Top 20 Best G-Shock Watches For Men Trending Right Now

There are hundreds of G-Shock models available nowadays. So I will make your purchase easier by making a list of the “Best G-Shock Watches For Men.”

The list consists of 20 bestselling G-Shock watches with different styles & using purposes: for military men, divers, hikers, pilots, etc.

Best G Shock Watches For Men

Casio Rangeman GW-9400-1CR – Best For Hiking, Hunting & Fishing

Description

This is my favorite model. The Casio Rangeman is among the few digital watches that can reach the balance of attractive design, hi-end features, versatility & reasonable price.

It’s not cheap, but compared to what it offers, every penny is worthwhile.

Following are some highlights of this watch:

• Triple Sensor (Altimeter/Barometer, Thermometer & Compass)
• Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping
• Solar Powered Battery That Doesn’t Need Replacing
• Sunrise/Sunset Data
• 200m (660 feet) Water Resistance
• And The “Triple 10” Features – A Standard For All G-Shock Watches

What else can you ask for from a timepiece around $200?

Besides its impressive features designed for adventures, the Rangeman also has a solid body that exudes manliness.

Sized at 55mm, it’s not a big guy in the world of digital watches. But it would look like a tank on your wrist. How it is designed is more important than its actual size.

The guarded stainless steel pushers make the watch look even more attractive. The timepiece would look monotonous without some sparkles from these metal buttons.

Casio Rangeman is sought-after for many reasons, but this most noticeable is its versatility. It’s designed to survive harshest conditions imaginable.

It would make a reliable companion in all your outdoor trips: you can go hiking, hunting, fishing, or even diving with it (it’s a highly waterproof watch, 200m – 660 feet WR).

To sum it up

If you want a versatile digital watch for your outdoor adventures, the Casio G-Shock Rangeman makes a perfect choice.

Well-protected case, reliable & useful features. tacti-cool design, all you can get at an affordable price. You can’t go wrong with this watch!

Casio MudMaster GG-1000-1A3CR – Best For Military

Description

The Casio MudMaster is designed to survive extreme combat conditions which military forces are expected to fight under.

The name says it all; the MudMaster has a unique structure that helps it resist mud, dirt more effectively than other tactical watches. Moreover, its ability to resist shock, centrifugal forces & vibration is lifted to a whole new level compared to other G-Shocks.

Who can wear it? From an infantry soldier, a marine to a free-flying pilot. The Mudmaster is versatile thanks to its full set of hi-end technologies:

• Twin sensor: Digital Compass, Thermometer. These functions help users easily assess natural conditions.
• Double LED light for superb readability in the dark (this is a must for a tactical watch)
• Neobrite hands providing long-lasting lume (important for those who work underwater or pilots)
• Screw-in crown for better mud & water resistance
• World Time: You can check time of 48 different cities, 31 time zones. It’s extremely useful when you are traveling.

And what’s so unique is its well-protected body combined with a robust quartz movement which is shock & vibration resistant. This combination helps the Mudmaster survive the harshest combat conditions imaginable.

It’s hard to make an extremely tough watch with a small case covering all the vulnerable parts inside, so you should expect the Mudmaster to be larger than usual. It’s 56.5mm wide & 18mm thick, indeed not designed for small wrist folks.

The big case also provides a smooth operation that is vital to combat situations. You can read time at a glance thanks to big hands; you can push the buttons quickly thanks to the big case.

To sum it up

With the Mudmaster, Casio took everything to a whole new level. Better shock resistance, better vibration resistance, better dust & mud resistance!

That’s not all; the badass design also helps servicemen feel more confident to accomplish their missions.

This is not a cheap watch, of course, because it has so many cool things. But you can go wrong with the Mudmaster; it’s worth every penny you pay for!

Casio GA 100-1A1 – Best For Police & Law Enforcement

Description

The GA 100-1A1 is a standard G Shock watch which offers you all basic features at an affordable price. It’s become one of the most popular models in the series for this reason.

To be honest, it has nothing special from the inside out as it’s not made to be the next bad boy of the series. Instead, its biggest plus is reliability.

It’s not designed to survive extreme conditions; it doesn’t have many hi-end features for outdoor trips. A police rarely needs these things when on duty.

