Casio’s G-Shock watches are legendary when it comes to toughness, and you’d be hard-pressed to find another line of timepieces that can take as much punishment in a wide range of conditions. It used to be the case that G-Shock watches weren’t especially high on style, prioritizing function over form, which is a significant reason why they’re so beloved by military personnel, emergency responders, sportsmen, and anyone who has to perform rigorous duties in the field.
Things have changed for Casio’s G-Shock brand in the past few years, especially with the onset of the GA-2100 line, also known as “Casioaks” for their resemblance to the iconic and pricey Audemars Piguet Royal Oak. This homage G-shock style dominated sales for the brand when it debuted back in 2020, and it undoubtedly helped the astronomical $400k+ auction price of the solid gold AI-designed G-Shock G-D001. The singular timepiece was created to celebrate the brand’s 40th anniversary, with an auction estimate of between $70k-$140k. No one saw that coming, but it certainly put the brand in the ultra-luxury watch category for the first time.
Of late, G-Shock has been delivering style hits that keep on coming, and we got our hands on a few that span the range of styles and prices for the brand. The good news is that, no matter how affordable or pricey a G-Shock is, they’re still honey badger-tough and built to take a serious beating. But now they’re also praised for style points, as exemplified by this impressive set.
G-STEEL 2100 Series: GBM-2100A-1A2
The GBM-2100A-1A2 is what happens when sporty and stylish come together perfectly. The resin and steel construction combines durability, low weight, and tremendously good wearability. The light blue grid dial pops beautifully, even peppered with famously good tech bits like Tough Solar power, World Time, Bluetooth, phone finder, a full auto calendar to the year 2099, and analog-digital functionality. The Casioak octagonal bezel and case exhibit both brushed and polished surfaces. The resin band carries the same overall shape and contours as the standard 2100 but adds a grid pattern that evokes the dial texture, which is a very nice touch. The GBM-2100A comes in three different dial colors: blue, green, black, and blue. We found the blue version the most versatile and the most eye-catching. This watch goes with numerous outfits without skipping a beat, and you can even go deep in the drink with 200 meters of water resistance.
Buy: $250
5000 Series Full Metal: GMWB5000PC-1
The multi-hued GMWB5000PC-1 easily makes the case for the premium digital timepiece. Made with a full stainless steel case and bracelet, the GMWB5000PC-1 has an upscale heft to it. The tasteful but noticeable blue-green color gradient surrounding the digital readout uses glass vapor deposition for a truly rich coloring that grabs your attention upon first wear. The multi-layered brick pattern frame houses cells to power the Tough Solar battery. All this is undergirded by fine resin buffering components between the brushed bezel and case for supreme shock resistance. The full fusillade of G-Shock features includes Bluetooth, 39 time zones, auto summer time (DST) switching, home city/world time city swapping, a 1/100-second stopwatch, full auto calendar, and full auto LED light. It even boasts a nifty Power Saving feature that sleeps the display in the dark, but you won’t need it because it has 10 months of battery life on a full solar charge. Perhaps, most importantly, it’s one digital watch that can easily go with a blazer and jeans. We know because we pulled it off flawlessly, and it received our fair share of nodding approval.
Buy: $580
Analog Digital 110 Series: GA110TU-1A5
The black-and-tan analog-digital GA110TU-1A5 is part of the new Utility Series. While it’s clearly got a tactical lean, the contrast ups the style quotient. Whether you're on a tour of duty or headed to the field with a client, it’s got more than enough toughness and urban style to do both. We really love the subtle contrast of the debossed lettering that matches the tan strap. The 51mm diameter x 16.9mm thick black resin case isn’t for the slim of wrist, but it’s also not overwhelming. The magnetic- and shock-resistant watch manages 29 time zones, home city/world time city swapping, 1/1000-second stopwatch capability, as well as a ±15 seconds per month accuracy, which means you should never really be late for anything.
Buy: $130
Full Metal 2100 Series: GMB2100AD-2A
This is the full-metal Casioak we’ve come to love so much because of its swanky silver and deep blue coloring. The 49.8mm octagonal case is a thing of beauty when paired with matching hands and markers set on that oceanic dial and negative digital readout. The brushed and polished case is perfectly mated to the solid-link bracelet, and all of it is ready for primetime wear. No one will even guess it’s a G-Shock until they take a closer look. Make no mistake – it will be mistaken for a watch costing quite a bit more. The one-touch 3-fold clasp looks and feels high-end, while the tech housed within belies its mostly analog face. One of our favorite features is the GMB2100AD-2A’s Hand Shift feature that moves the hour and minute hands out of the way for full view of the slick negative digital display. 200 meters of water resistance, shock resistance, Bluetooth, solar charging, and 38 time zones means this watch is ready for globetrotting and anything else you throw at it.
Buy: $550
MRG-B2100 Series: MRGB2100B-1A
Some might balk at a G-Shock that costs as much as a luxury timepiece, but then they haven’t had the flagship MR-G titanium MRG-B2100B-1A on their wrist. There’s so much built into this watch, and its beauty and construction are like a Japanese supercar–the details and craftsmanship are virtually unmatched. It’s inspired by kigumi, the ancient Japanese art of interconnected wooden construction without the use of nails, evidenced by the latticework dial that hides the solar cells with intricate geometry. Turn your wrist and the detail comes to life. On top of that, the 27-piece bezel is a testament to the attention to detail. Each component is polished to a black brilliance unlike any other watch. The bezel uses Cobarion, a titanium alloy that exceeds the hardness of standard titanium fourfold. Even the hour indices come together using two watch face components. Other details include sapphire glass, diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating, a super hard-titanium black alloy bracelet, and a locking clasp to ensure security on the wrist. What can’t be appropriately conveyed about the GMB2100AD-2A is its premium look and feel when worn. There’s no watch we’ve ever encountered like it, and it’s a masterful execution of the best G-Shock has to offer.
Buy: $4800Photos by Amos Kwon
