Brief History of G-Shock Watches


A G-SHOCK GST-B100 with box on grey background

Known as “The Toughest Watch on the Planet,” the G-Shock watch line from Casio definitely earns that distinction. Not only a hole advertising and marketing declare, the G-Shock is designed for the harshest environments on the planet. If ever you see an athlete or thrill-seeker inside their component carrying a watch, it’s greater than seemingly a G-Shock mannequin. G-Shock additionally made its mark each within the army and regulation enforcement business. In this text, we are going to take a look at the illustrious and thrilling historical past of the G-Shock watch.

History of G-Shock Watches

28 July 2019, Paris, France: G-shock wrist watches on shop window

To correctly introduce what G-Shock is all about, it’s best to start out from the start and undergo all of the related milestones from there. So, let’s start.

Where it All Began – Birth of the Toughest Watch on the Planet

G-Shock first got here into the image when Casio’s head of watch design, Kikuo Ibe, shaped a small crew known as “Team Tough.” The crew began improvement with this concept of a genuinely tough-as-hell in 1981.

The core thought of the G-Shock was the “Triple 10” design standards; Ibe and his crew needed to create a watch with s 10-ATM water resistance, battery lifetime of as much as 10 years and will face up to the affect from a 10-meter drop. 

However, the trail to attaining their aim design was lengthy and arduous. The crew went by means of over 200 prototypes earlier than perfecting the design. It wasn’t till Ibe noticed a bouncing rubber ball within the native park that he bought the thought for the G-Shock’s signature construct. 

Ibe concluded that the middle of the ball doesn’t endure from any shocks as the outside absorbs all of the affect. Hence, they based mostly their design on this particular notion for the G-Shock mannequin’s casing. This is why it’s comparatively gentle regardless of the somewhat massive dimension of G-Shock watches. This is as a result of G-Shock watches are hole, with the first timekeeping mechanism encased inside a smooth gel cushion. 

With these three major targets in thoughts, Team Tough started creating the very first G-Shock. It took two years to finish and launch the primary mannequin, the G-Shock DW-5000C. 

The First Generation G-Shock Watch

G-Shock DW-5000C
DW-5000C (Image: Casio)

After two years in improvement and tons of of redesigns and reiterations, Ibe and his crew lastly unveiled the primary of many G-Shock fashions to return – the G-Shock DW-5000C. Launched in April 1983, the DW-5000C got here in two variations: the DW-5000C-1A (black and crimson) and the DW-5000C01B (black and gold). 

Of course, the G-Shock watch line gained’t garner such a status for being simply powerful. The DW-5000C additionally featured a number of integral timekeeping functionalities that helped separate itself from the standard wristwatch. The authentic G-Shock included a countdown timer, stopwatch, alarm, 12/24-hour mode, and a backlight. These options and its spectacular sturdiness made it fairly engaging for sports activities and out of doors fans. 

A Rough Start for the G-Shock Brand

Interestingly sufficient, preliminary gross sales of the first-generation G-Shock watch had been fairly gradual. This weak sale statistic may be attributed to its main enchantment in the direction of a comparatively area of interest market. There had been even talks concerning the G-Shock collection being discontinued. Can you think about that? However, a major swing in momentum got here in 1984 when Casio launched the DW-5200 mannequin, which included a now-iconic industrial on Western shores. 

The industrial featured the DW-5200 as a hockey puck to focus on its toughness. The gross sales of the DW-5200 skyrocketed in America thanks partially to the industrial. That industrial was so iconic {that a} similarly-themed G-Shock advert was made in 2018 for the G-Shock GMW-B5000 mannequin. 

While the G-Shock collection started with the DW-5000C mannequin, the watch line didn’t hit its stride till the DW-5200 mannequin was launched. Hence, the DW-5200 was dubbed the “Hero” mannequin because it singlehandedly saved the G-Shock collection. 

G-Shock’s Rise to the Top

While G-Shock debuted within the 80s, it wasn’t till the 90s that the model gained worldwide recognition. The 90s was certainly the golden age of G-Shock as this was the last decade that launched quite a lot of the staple options that trendy G-Shocks nonetheless use to this present day. 

In addition to their extremely sensible and purposeful timepieces, G-Shock additionally burst by means of the mainstream with their restricted version fashions. These fashions had been designed in collaboration with different well-known artists, personalities, and types. The most up-to-date restricted version G-Shock was the GD-X6900MNM-1, a mannequin developed in partnership with rap icon Eminem. Check out our checklist of the most sought-after restricted version G-Shock watches for additional reference. 

G-Shock additionally broke away from being a distinct segment timepiece with the high-end and metallic MR-G collection. In addition, the MR-G watch line confirmed that G-Shock isn’t just a sports activities timepiece for informal put on but in addition a watch you can put on throughout formal events. 

A More Feminine Touch – The Baby-G Watch Series

G-Shock at all times had the status of being a extremely masculine timepiece attributable to its purposes and huge design. But, after all, Casio understood that there’s a complete different market on the market that they haven’t cracked but with G-Shock. Enter the Baby-G watch line. 