Sized at 55mm, it falls into the average group of digital watches. The resin case is simple but eye-catching.

It’s worth noting that the watch may look much different in other colors, Casio offers you this model with a wide range of color choices. From khaki & camouflage to standard colors like red, white, black.

What’s not to love about this watch is the back LED light, it can’t light up all the dial, so sometimes it’s a little tricky to read time in the dark.

To sum it up

The GA100 is not the most hi-end, the toughest, the most beautiful piece in the G-Shock series. But it’s still the bestselling model for a simple reason – its harmonious combination of all aspects: simple rugged look, reliable standard features, affordable price.

Casio Gravity Master GA-1100 – Best For Pilot

Description

The GA-1100 is not the latest version of Casio Gravity Master. The newest model now is the GPW2000 with lots of cool hi-end features, such as Bluetooth & GPS tracking, Latitude / longitude display, Twin Sensor (Digital Compass, Thermometer), Flight Log function, etc. The design is also sharper with more metallic accents.

Both are awesome watches, but I chose to review the older version because the new one costs about four times its predecessor. Whether the new functions are worth this extra money? It’s still a controversial topic among G-Shock fans. So I want to bring the safer choice to you – the GA-1100.

Different from most G-Shock watches, the GA-1100 is an all analog timepiece because it’s designed for pilots who need to scan time at a glance.

The big hands & hour markers are luminescent for superb readability in the dark. The main dial is crowded with four subdials needed for aviation functions.

World Time is also a vital function of pilot watches, so this Gravity Master has 31 time zones (48 cities + coordinated universal time).

Along with those special features for an aviation watch. It also fulfills the checklist of a standard G-Shock like Triple 10 Resistance, 200m Water Resistance, 1/100 Stopwatch, Timer. The Twin Sensor offers you reliable Digital Compass & Thermometer.

The case is just 52mm, rather elegant compared to other G-Shocks. The sharp look is what I like most about its design. You don’t have to be a big boy to look cool!

To sum it up

Along with special features for aviators, this Gravity Master GA-1100 has an eye-catching design, too.

Its affordable price makes it easier for you to try out if this is the first time you buy a pilot watch.

If you’re interested in the newest GPW2000 model, here’s the link to take a look, it much more expensive, but this is because it brings a lot of hi-end stuff on the table.

Two GravityMaster watches fill two different market segment! We can’t compare them directly! Make clear what you want from your watch so that you won’t go wrong with your purchase!

Casio G-Steel GST-S110-1ACR – Best For Travel

Description

The most common complaint from non-G-Shock users is that the all resin body looks so monotonous.

Again, it’s a matter of taste. These resin watches are among the bestselling pieces in the watch market today. But it’s not the reason for Casio to ignore feedback from its prospects who admire the G-Shock’s technology but don’t like the style.

So the G-Shock Generation 2, aka G-Steel was born, to fill out this gap in the watch market.

Despite having a stainless steel face, the G-Shock 2 still has the same shock-resistant ability to its predecessors, thanks to its Layer Guard Structure.

What I like most about this watch is its sharp metal case. The brushed surface finishing makes it look dressy but not flashy.

The G Steel is available on rubber band and metal band, both are fantastic, but I prefer the rubber band version, because, in my opinion, the G-Steel was designed not to be monotonous like the old G-Shocks, so why changing from all-black to all-silver?
The black from rubber band and the silver tone from the metal case blend in very well with each other.

With the new design, the G-Steel is easier to go with more types of clothing. It’s not a dress watch, but you can dress it up a bit. That’s why I think it’s most suitable for travelers who need a-watch-for-everything.

This is a Tough Solar watch which is made to operate normally six months after a full charge. But you don’t have to worry about energy because each time you go outside, the watch is charging the battery itself.

To sum it up!

By choosing the G-Steel GST-S110-1ACR, you get the best of both worlds: the durability & toughness of a G-Shock, and a dressy look of a normal metal watch. Combine these two aspects in a single watch is not easy for Casio, but they did it!

Casio Frogman GWF1000-1 – Best For Diving

Description

The name says it all! Casio Frogman is a pro diver’s watch. That means it has to pass the all the criteria of ISO 6425 standard for dive watches. Every single product must be tested!

