Casio made a lasting impact on the watch world in the early ’80s when it debuted the first G-Shock, the DW-5000C, a timepiece that was water resistant to 10 atmospheres and able to withstand a 10-meter drop. There were a lot of factors contributing to that superlative shock absorbancy, but particularly notable was the plastic case. It eventually ushered in a slew of other plastic-case watches from G-Shock, forever linking the material with the brand. Now, decades after the original’s release comes a version made from steel.
The new GMW-B 5000 D-1 is a modern rethinking of that original G-Shock. It still maintains a similar digital display and case design, but it gets a host of upgraded functions. Most notably is the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to link up your watch with your smartphone, giving it access to G-Shock’s connected app, allowing you to set alarms and set your time based on 300 world cities from your phone (you can also use your watch to find your phone if it’s been misplaced). The watch can also receive atomic time signals and adjust its time readout automatically, meaning you’ll always have accurate time anywhere in the world.
Given its metallic casing, the GMW-B 5000 D-1 will come at a bit of a premium: $600 when it goes on sale in April. A gold-plated version, the GMW-B 5000 TFG-9, will also be available for $700. Either way, they’re a unique, almost iconoclastic take on a timekeeping icon. That’s something we can get behind.
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