The Most Iconic G-Shock Gets an Eye-Popping New Edition With Deep Japanese Roots

The brand found a unique way to honor one of the coolest and most creative exports to emerge from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Close-up of a black Casio digital watch face with "PROTECTION" and "ILLUMINATOR" text on a red background.

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By Steve Mazzucchi

Published February 9, 2026

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Updated February 10, 2026

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With the distinction of carrying the DNA of 1983’s DW-5000C — the very first G-Shock — the 5600 Series is quite special for the super-tough Casio brand and its devoted fans.

Considering it launched in 1987, the foundational timepiece has quite a long and legendary history, too.

Black Casio G-Shock digital watch with white text and a patterned black resin band on textured sand. — Don’t let the rock garden vibes fool you; this new 5600 treatment celebrates origami.

However, that legacy has nothing on the ancient Japanese art form that inspired the latest version of the watch, the DW5600RGM-1.

After all, origami dates back more than a millennium.

Ancient meets modern

Right off the bat, I should note that G-Shock has brought the origami treatment to not only the 5600 Series but also the rounder 6900 Series, which originated in 1995.

The former gets a black base while the latter (dubbed DW6900RGM-5) gets a white base, and both watches cost $165.

Two Casio G-Shock digital watches, one black square-faced and one white round-faced, on a wooden surface with paper boats. — The color schemes of the two origami-themed G-Shocks are essentially photo negatives of each other.

However, as my G-Shock connoisseur colleague Sean Tirman points out, the 5600 is truly fundamental to the brand, so let’s focus on that one.

As G-Shock itself notes, origami associated with decorations, children’s play and gift-giving holds special significance during Japan’s New Year (Oshōgatsu).

Black Casio G-Shock digital watch with white outlined details worn on a wrist with a dark checkered sleeve. — With a bit of a comic book-like effect, the new 5600 definitely pops on the wrist.

That’s the inspiration behind the new 5600, which classily avoids being too on the nose with its styling.

Instead, it commits to a simple motif, a series of dotted folding lines on the dial, case and rubber strap.

Among other things, the aesthetic lightly recalls both WESN’s Cell-Shaded Collection of EDC knives and D1Milano’s Black Sketch polycarbon watch.

Black Casio G-Shock digital watch with rectangular face and multiple buttons on the sides. — With the dotted lines extending all the way to the ends of the band, this G-Shock really commits to the bit.

Complementing that unmissable conversation-starting treatment are more subtle touches.

Texture inspired by washi (traditional Japanese paper) extends from the bezel to the band, while the LED backlight and case back both feature a crane, perhaps the most indelible symbol of origami, as well as good fortune.

Of course, at the heart of it all is the same awesome, affordable timepiece that G-Shock has been iterating on for decades now.

Back of a Casio DW-5600RGM watch with stainless steel cover and black resin strap. — The crane on the case back is a daily reminder of this watch’s paper-folding origins.

With a case and bezel made of resin and bio-based resin, respectively, this 5600 is shock resistant (duh), it’s water resistant up to 200 meters, and it boasts a battery life of five years on CR2016.

Highlights of the digital display include a feature-packed stopwatch, countdown timer, multi-function alarm, flash alerts, LED backlight, afterglow and full auto-calendar to year 2099.

By that time, both G-Shock and origami will still in all likelihood be ticking right along … even if we aren’t.

Availability and pricing

The G-Shock DW5600RGM-1 is available now for $165.

Black Casio G-Shock digital watch with white stitched pattern design on band and bezel.

G-Shock DW5600RGM-1

$165 at G-Shock

About the Author:

Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men’s Health, Men’s Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone’s bike seat is at the proper height.

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