It’s not just a waterproof watch; the Frogman is designed to operate well under deep water for long hours.

These features include:

• Withstanding extra pressure from your movement underwater (that’s why a 200m WR watch can’t go to this exact depth, because the pressure when you swim around is higher than standing still)
• LED light has to glow enough to read the display clearly at high depth
• The pushers can be used at high depth. Most waterproof watch can operate underwater to an extend until you push something on it and water soaks inside.

And a lot more requirements, so you can expect the Frogman not to be cheap!

The Frogman available now in the market is the 6th generation which as many improvements compared to its predecessors. You can read here for more information!

Sized at 58mm (bezel included), this is not a small watch by any means. All the case is made of DLC-coated Stainless-steel to increase abrasion resistance underwater.

Frequently used pushers are arranged on the left to avoid interference with the back of your hand. They are quite big, so you can easily operate them with your thumb.

As a diver’s watch, the Casio Frogman looks best with a scuba diving suit. So cool! However, you can also use it as a casual or outdoor watch on land. Its robust appearance fits in well with most tactical outfits!

To sum it up

This watch is designed for pro divers who would use it as a primary diving tool. However, it can also make an excellent outdoor watch on land!

The price of this watch is higher than most other G-Shock, but since it’s hi-end features are unique, we can’t compare them to each other!

Casio GulfMaster GWN-1000B – Best For Swimming & Marine Activities

Description

Another G-Shock designed for men of the sea. But unlike the Casio Frogman, this GulfMaster GWN-1000B focuses more on marine activities rather than scuba diving.

If the Casio Rangeman is a versatile watch for adventurers on land, then this GulfMaster is the marine version.

Besides the features of a standard G-Shock (200 WR, Stopwatch, World time,etc.), this watch has plenty of useful functions that are specially designed for maritime adventurers:

• Triple Sensor (Digital Compass, Altimeter, Barometer, Thermometer)
• Tide Graph
• Moon Data (moon age, moon phase graph)
• Low-Temperature Resistance (-10C degree / 14F degree)
• Smart Access Electronic Crown w/Quick-lock
• Neobrite hands with dual LED light for superb readability in the dark and under deep water

As many other G-Shocks, you can go diving with this GulfMaster, but it’s not professionally designed for this purpose, so do it at your own risk!

It’s worth noting that the design is inspired by shipboard instruments. This makes it one of the most beautiful G-Shocks in the whole series.

The case diameter is 55m, but the watch looks quite elegant compared to its actual size. I think it’s the slightly sloped bezel that makes it look smaller.

I can sense the style of a traditional analog diver’s watch on the dial. Classic and modern style in one single timepiece. Sounds interesting, huh?

To sum it up

Regarding functions, the Casio GulfMaster is versatile maritime watch which would be a reliable companion in your adventures to rough seas.

Regarding style, it’s a perfect combination of a classic dive watch with a modern outdoor watch. Its dial design, which takes inspiration from shipboard instruments, is also a reason for winning many hearts of G-Shock fans.

Casio Men’s GW2310FB-1CR

Description

The GW2310 is favorite for its utilitarian look and rugged toughness. This new color addition of the GW2310 model is cloaked in stealth black, highlighted by a black IP stainless steel bezel and reverse LCD display. You can wear this watch with gym gear, running, or even business casual.

As far as features go, it has almost all the features that you need, and none of the fluff that you don’t. Unfortunately, there is no compass, altimeter, or the thermometer on this model. But you get a straight world time zone with stopwatch and countdown timer.

Features

• Five alarms
• 1/100th second stopwatch,
• Countdown timer
• World time
• Full auto EL backlight
• Tough solar power system and
• Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping
• 200M Water Resistant & Shock Resistant

G-Shock Rangeman GW-9400 – Best For Hunting

Description

RANGEMAN GW-9400 is one of the latest additions to the Master of G series of tough and rugged timepieces. This model is designed and engineered to stand up to the most grueling conditions that you can imagine. It comes with a Shock Resistant Triple Sensor, which makes it able to keep altitude, barometric pressure, temperature, and direction readings at your fingertips.

