![]() ![]() Though not a dive computer, it's rich in dive style and is one of the most iconic designs in the G-Shock catalog. Functionality: Standard feature set, tide graphs, 31 time zones, timers and more.Īll G-Shocks are rated to 2oom, but the Frogman is the rare dive-specific model.The broad category of digital watches, however, ranges from small retro-styled units to some of the wildest behemoths in the G-Shock range. Many harken back to the earliest G-Shocks with squarish cases that appeared in 1983 from the drawing pad of renowned Casio designer Kikuo Ibe. This category includes any models that lack analog hands. In reality, it's tough to wrangle all of G-Shock's constantly evolving offerings into a coherent picture, but this guide should help you navigate your way to one (or 10) that suits you. Beyond that, Casio riffs endlessly with style and functionality, from resin-cased altimeter- and barometer-loaded models to precious-metal atomic-clock-referencing dual-time world travelers. It’s a start.Īlmost all G-Shocks will have a stopwatch, a countdown timer, a backlight and 200m of water resistance. The analog/digital divide is one way in which Casio cleaves its G-Shock offerings, so we have grouped this guide into three major categories: digital-only, analog/digital hybrids and all-analog. Then there are fully digital models, analog/digital hybrid displays and an increasing number of analog-only models, too. ![]() That helps simplify things… a little: the brand regularly updates existing models with more design changes than mere colors. The first thing to recognize is that many individual reference numbers are really just alternative colorways for many G-Shock models. Let’s carve up this beast of a lineup known as G-Shock, paring as we can along the way. In short, there are good reasons it's common to find a G-Shock on the wrists of people in physically rough, demanding professions such as the military, firefighting and more. Some G-Shocks are even specially built to withstand the ingress of dust and mud - a somewhat different challenge than, say, water. A typical G-Shock watch is built to withstand a good shock, 200m of water pressure, plus other dangers a watch might encounter - and then some.īesides the water, hammer and drop tests other watchmakers use, you'll find Casio staff abusing prototypes and randomly selected watches in a range of ways. The name G-Shock comes from the term "gravitational shock," and it seems to refer to the field of mechanics in which shock is measured in the unit g. In those Japanese facilities is where R&D happens - and where G-Shocks are tested. While the original G-Shock concept was for the watch to be able to withstand any fall the wearer him- or herself would survive, its technology and durability have since evolved far beyond that.īasic G-Shock models are made in China, Thailand and Japan, while the higher-end and special models are fully Japanese-made. Brand lore tells of its now-celebrity creator Kikuo Ibe dropping watches out of windows during development of the first models. That includes the brand's own laboratory-like testing facilities, amusingly brutal trials on Japanese TV and a GP staffer once running one over with his car. G-Shocks will be subject to abuse like few other watches. How Tough Are G-Shocks, and How Are They Tested? What unites these seemingly disparate G-Shock communities is that all wrap their imaginations around these watches, and all demand unparalleled durability, functionality and style. Herein lies the dilemma of parsing the G-Shock collection: it appeals equally to a camouflage-clad soldier serving overseas as it does to the effete watchnerd in a New York City apartment or a 13-year-old anime junky in Tokyo’s suburbs. Two very different audiences, two very different watches. Also, the DW-6900-PT1 sold out almost immediately and is inevitably bound for nerd forums and e Bay, where it'll go for multiples of the original price. The second is the powder-blue, $180 limited-edition DW-6900-PT1 collaboration with Hodinkee and musician John Mayer: it appears playful but is, like all G-Shocks, tough as nails. The first is the $800 Mudmaster from the Master of G series, an enormous battle-ready analog/digital hybrid badass with almost as much capability as your smartphone. ![]() Let’s contemplate the following two G-Shocks, just to get a taste of the breadth available. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |