrounding the LCD are solar cells which enables the watch to be recharged when exposed to a light source. They feature the iconic “brick” pattern which harks back to the original. A flat bezel protrudes from the case providing protection to the LCD and solar elements.

The GMW-B5000 sports a DLC-coated solid case back. It bears the “MADE IN JAPAN” insignia.

Turning the watch over, we find a DLC-treated solid case back. It is laser-engraved with technical specifications and the “MADE IN JAPAN” insignia.

Bracelet

The metal bracelet meets the case effortlessly and harmonises the full metal aesthetics.

The stainless steel integrated bracelet contributes a major part to how this watch looks and feels on the wrist. It meets the case effortlessly and harmonises the full metal aesthetics, sprucing up its handsome appearance. It features circular motifs which are indented near the edges – a design which harks back to the original rubber. Additionally, there is optimum built-in ‘stretch’ and flexibility, ensuring a comfortable fit on the wrist. Finally, the bracelet is complimented by a metal folding clasp which feels sturdy when opening and closing.

Instead of conventional pins or screws, the links are held together by springbars. They are easy to adjust.

An interesting design quirk are its links. Instead of conventional push pins or screws, the bracelet is held together by spring bars which sits at the center of each link. In addition, the bracelet also does not include half-links, though the micro-adjustments holes on the clasp suffice. Nonetheless, they are well-sized and wraps around the wrist nicely.

Electronic Heart

Encased within is the Casio module 3459: a Multiband 6 and Bluetooth enabled ‘movement’.

The “G-Shock Connected” compliments the watch and enables easy adjusting of time, alarm, etc.

The timekeeping function is typically regulated by the Multiband receiver, which syncs with 1 of 6 radio transmission stations across the world. They are located in North America, UK/Europe, China and Japan. Suffice to say, Casio has built-in support for 30 and 45-minutes time zones and Daylight Saving Time – talk about “Grand Complications”.

However, some countries and cities are out of covered range by these towers and will not able to receive the transmissions. The ‘G-Shock Connected’ mobile app compensates for this, though, an active Bluetooth connection is needed. In our testing, we barely used the app as the watch kept accurate time out of the box. There is also no official word on battery life, but 8 minutes of sunlight exposure is enough for a full day’s usage.

Aside from that, this watch boasts all of the usual bells and whistles: world time, alarm, stopwatch and timer.

Casio G Shock 5000 Gold

Competitive Landscape

In the area of tough tool watches, a G-Shock faces very little competition. There is simply nothing from the Swiss, let alone the entire market, which can match up to its ‘quality/function/price ratio’ – if there is one.

That being said, the GMW-B5000D-1 has a recommended retail price of S$799. Rather steep, especially when considering its functionality and compared to some of Casio’s other lineup. Thus, whether ‘good-value’ is warranted is entirely up to the reader.

We kick things off with the Victorinox I.N.O.X. (ref. 241682.1) – perhaps the toughest and most resilient watch on this list. It’s not an unwarranted claim, as the brand has thoroughly tortured this watch by subjecting it to over 130 test. The toughness is manifested in the design, which features a chunky metal bezel and removable rubber bumper. In addition, a sapphire crystal is used to protect the dial. The watch is encased in a 43mm stainless steel case and powered by a Swiss Ronda quartz movement. The I.N.O.X retails for US$525 – rather good value, considering its all-round versatility.

Next, we propose the Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar (ref. T091.420.44.051.00). It features a titanium case with matching bracelet and a slew of functions, including altimeter and barometer. But the standout function would be its ‘dial’: instead of a conventional setup, the watch utilises a convenient touchscreen which allows for tactile operations. It is protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating. And rather impressively, the touchscreen is able to be powered by solar energy. The Tissot has a recommended retail price of US$1,250.

The Luminox Navy SEAL 3500 series is another contender. As its name hints, the timepiece is closely associated with the United States Navy SEALs. No questions about its durability. The watch has several standout features, including tritium gas tubes and a sturdy carbon case. It is powered by a Swiss Ronda Quartz movement which lasts 8 years on a single battery. The Luminox has a recommended retail price of S$695.50.

Casio G Shock Instructions Set Time

The Breitling Emergency II is the most innovative watch on this list. Designed for professionals, it’s the only timepiece which boast a personal locator beacon (PLB). The watch is powered by the Breitling caliber 76: a thermocompensated SuperQuartz™ movement that is COSC certified. All that technology is packed in a 51mm titanium case with a rechargeable battery providing 2 years of battery life. The Breitling retails for S$21,000.

A mechanical ‘contender’ would be the Richard Mille RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo Mac Donough. Designed (and tested) to withstand 5000 g’s of shock, it is the ultimate manifestation of a sports watch. (In contrast, a typical G-Shock can withstand 15 g’s). However, acquiring one might prove a challenge as its limited to 30 pieces and, probably a deal-breaker, priced at a cool USD900,000.

Casio 5000 G Shock Bands

Conclusion

The Casio G-Shock GMW-B5000D-1 is as you’d expect with all other G-Shocks: tough as nails yet possessing a certain panache. Its sleek, full metal construction is a departure from the norm of G-Shocks and makes for a rather capable casual timepiece. Despite several design quirks (all of which easily forgiven), this watch is possibly one of Casio’s all-time best executions.

Casio 5000 G-shock

The full metal case and bracelet makes for a very versatile timepiece.