Cylindrical buttons provide outstanding operation and improved resistance to impact. The frequently used sensor button (center right) has a metal cover that protects it against lateral impact and keeps the dirt off. Just by pressing the sensor button in any mode, it will take you directly to a sensor screen. Each sensor mode has its audible tone, which means you can determine which mode you are entering without even looking at the watch.

All of these features including sunrise/sunset data, one-touch time recording, one-touch elapsed time measurement, world-renowned G-Shock toughness and durability, and much more makes RANGEMAN the perfect choice for rangers, rescue crews, and anyone else whose profession or activities demand unfailing reliability.

Features

• Multi-Band Atomic Timekeeping
• Tough Solar Power
• Shock Resistant
• Mud Resistant Case & buttons
• 200M Water Resistant

G-Shock Men’s GBD800SF-1

Description

G-Shock GBD800UC-8 is the latest additions to the new POWER TRAINER sports lineup from G-SHOCK. The beautiful designs and utility colors go perfectly with everyday fashions and training wear.

Function-wise, G-Shock GBD800UC-8 connects with the G-SHOCK connected app on your phone to provide access to several functions that will enhance your workouts. Daily health and fitness support functions include a 3-axis accelerometer that keeps track of your step counts. The multi-timer that lets you create up to 20 timer combinations of five timers each, memory for up to 200 lap records, and more.

The app also allows you to maintain step count logs with five exercise intensity levels. So, you can calculate the calories you burn. You can also specify a daily step target, to create timer combinations and send them to the watch and store stopwatch measurement data, to view data, and more. All these features can help you plan and record your workouts and make them more productive and enjoyable.

It has an app-based auto time setting correction feature for more efficient timekeeping, and an Auto LED Light to facilitate workouts in areas where lighting is dim.

Features

• 200-meter water resistance
• LED backlight
• Auto light switch, selectable illumination duration, afterglow
• Mobile link
• Power Saving: Auto sensor sleep state entry after fixed period of non-activity
• Dual time
• 5 daily alarms
• 12/24-hour format

Casio Men’s G-Shock GW6900-1 – Classic Design

Description

If you’re looking for a simple G-Shock that is easy to read time day or night and doesn’t have a lot of features that you’ll never use, then this is the watch for you. The illumination feature works well at night. The face is easy to read at all times. The size is perfect for any wrist size. Most G-Shocks watches are big and flashy, but G-Shock GW6900-1 is understated and will not draw attention.

G-Shock GW6900-1 is very simple to operate. It has no unnecessary thermometer or compass, which are useless features for the average person and are not worth the hassle of setting up.

The front button for illumination of the light is convenient. Many G-Shock models use an upper right button instead.

In my opinion, the best feature is the ability to scroll both east and west through the 48 city codes. Not all G-Shocks have the ability to scroll in both directions. If you prefer a G-shock with a classic look with useful features, then you should consider getting this watch.

Features

• Count Down Timer
• 200 Meter Water Resistance
• Shock Resistant
• Tough Solar Power
• Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping
• 48-city World Time

CASIO G-Shock Mudmaster GWG-1000-1A3

Description

G-Shock GWG-1000-1A3 MUDMASTER was designed especially for use in harsh conditions. It has a unique vibration and mud resistant construction that allow you to operate heavy machinery without a worry knowing that the dirt and sludge won’t harm your watch.

It is the first Casio analog watch that comes with Mud Resist construction, which helps to ensure that nothing gets into the watch when you get down and dirty. Multiple gaskets are used on the pipes to protect the buttons and keep the mud out. These pipes not only protect buttons from impact, but they also enhance button operation. The screw-in force of the screw lock bezel on an internal gasket further increases mud resistance.

A new bezel structure lets you visually check whether the bezel has been screwed in adequately. The triple sensor version 3 capabilities provide instant access to direction, barometric pressure, and temperature information when needed under harsh conditions.

The face of the watch is marked with large Arabian numerals as 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock for easy reading. The dial is illuminated by a double LED light and protected by a sapphire crystal to ensure high visibility under virtually any conditions imaginable.

