The office is not the office anymore, and while we might long for suiting up again to impress colleagues with our sharp taste in tailoring, this is not the time. The now discontinued two/tone grey G-Shock GA-2100ET-8A matches damn well with some grey cotton sweatpants, strategically worn with a more formal navy merino knit for those Zoom meetings. For a G-Shock, it feels slender at 45mm and with a short 48.5mm lug to lug and no weight, it’s a perfect daily wearer. The bonus is the clever world time mode allowing me to keep up with the editorial team in Melbourne while being locked down here in Norway. While I love mechanical watches, this is just an understated, feather-light presence that does its job quietly.
Then the CasiOaks started appearing and for 104 euros, why not give one a try? My mustard yellow GA-2110SU-9AJF is simply fun to wear. I like the color, the playful dial, the lack of a second hand, the lume and the way the minute hand makes a little jump every 20 seconds. The basic design combines a slim case with an octagon double- molded bezel, decked out in a dark navy blue. The concept of the GA2100 delivered from the DW5000 and AW500.
Should a hand or both hands obscure the digital screen, pressing the light and mode switches rotates the hands away from the screen. A touch of the mode button returns them to their proper positions. In normal use, the minute hand leaps forward a precise third of a minute every 20 seconds. The name G-SHOCK has become a byword for independence and pushing the limits.
I considered underplaying the importance of case material when it comes to a brand known for its iconic silhouettes but I quickly decided I was being ridiculous. The conversation of what makes any Casio feel truly great on the wrist cannot ignore something as integral to that experience as the case material. And acting like the memorable aesthetics of the models we’ve come to adore over the past 40 years or so aren’t radically transformed by the material in which they’re brought to life is just as foolhardy an endeavor. Therefore, if you find yourself trying to decide between a “classic” resin-cased “Casioak” GA-2100 and its recently birthed metal counterpart, the GM-2100, read on.
While the GA-2100 has more of the original G-Shock DNA in its style than some other recent models like the GA-2000, it is also a subdued style that has a mainstream appeal. Fans will easily recognize it as a G-Shock, but at the same time, it doesn’t scream “G-Shock” to others. The new white band and bezel GA2100-7A is combined with a black face for a cool, refreshing look.
Finishing on the kit is also very nicely done with the same vertical brushing from the top of the bezel through to the butterfly clasp on the bracelet. The sides of the bezel are well polished, and the bezel screws are polished and all perfectly aligned and seated. Overall it’s tough to fault the quality of this kit. The 316L stainless steel case and bracelet and good finishing should be hard to get wrong, so thankfully, Jinshu didn’t!
The very first G-SHOCK — the DW-5000 — debuted in 1983. Its timeless design, perfected right from the beginning, was born of a pursuit of the ultimate toughness eschewing all hints of the extraneous. The double LED with high luminance brightly illuminatesthe dial and LCD to ensure readability in the dark. With a toughness emblematic of the new era, the GA2100 has arrived. The very first G-SHOCK — the DW5000 — debuted in 1983. You can compare the features of up to 3 different products at a time.
This I would wholly support , but if the name G-Shock appears on a watch, I genuinely feel it should be able to do what a G-Shock does. Ever since the first DW-5000C went on sale back in 1983, G-SHOCK has continued to push the limits of timekeeping toughness while creating new and baby g shock original designs. Greg is a long-time watch lover based in upstate New York. Greg is a supply chain professional by day and private watch consultant by night. Greg brings his own style to the TBWS website as a contributor by blending bits of humor into technical assessments.
Time and day of the week are offered by analog means while a pair of LCD offers electronic functions like time zones, stopwatch, alarm, countdown and more. When it comes to durable watches packed with cool style, Casio’s G-SHOCK sets the benchmark – and this GA-2100 version shows exactly why. It’s made using the baby g shock label’s Core Guard technology – meaning it provides superior shock resistance through use of carbon fibre – and comes with the black octagonal bezel for the retro look. Allowing you to customise the look, it comes fitted with an interchangeable strap, and to finish, it’s water resistant for up to 200 metres.
The 45mm GA A1ER “Stealth” model has been designed to present a full blackout dial picture and the slightly smaller 43mm GMA-S2100-1AER which is also predominantly black but with polished rose gold indices and hands. Light, comfortable, very high eye appeal for the money, main hands surprisingly readable, other features not so much and I like how it doesn’t scream G Shock in design, size and case wording. Those with narrower wrists don’t even think about the watch not fitting properly or seeming overly wide, which is a common issue with bigger G-Shock watches. Even though the display is bigger than the DW-5600, it wears similarly. It’s really an analog-digital version of the earlier DW-5600 with a few more functions.
As a seasoned G-Shock user who has worn them in the harshest environments on the Earth, I genuinely appreciate what Casio achieved back in 1983 when the first model rolled off the production line. The creation g shock watch of the G allowed me to wear a watch where other models would have curled up and surrendered. They remain a source of wonder to me, and I will always have an insatiable appetite to collect them.