The G-Shock Baby-G is a collection designed for girls with its sleeker and lighter design. The Baby-G collection debuted in 1994 with the charming DW-420, a extra compact model that’s simply as powerful as the unique. Here is a whole rundown on the major variations between the G-Shock and Baby-G collection. Fortunately, G-Shock additionally has a watch line for teenagers which is smaller however simply as scrappy. 

Here Comes the New Millennium

With G-Shock lastly incomes its spot available in the market as a real powerhouse within the 90s, it’s time to concentrate on revolutionizing the business, which they did within the 2000s and past. During this period, Casio began creating G-Shock watches with excellent options just like the Twin Sensor, Triple Sensor, Bluetooth, Tough Solar, and Triple G Resist. 

Never Complacent and Constantly Evolving

One of essentially the most spectacular facets of G-Shock watches is how the collection always reinvents itself. Not happy with being often called the hardest, G-Shock repeatedly ups its sport every time potential. Here is a timeline rundown of all of the notable options and improvements added all through the years.

1989

G-Shock AW-500E-1E Watch
AW-500E-1E (Image: Casio)

The G-Shock AW-500 was the primary within the collection to function analog timekeeping. 

1992

G-Shock launched the DW-6100 mannequin three years later, which featured a built-in thermometer. This yr was additionally the debut of the DW-5900, which options the signature triple graph dial design. 

1993

This yr noticed one of the vital common G-Shock fashions launched to the general public, the Frogman DW-6300. This G-Shock mannequin is the primary to have a 200-meter ISO certification and is a extremely dependable dive watch. Along with the primary G-Shock dive watch was the disclosing of the primary G-Shock mannequin to include EL backlight know-how, the DW-6600.

2000

G-Shock eagerly met the beginning of the brand new millennium as they launched the primary of their Master of G collection fashions, the GW-100, a key function was that it included radio management performance. 

2008

This yr launched the general public to the G-9200 Riseman, the primary to function the Twin Sensor design. The Twin Sensor function features a compass and thermometer sensor, making the G-9200 a superb choose for out of doors fans. 

2009

G-Shock GW-7900-1
GW-7900-1 (Image: Casio)

A yr later, a G-Shock mannequin as soon as once more revolutionized the collection. The GW-7900 mannequin utilized a multi-band six radio-controlled function and solar-powered batteries. Thus, ushering within the period of recent G-Shock multi-functionality. 

2010

 Casio GRX5600A-4 - G Shock
GRX5600A-4 – G Shock (Image: Casio)

The GRX-5600 G-LIDE debuted throughout this yr, and it’s a fairly particular G-Shock look ahead to surfers, because of the tide graph function. The identical yr additionally noticed the discharge of the GLX-6900 G-LIDE, which is a deluxe model that provided each a tide graph and moon information function. 

2012

Another notable milestone got here in 2012 when Casio launched the GW-4000 Gravitymaster and its revolutionary Triple G Resist design. The Triple G Resist construct additional enhanced the sturdy G-Shock design by making it impact-resistant, centrifugal force-resistant, and vibration-resistant. 

This yr additionally noticed the primary G-Shock watch function Bluetooth connectivity get its much-awaited debut. The GB-6900 Bluetooth is the primary G-Shock to have smartphone connectivity and a particular game-changer for the collection. 

2014

GWN-1000B-1B Watch
GWN-1000B-1B (Image: Casio)

It is unquestionably my favourite yr with regard to G-Shock’s historical past. 2014 was an progressive yr for the watch line with entries just like the GWN-1000B Gulfmaster with its Triple Sensor V3 and sensible entry performance. In addition, the GPW-1000 Gravitymaster additionally dropped concurrently, which provided a patented Casio GPS Hybrid Wave Ceptor know-how. 

2016

Another first got here for the watch collection with the primary G-Shock with a built-in depth gauge, the GWF-D1000 Frogman. Also, they launched the premium-grade GWN-Q1000 Gulfmaster with as much as 4 built-in sensors. 

2017

G-Shock as soon as once more innovated the business with the GPW-2000 Gravitymaster, the primary watch that comes with three-time correction techniques. 

2018

Pushing the bounds of what an out of doors watch can ship, G-Shock unveiled the extremely spectacular GPR-B1000 Rangeman, the world’s first solar-powered GPS navigation watch. 

2020

G-Shock GBDH1000-1 Watch
GBDH1000-1 (Image: G-Shock)

G-Shock lastly entered the sports activities watch area with the GBD-H1000 G-Sport, which comes outfitted with a coronary heart charge monitor and GPS. 

Why Is It Called G-Shock?

The head designer of G-Shock, Kikuo Ibe, needed a watch that would face up to impacts and gained’t even bat an eye fixed if dropped. As you’d have guessed, the “G” stands for gravity. G-Shock stands for Gravity Shock.

It is a watch designed to outlive the “shock” of the affect brought on by gravity. It is a fairly simple and funky title for a watch line that excels in delivering performance and reliability.



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