G-Shock GWG-1000-1A3 a fantastic watch. It is a very well-made watch. Unlike most lower-priced G Shocks which are made in China, this watch is made in Japan. Everything about this watch is crisp in detail and looks great.

Features

• Vibration Resistant Structure
• Digital compass
• Double LED light
• Screw-in Crown
• Tough Solar
• Multi-Band Atomic Timekeeping
• Sapphire Glass with non-reflective coating
• 200-meter water resistance

Casio Men’s G-Shock GWM5610-1 – Retro Style

Description

If you don’t like the bulky, circular G-Shocks, but still want a reliable, digital sports watch, then Casio GWM5610 is the one for you. There are many variations of this model. GWM5610 comes with the solar feature, so you will never have to worry about changing the battery. The power reserve is very impressive. Once the watch is fully charged, it can last for ten months without being exposed to light. Additionally, it supports 29 time zones and has five daily alarms, a stopwatch, timer, calendar, and a backlight.

It also comes with additional features like automatic syncing every day (if there is a radio signal) and automatic backlighting if the watch is tilted at a certain angle. The display also shuts itself down if not in use, but comes right back on when tilted. The latter two features are optional, and you can turn it off if you don’t want it.

If you aren’t familiar with how radio clock synchronizing works, there are radio towers around the world that broadcast the atomic time, so this watch can pick up those signals and set itself automatically. When you first get the watch, all you have to do is to set your correct time zone, and it will set the time automatically. The radio signal is only available in the following countries: Germany, England, the USA, China, and Japan. It might work in neighboring countries if the radio signal is strong enough.

If you’re looking for an everyday, rugged digital watch that can take a beating, then this is the one. It is comfortable to wear all day and doesn’t require much maintenance. The classic look combined with modern technologies is an excellent blend of retro design merged with advanced technology.

Features

• Shock Resistant
• 200m Water Resistant
• Tough Solar Power
• Multi-band 6 Atomic Timekeeping

Casio G Shock GG1000-1A5 – Combat Watch

Description

G-Shock GG1000-1A5 is part of the MASTER OF G MUDMASTER Series. This watch comes equipped with special functions for use under extreme conditions. The black and minimal coloring of this model helps to ensure that the vital information is clear and easy for you to read even if you are faced with harsh conditions or work in an extreme environment. This distinct G-Shock coloring of Mudmaster gives a type of “No-nonsense” look in addition to a look of serious toughness.

The watch is marked with large Arabic numerals at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock hours for easy reading. The hour and the minute hands are shaped with points to resemble warning markers. All the buttons have a checked surface for better finger grip, and the overall design is tough and rugged.

G-Shock GG1000-1A5 has twin sensor capabilities that provide instant access to direction and temperature information when needed under those “Survival tough” moments.

It uses two of the SR927W batteries making it possible to maintain stable operation even while using all the power-hungry functions. The approximate battery life is two years on those two batteries. It also comes with the low battery alert so that you know ahead of time when the cells need to be replaced. If you are thinking about getting a Mudmaster or already have one, then this would be the perfect watch to add to your collection.

Features

• Shock Resistant
• Mud Resistant Buttons
• 200M Water Resistant
• Digital Compass
• LED backlight
• World Time
• 5 Daily Alarms
• Hourly Time Signal

Casio G-Shock MTG-B1000XBD-1AJF – Fineness & Luxury

Description

G-Shock MTG-B1000XBD is part of MTG-B1000 Series of Casio watches with essential functional elegance along with a 2WAY time correction system based on Bluetooth connection and time signal reception.

Everything comes packed into compact configurations that combine metal and resin materials.

The bezel of this model is made of lightweight and immensely rigid carbon material. The laminate layers of the carbon bezels incorporate accent colors, while all of the edges of exterior metal parts have a mirror polished and hairline finish. The result is designs that are the ultimate in toughness and great looks.

High-transparency sapphire crystals enhance the elegant look of this watch. The materials used for the bands, as well as their middle-size case designs, ensure a comfortable fit.

Connected Engine supports time correction using a time calibration signal and Bluetooth connection, which makes it possible to connect with a smartphone running the G-SHOCK Connected app and obtain accurate time information from an on-line time server.

