It’s been 41 years since Casio debuted the first digital G-Shock watch, and its latest watch is the most faithful recreation of the brand to date. The new G-Shock DW-5000R is visually almost identical to the original DW-5000C introduced in 1983 – in terms of length and the location of the watch strap recesses.
The rugged look of the original DW-5000C carries a lot of nostalgic charm, but it was a novel concept at the time of its release. Its creator, Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe, was inspired to create a damage-resistant watch after his mechanical watch crashed to the ground after falling off his wrist. The resulting G-Shock design was to have a “triple 10” resistance, which meant a battery life of 10 years, water resistance of 10 bar and the ability to survive a fall from 10 meters. G-Shock has become one of the most iconic watch brands in the world, strongly associated with streetwear culture.
In a press release, Casio claims that the DW-5000R features a “higher level of reproduction” than some of its previous reissues sold in limited quantities, suggesting that it may become a permanent fixture in the G-Shock lineup. However, there are a few minor differences: the case size has increased slightly to 42.3 mm from 41.6 mm, the buttons are shorter than the original, and the “water resistance” indicator reads “20 BAR” instead of “200M”, for example. .
Some specs have received a modern update, such as new LED backlighting and the use of “biomass plastic” on the bezel and strap to reduce environmental impact. Otherwise, the case is still made of stainless steel and has all the same features you’d expect, including a stopwatch, multi-function alarm, and calendar display.
A more detailed comparison of the recreated version with the original can be found on Casio’s Japanese website.
The G-Shock DW-5000R will be available in Japan on December 13 for 33,000 yen (approximately $217). We’ve asked Casio about global availability and US pricing and will update if we hear back.
Credit : www.theverge.com
