I have managed to surprise myself with the joy of such simple wrist-worn fun. I’ve also enjoyed wearing the only watch in the house with a retrograde display for the weekdays, a proper world timer, 200m depth rating and all the other functions we simply take for granted. In short, the Casioak is a technological marvel spiced up with cheap fun – for about $220AUD it offers value with a capital g shock protection V. I am seriously impressed. This is a watch for everything, and I genuinely understand why it’s got such a star rating among the watch community. OK, an entire week with only the popular G-Shock Casioak as a wrist buddy has been refreshing, but what about the dark blue suit / white shirt get-up I’ve got planned for a cocktail party? Check the Home City and the daylight saving time setting.
G-SHOCK watches stand out not just with their tough design, but also with their technical refinements. From environmentally friendly solar technology and Bluetooth® through to GPS and radio technology — G-SHOCK always features state-of-the-art technology. What I understood from reading the whole paragraph(“Impact”) in the manual is that the manual is a general guide of how to operating watches with this movement, instead of exclusively for this G-shock model(GA-2100). So, there is an additional sentence to state that the shock-resistant watch models(G-SHOCK, BABY-G, G-MS) with this movement do have the ability to survive from much stronger impacts. Do not misunderstand me, I can see how this range makes complete commercial sense to Casio. They have a hugely successful brand and why not expand it, perhaps to cover other equipment such as backpacks or sunglasses.
This article may contain affiliate links which means if you choose to purchase a product using the link I may get a small commission. This is at no extra cost to yourself and enables me to keep writing reviews of watches and products I genuinely think you will enjoy or find useful. At just 11.8 mm thin, the GA2100 is thinner than even some luxury watches and thus, it should appeal to thick profile watch haters.
The Jinshu case and bracelet here is unapologetically based around the look of the Royal Oak from Audemars Piguet, which suits the original shape of the GA-2100 very, very well. Still, in obviously increased dimensions somewhat so this does wear more significant on the wrist. Thick profile wrist watches do not bother me a bit, but if you are bothered by tall watches, then G-Shock watches would be a straight-up turn off for you. Meet the CASIO G-Shock GA2100 Analog-Digital Watch, an extra slim G-Shock watch that you never imagine possible. Launched in early 2021, these four Mini CasiOaks also come in a range of colors – black, white, salmon pink, and blush pink with rose gold accents.
Still, it is far from being a dainty watch; nevertheless, the proportions will appeal to anyone with a smaller wrist. Speaking of the Baby-G, the GMAS2100-4A is a more gender-fluid timepiece, even if it is marketed to women. I mean, if Kid Cudi can appear on Saturday Night Live wearing a dress and hot pink G-SHOCK DW-6900, any man can wear this watch to the beach without judgment. It’s the G-SHOCK GMAS2100-4A in light pink that encapsulates the perfect summer timepiece for me. The color makes a statement but without the heft of the GA2100. It also wears lighter, and like any G-SHOCK, it is built tough.
The manageable size of this watch is also a big plus as mentioned above. Can’t help but chuckle every time I strap this one on…. The hands are poorly lumed and the hour markers are not treated. Instead, you get a LED light to illuminate the dial from an angle.
If you are a seasoned G-Shock wearer then these watches will surprise you. They are noticeably slim and light-generating the immediate question of whether they can maintain the shock-resistant characteristics synonymous with the brand. The 45mm GA is 11.8mm high and the smaller GMA is a mere 11.2mm high. In practical terms, this means that you really do not know you have them on.
Adjust the position of the day hand using the B and D buttons and finish the process pressing the A btn. As a genuine G-Shock enthusiast and purist I really struggle to like the CasiOaks. For me, they are nothing more than a water-resistant digital watch that has appropriated an iconic brand name but fails to deliver on many of the expected technical characteristics.