MULTIBAND 6 automatically adjusts time settings based on the reception of one of the six time calibration signals around the globe for automatic time adjustment when you are within the range of a signal, even if the connection with a smartphone is not possible for some reason. It means that timekeeping is accurate, no matter where in the world you happen to be.

Carbon-reinforced resin makes this new model some of the best that the MT-G lineup has to offer.

Features

• One-touch 3-fold Clasp
• Sapphire Glass with non-reflective coating
• Carbon fiber bezel
• Screw Lock Crown
• 200-meter water resistance
• LED light
• Afterglow
• Tough Solar
• Mobile link
• The auto hand home position correction
• World time
• 39 time zones
• Battery level indicator

Casio G Shock GW-5000-1JF – Clean Design

Description

G-Shock GW-5000-1JF is top of the line G Shock watch made by Casio. The watch is made of premium, high-quality materials and made entirely in Japan.

The watch is absolutely gorgeous. If you are a fan of this classic G-Shock watches, then this alone may be reason enough for you to buy this watch. It has a clean and practical watch face with virtually no color present on the entire watch face and rugged look. If you are looking for an attention-grabbing timepiece, then this watch may not be for you. This watch is made for quality, not attention.

G-Shock GW-5000-1JF has all the standard features of Casio watches. It has features like atomic timekeeping, solar-powered, world time, multiple alarms, stopwatch, countdown timer, backlighting, and many more. The watch also has the durable Casio 3159 module and comes with a one-year warranty.

• Shock resistant
• Solar powered
• Atomic Timekeeping
• World time
• Countdown timer
• Daily alarms 5 independent daily alarms
• Battery power indicator
• Power Saving
• Electro-luminescent backlight

Casio G-Shock GWM530A-1

Description

As an upgrade to its predecessor, the new G-Shock GWM530 has the ability to connect with the radio transmitter in China to update the time & date. In this model, Casio has added 18 additional cities to the world time mode for a total of 48-cities. The watch’s’ time memo function has been replaced with a countdown timer.

You can totally wear this watch as a daily beater, not too flashy, looks dressy enough for work. If you’re looking for a full-featured, shockproof, waterproof watch with solar charging / atomic syncing, consider G-Shock GWM530.

Features

• Multi-Band Atomic Timekeeping
• Tough Solar Power
• Shock Resistant
• 200M Water Resistant
• Full Auto EL Backlight with Afterglow
• World Time -31 times zones
• 1/100 second stopwatch
• Countdown Timer

Casio Men’s ‘G Shock’ Quartz Resin

Description

G-Shock GA-700 comes in eight different colors. These models use original resin molding technology that makes it possible to form analog hands and multi-dimensional dial in a choice of two new colors: blue resin band with a black face or white band with blackface. These colorful watches go well with trainers, parkas, and other typical street fashion.

Features

• Shock Resistant
• Magnetic Resistant
• 200 Meter Water Resistant
• Super Illuminator LED Light with Afterglow
• World Time
• 31 times zones
• 4 Daily Alarms and 1 Snooze Alarm
• Hourly Time Signal
• 1/100 Second Stopwatch
• Countdown Timer
• 12/24 Hour Formats

G-Shock AWGM100B-1A Unisex G-Shock Tough Solar

Description

Based on the success of the AWG100, the new G-Shock AWGM100 comes with Multi-Band 6 Atomic Timekeeping, five daily alarms, and Full Auto LED light. The watch also features a unique hand adjustment capability in which allows you to shift the hands out of the way of the digital window for easier viewing. It can be beneficial when you are using stopwatch or countdown timer functions.

Features

• Tough Solar Power
• Multi-Band 5 Atomic Timekeeping
• Black IP Stainless Steel & Resin Composite Band
• Tough Solar Power
• Shock Resistant
• 200M Water Resistant
• Full Auto LED Light with Afterglow
• Neo-brite Luminous Hands and Markers
• World Time 31 times zones
• 5 Daily Alarms
• Hourly Time Signal
• 12/24 Hour Formats
• Button operation tone on/off (tentative)

Casio Men’s GA-110TS-1A4 G-Shock

Description

Crossing the line between fashion and function, the new GA110TS series ties-up with the latest in street fashion. Pops of neon color on the dial set against cool shades of grey on the body, lets everyone know your style is on point and you’re in the game. GA110TS-1A4 is a dark grey resin analog-digital watch with orange neon accents.

