Casio celebrated its 100 millionth shipment of G-Shocks a couple of years ago.
It’s a brand beloved by both the SAS and hypebeasts – fans include soldiers, firefighters and astronauts; collaborators include Stüssy, Levi’s and A Bathing Ape. The “unbreakable” original with its “triple 10 patent” – a housing of ten protective layers designed to survive a 10-foot fall, be water resistant to 10 bar (100 meters) and have a 10-year battery life – now comes in dozens of versions with all sorts of modern trickery: Bluetooth, solar power and smartphone connectivity, to name three. It has continued to push the boundaries of material science with its premium MR-G line, using titanium and Japan-developed cobalt base alloys.
On February 14 G-Shock releases three new watches in its GM-6900 “Triple Graph” series, featuring the addition of a stainless steel bezel and high-quality finishes.
“We’re always looking to give customers the wow factor,” founder and father of the G-Shock Kikuo Ibe told Esquire’s watch annual The Big Watch Book recently. “To keep toughness while challenging new technologies. The expected level of fun in G-Shock’s design is getting higher and higher, so we are trying to achieve that expectation.”
To mark the unveiling of the new watches, and celebrate the only design icon to earn a Guinness World Record for having a 24.97 ton truck driven over it, here are the seven best G-Shocks you can buy today.
1GMW-B5000D-1ER
Casio
Based on the first ever G-Shock made more than three decades ago, the retro, rectangular stainless steel case belies all sorts of whizzy tricks, including Bluetooth, world time for 300 cities and smartphone connectivity.
SHOP
£450, g-shock.co.uk
2GM-6900B-4ER
Casio
One of three new models to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the release of the DW6900 in 1995, this sits between high-end and street style, featuring bold colourways and metal-covered bezels.
SHOP
£199, g-shock.co.uk (coming soon)
3GA 2000-2A
Casio
Notable features include a carbon fibre-reinforced case, guard-less buttons, a front light button, a double case back structure and multi-colour resin bands. The Carbon Core Guard gives the GA-2000-2A a very light weight, at just 64 grams.
SHOP
£89, amazon.co.uk
4G-7900-2ER
Casio
This 2010 model is resistant to very low temperatures, and comes with moon and tide graphs for sailing enthusiasts. We like the pops of yellow, too.
SHOP
£83, amazon.co.uk
5GW-9400-1BER
Casio
The chunky, solar black-out “Rangeman” features a black face on a black resin band. Triple sensors can keep track of altitude, barometric pressure, temperature and direction readings, all available at your fingertips.
SHOP
£299, g-shock.co.uk
6MRGG2000R-1A
Casio
From the G-Shock premium line, the solar-charging, GPS-enabled Bluetooth model softens its cutting edge chops with its strap, the surface of which features a traditional Japanese bishamon kikko pattern.
SHOP
£2,500, g-shock.co.uk
7GA-400SK-1A4ER
Casio
A throwback to the decade that launched it, this model from G-Shock’s Super Clear Skeleton Series combines a smoky grey case with a fluoro pink dial. The watch face illuminates automatically when you tilt your wrist upwards.
