G-Shock

G-Shock
Product type Watches
Owner Casio
Country Japan
Introduced April 1983 (1983-04)
Markets Worldwide
Website gshock.com

G-Shock is a line of watches manufactured by Casio, designed to resist mechanical shock and vibration. Its full form is Gravitational Shock. They are designed primarily for sports, military and outdoors-oriented activities; nearly all G-shocks are digital or a combination of analog and digital and have a stopwatch feature, countdown timer, electroluminescent backlight and water resistance.

History

In 1983, Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe designed the first G-Shock: the DW-5000C.[1] It had a 10-year battery life, water resistance to 10 bar and was able to survive a 10 meter fall onto a hard surface (he tested 200 prototypes by dropping them from rooftops or third story windows).[2][3][4][5]

The shock resistant design has 10 layers protecting the quartz timekeeping module,[2] including a urethane rubber bumper, the stainless steel case, the hardened mineral glass watch crystal, the stainless steel screwed down caseback, and the "floating module" where the quartz mechanism floats free in a urethane foam cradle, with the outer buttons and LCD module attached with flexible cables.

Casio released the G-Shock in April 1983, to fill the demand for durable watches. The popularity of G-Shocks increased throughout the 1990s. By 1998 Casio released over 200 G-Shock models. By then Casio had sold 19 million G-Shocks worldwide.[6]

In 1991, Casio released the Baby-G series for women.

G-Shock Mini are 70% the size of a G-Shock, for people who have smaller wrists. They are available in Japan and can be shipped worldwide.

On September 1, 2017, Casio celebrated its 100 millionth shipment of G-Shocks worldwide.[6]

Current models

G-Shock G2900, with 10-year battery and E-Data Memory
G-Shock MR-G MRG-7100BJ-1AJF

The line of watches now includes atomic clock synchronization and solar battery. The Cockpit Series G-Shock is the official timekeeper of Nismo Racing. Many newer G-Shocks feature metal (steel or titanium) banding and analog timekeeping.

DW are standard G-Shocks while GW G-Shocks comes in either Tough Solar or Atomic or both.

Twice a year the basic models are updated. New limited models are introduced more frequently through the year. As with Swatch watches, G-Shocks have become collectors items.

Casio also produces collaboration models, often with popular fashion brands, like A Bathing Ape (Bape), Stussy,[7] Xlarge, KIKS TYO, Nano Universe, Levi's, Lifted Research Group, as well as Coca Cola, Pulp68 Skateshop, Lucky Strike and Marlboro.

G-Shock watches are popular with mountaineers, firefighters, paramedics, people working in the offshore, police officers, astronauts, film directors (Tony Scott was often pictured wearing a GW-3000B, as is Ron Howard and Francis Ford Coppola) and soldiers. Ex-Special Forces-British SAS soldier Andy McNab mentions in several of his novels how his character Nick Stone relies on a G-Shock watch. According to Mark Bowden's book Blackhawk Down, the DELTA Operators wore G-Shock watches during the combat events of 3 & 4 October 1993. Since then, G-Shock watches have become very popular with Special Forces groups in both American and other NATO nation units, due to their being "battle tested".

Models DW-5600C, DW-5600E, DW-5900, DW-6600, DW-6900 are flight-qualified for NASA space travel.[8] Casio has updated the DW-5600E module, replacing the usual 1545 module with module number 3229 (in 2010).[9]

In 2012, Casio released GB-6900, a Bluetooth-capable model of G-Shock. Casio claimed the battery life of 2 years on a single CR2032 battery.[10]

Casio continues to add new features to G-Shock watches. Some include Tough Solar battery charging and Multiband 6 time synchronization through radio signals from six transmission stations worldwide. The GW-9400 Rangeman and GWN-1000 Gulfmaster models have a Triple Sensor with a digital compass, thermometer, and barometer/altimeter. The MTG-S1000, GW-A1000, and GPW-1000 feature Triple G Resist which includes resistance to shock, centrifugal gravity, and vibration. In 2014 Casio introduced the GPS Hybrid Wave Ceptor feature in the GPW-1000 Gravitymaster that allows the watch to synchronize the time through GPS signals and also adjusts the time zone automatically. The MRG-G1000 is also equipped with this feature.