It is comfortable to wear, feels great, and looks very sleek. The features are excellent and easy to operate. The buttons can be slightly difficult to push, but it is not a significant issue.

Features

• Shock Resistant
• Magnetic Resistant
• 200 Meter Water Resistant
• Auto LED Light with Afterglow
• World Time 29 times zones
• 4 Daily Alarms and 1 Snooze Alarm
• Hourly Time Signal

10 Reasons To Own A Casio G-Shock Watch

Even though Casio is a brand that specializes in electronic equipment, I also consider it to be a bona fide watchmaker. Their watches may not cause a stir at Baselworld, but with their 50 years of watchmaking history, they must be doing something right. Casio is a leading brand in the Japanese watch industry. Just behind Seiko and Citizen, they sell a varied range of watches, including the Oceanus and Edifice range. But their best-known range of watches is the G Shock. Below I will talk about ten reasons why Casio G-Shock watches are so popular, and you should have them in your collection. So without further ado, let’s begin.

Durability

G Shock watches are known for being tough, but this is only a small factor why you should get one. The ‘G’ in G Shock stands for gravity, and all watches in the G-Shock line are capable of working when dropped from a height of 10 meters. They were conceived 35 years ago by Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe and his team in 1983, and since then, Casio has sold over a hundred million watches.

Kikuo Ibe’s original vision was to create a tough watch after he dropped and smashed the watch that his father gave him. After 200 prototypes, the very first G Shock, the DW-5000C, was born. Kikuo Ibe drew his inspiration from a child’s football when coming up with a method for protecting the fragile digital circuitry of the G Shock watches. He realized that the center of a football remains unaffected when kicked hard from the outside and applied this to the engineering of G Shock watches. There is a lot of free space between the electronic circuits/movement of a G Shock watch and the exterior casing. This is to allow for greater shock absorption hence the watch’s name. A simple and clever solution to the problem he was posed with.

Long Battery Life

Kikuo Ibe wanted his original G-Shock to have a long battery life of up to 10 years. Watches in the early 80s were slim and used small batteries that only lasted for around six months. G Shock watches changed that by being fitted with bigger and more powerful batteries. Hence the G-shock cases are larger than average watches.

The duration of how long an average battery would last in reality would depend on the usage of the watch’s features. If you were to likely use the battery draining features such as the backlight and the alarm, then a battery life of over ten years was realistically possible. Users of the models, such as DW-5600, have often reported that their watch would go on for 11 without changing the battery. This model also boasts a countdown timer, a stopwatch accurate down to one-hundredth of a second, and a calendar programmed up until 2039.

Water Resistant

All the watches in the G Shock range have been tested to a depth equivalent of 100 meters. Note that the watches are not allowed to be labeled as waterproof because they will eventually let in water if taken down to a depth deep enough. But even the entry-level G Shock watches will be fine for activities such as snorkeling and watersports. For those of you who want a proper diving watch should consider the G Shock Frogman line. The Frogman is a specialized G Shock range that has been specially made for divers and are ISO compliant. This means that they meet the international standard organization’s strict rules for diving watch functionality.

Casio Frogman range has useful features such as a compass thermometer and a depth gauge meter all of which can be used while diving. They can also display tide and moon phase information.

Used by U.S. Navy Seals

G Shock watches are used by members of the US military. The Military even issued them to the Navy Seals during the 1990s. The Navy Seals are a special operations unit of the US Army and trained for unique tactical operations. This means that the watches they wear must stand up to extreme environments, whether it be cold or heat or sand or water. Rolex Submariner was the standard-issue watch to the diving division of the Navy Seals right up until the early 90s. But the maintenance cost of these watches was costly. So they decided to substitute G Shocks for the Submariners.

The model that became standard was the DW-6600. The watch featured a big button on the watch’s face to light up the dial and would stay on for five seconds without holding it down. It was beneficial for the divers to read underwater easily and hands-free. DW-6600 was one of the longest produced G-Shock models and went on to have a production run of 14 years. DW-6600 later replaced with DW-6900, which is still available. The new model featured a redesigned dial and kept all the original features of the DW-6600.

Collaborations & Special Editions

It is hard to believe, but G Shock was not an immediate success in its own country of Japan when it was first introduced. The fashion for watches in the early 80s was to have them as thin as possible. So when the DW-5000 came out, it’s chunky looks flew in the face of fashion. Police officers and firefighters mainly purchased it as a tough wearing tool. In the early 90s, the G Shock watches grew in popularity across the Pacific and America. The skateboarders and the rappers started wearing to wear them and made it trendy. The news of G-Shock’s popularity soon spread to the youth back in Japan for whom American culture was considered as being cool. Since then, Casio has brought out a variety of limited edition models in collaboration with various street-wear designers like Stussy and many others.

NASA Approval

NASA has a fairly specific and strict set of rules that a watch must pass before they approve it for space travel. It is a testament to the quality and durability of G Shock watches that NASA has approved some models in the G Shock range is suitable for use in their missions. NASA’s watch trials are mostly a torture program for the watches. They test the watches in extreme temperatures (-260 F to +260 F). Then they put the watches through another round of assessments to simulate changes in humidity and gravity. To pass all these tests, a watch not only has to come out on the other side in working order but also to maintain their accuracy.

G Shock models DW-5600, DW-5900, DW-6900, and G-9000 are all on a NASA approved list. If you look at photos of astronauts from NASA’s website, then you will see that the G Shock has almost become a part of the standard kit.

Loved by The Celebrities

This is probably a tenuous reason on this list as to why you should buy a G shock watch. I’m not saying that just because your favorite celebrity wears a G Shock so you should get one for yourself too. But what I am saying though is that the celebrities can wear pretty much any watch they feel like as they wouldn’t have the economic restraints that most people would have. So when they choose to wear a G-Shock, that means they like the watch, and that’s primarily the reason as to why you should get one or several as well.

Price

The prices of G Shock watches can start from well under $100, and some models can be purchased for under $50 during sale time. So pretty much anyone can buy into the range. These are great values considering the engineering that went into the production G Shock watches and is favored by astronauts. At the other end of the scale, they also make high-end models costing thousands of dollars. For instance, for their MR-G range, the cases are decorated by artisans using a metalwork technique that is also used for making samurai swords. So basically, there are watches in the G Shock range that covers everyone from beginner to advanced collector and at every price point.

Made for Professionals

S-Shock has a professional series of watches known as the master of G. This is a specialty range of watches within the G Shock lineup that are specially designed for specific occupations and activities. These activities are categorized as being either on land, sea, or air. Casio’s team of engineers and designers will meet with those in the profession to ascertain how they will use the watch and what functions they want from it. For example, the G-Shock line of watches designed for pilots is known as the Gravity Master. To create this range, the team would have carried out interviews with several pilots before building its functionalities. One of the models GA-1000-2B Gravity Master comes with a whole lot of features to help you when you’re airborne, including a digital compass with bearing memory thermometer and a sapphire crystal.

Technology and Evolution

Even though the G-Shock has been around for 35 years, Casio hasn’t rested on their laurels. Over the years, the G-Shock’s lineup has been increasing and evolving. They expanded the list and edition of smaller models such as Baby G and professional series such as Master of G.

They have used materials in an innovative way, such as the use of carbon fiber in their straps to make them stronger yet remain light or surrounding the electronic movement module in the gel-like material to aid even better shock absorption and protection. As far as electronic features are concerned, they’ve innovated on this front as well with the addition of miniaturizing sensors for measuring temperature, altitude above the ground, or depth below the sea.

The addition of Bluetooth that GPS to some models means that the watch’s features can be controlled from a smartphone and automatically updates for the local time when traveling. These are intelligent and innovative features and have turned the G-Shock into a smarter watch without it being a Smartwatch. G Shocks’ primary function remains as a watch and never needs daily charging. The innovative use of solar power means that the watch can power itself for years, even under the dimmest of conditions. so with all the technology and hundreds of models available and prices to suit every budget, you’re sure to find a G Shock that is perfect for you.

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