In September 2018, to mark the 35th anniversary of G-Shock, Casio released a collection of four clear model of G-Shock watches called "The Glacier Gold" collection.[11][12]

Atomic Clock Sync with Multi-Band 6

G-Shock watches with Multi-Band 6 can tune into an atomic clock for automatic time keeping.

There are currently six radio towers around the world:

Japan

Watches can tune in to two locations:

The 40 kHz signal from JJY at Mount Otakadoya, near Fukushima (Ohtakadoyayama).

The 60 kHz signal from the Haganeyama Transmitter at Mount Hagane (Haganeyama).

China

Watches tune to the 68 kHz signal from BPC at Shangqiu. This is the newest additional signal; older multi-band 5 watches will not be able to connect to this signal. You will need to upgrade to a newer multi-band 6 watch for it to work.

United States

Watches tune to the 60 kHz signal from WWVB at Fort Collins.

United Kingdom

Watches tune to the 60 kHz MSF at Anthorn.

Germany

Watches tune to the 77.5 kHz low frequency time signal radio station DCF77 at Mainflingen.

Guinness World Record Title

On December 12, 2017, G-Shock has earned the Guinness World Record for the heaviest vehicle to drive over a watch. Guinness World Record drove a 24.97 ton truck over the Casio G-Shock DW5600E-1. The G-Shock is the first watch by any company being able to withstand the challenge.[13]

List of models

Astronaut Thomas Reiter during Expedition 14 wearing a G-Shock DW-5900 on the International Space Station

Master of G

  • Frogman
  • Gulfman
  • Mudman
  • Riseman
  • Rangeman

G-Lide Surfing editions

These models were released in 1996, designed and specifically made for the surfing market. These models were the very first G-Shock watches to have a countdown timer. The countdown timers on these models were designed to count down for surfing competitions, some of the later models have a yacht timer, moon and tide graphs, so a surfer can keep track of the progress while competing on the water. Many of these models came equipped with a pair of strap adapters and a single one-piece resin or nylon band. These styles of band are also known as "crossband" in the Japanese domestic market. Resin bands for these models had open gaps or slits through the band. Casio refers to them as drainage slits; the idea is that water will drain out with no problems while in action when surfing. Most of these series models had a translucent band. These models were branded as X-Treme for the Japanese domestic market.

X-Treme Snow Board/Skateboard Editions

These models are identical to the surfing editions, and also released in 1996. They were designed for snowboarding and skateboarding competitors and competitions. The only difference is that these models came with nylon velcro bands.

Limited edition models

  • MRG-8000G-1AJF
  • MRG-8000RG-1AJF
  • MRG-8100G-1AJR
  • MRG-8100R-1AJR
  • Go Green Project: G5600GR-7, G6900GR-3, G2300GR-3[13]

Original Models/Squares

  • DW-5000
  • DW-5200
  • DW-5600C
  • DW-5600E
  • DW-5600MS
  • DW-5600HR
  • GW-5000
  • GW-5035A
  • GW-5600
  • GW-5610
  • GA-5146

Vintage/Classic Models

  • DW-5700
  • DW-5800
  • DW-5900
  • DW-6000
  • DW-6100
  • DW-6200
  • DW-6500
  • DW-6600
  • DW-6900
  • DW-8200
  • DW-8400 (Mudman)
  • DW-8600
  • DW-8700
  • DW-9000
  • DW-9050
  • DW-9051
  • DW-9052
  • DW-9052V
  • DW-9400
  • DW-9500
  • DW-9600
  • GL-7200
  • GLS-6900
  • GLX-5600
  • GLX-6900
  • DW-001
  • DW-002
  • DW-003

Modules

Frequent updates have produced a proliferation of modules with slightly varying feature sets:

Module Solar Stopwatch Timer Alarms Alt. time display Other features Watches
Squares
3163 No →2400hrs →24hrs 5 No other modes World time, custom memo, selectable timer modes and Presets, etc. G-7800, G-7800B, G-7800GL, G-7800L, G-7800P
3160 Yes →24hrs →24hrs 5 No other modes World time G-5600E
2597 Yes →100hrs →100hrs 5 Timer, alarm, world World time G-5600-1JF/G-5600-9*
2924 Yes →24hrs →60min 5 No other modes Atomic, world time, day or date view only GW-5600
1545 No →24hrs →24hrs 1 Stopwatch, timer Auto-restarting timer, flashing backlight, screwback (5025) DW5600E, DW5025D-8
3229 No →24hrs →24hrs 1 Stopwatch, timer Updated calendar; years 2000 to 2039, auto-restarting timer, flashing backlight DW-5600E-1VQ
3063 Yes →1000hrs →60min 5 Timer, alarm Atomic, world time GW-M5600
3159 Yes →24hrs →24hrs 5 No other modes Atomic, world time, screwback (5000) GWM5610B-1, gw-5000, gw-S5600
3151 No →24hrs →24hrs 3 No other modes Tide, moon, world time GLX5600-1
3221 Yes →24hrs →24hrs 5 No other modes World time GX56-1A
Master of G
3050 Yes →100hrs →60min 5 Timer, alarm Atomic, world time GW9000A mudman
3089 Yes →100hrs →60min 5 Timer, alarm Atomic, world time GW9100 gulfman
2422 Yes →24hrs →24hrs 3 Alarm, site, dive Dive site, dive time GW200 frogman
3184 Yes →24hrs →24hrs 5 Alarm, site, dive time Tide, moon, world time GWF-1000 frogman
4765 Yes →60min →60min 1 Alarm, world Atomic AWG100-1A AWG101-1A AWG100BC-1AV
3147 Yes →24hrs →24hrs 5 Stopwatch, timer, alarm, world Atomic, alti/Baro, world time, temp GW9200 riseman
3261 Yes →1000hrs →24hrs 5 Stopwatch, timer, alarm Compass, temp, moon, world time G-9300 (New) Mudman
3410 Yes →1000hrs →24hrs 5 Stopwatch, timer, alarm, world, alti, compass Compass, temp, alti/Baro, world time, sunset/rise G-9400 rangeman

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Smashing success". Archived from the original on 6 June 2010.
  2. 1 2 Bonnier Corporation (September 2003). Popular Science. Bonnier Corporation. p. 24. ISSN 0161-7370.
  3. ↑ Herve Borne (1 January 2005). Men's Watches. Silverback Books. p. 250. ISBN 978-2-7528-0242-2.
  4. ↑ Andō Masahiro (2011-10-03). "Lasting Popularity for a Tough Watch - The History of Craftsmanship Behind Casio's G-Shock". Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  5. ↑ Jack Forster (30 June 2015). "10 watches that changed the industry: The Casio G-Shock". CNN.
  6. 1 2 "Casio celebrates 100 million G-Shock watches shipped – G-Central G-Shock Watch Blog". www.g-central.com. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  7. ↑ http://www.stussy.com/gshock-watches
  8. ↑ "8 Watches Worn to Space". Gear Patrol. ...The Timex Datalink and various Casio G-Shock models (DW-5600C and 5600E, DW 6900, and DW 5900) have proven their merit, earning Nasa’s qualification for manned space travel;...
  9. ↑ Casio 3229 Module User's Guide last page; revision code: MA1012-A (refers to revision in the year 2010, month 12)
  10. ↑ "Casio G-Shock GB-6900 Bluetooth watch review".
  11. ↑ "Transparent Casio G-Shock Glacier Gold 35th anniversary watch collection - Geeky Gadgets". Geeky Gadgets. 2018-09-24. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  12. ↑ "Last week in Tech: Beyond the Alexa microwave". Popular Science. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  13. 1 2 "Casio G-Shock goes green with eco-friendly timepieces", press release (February 2010)
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