Casio has been making the G-Shock for over 35 years now. The brainchild of Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe, the original G-Shock DW-5000C had a 10-year battery life, water resistance to 10 bar and was capable of surviving a 10-meter fall onto a hard surface. A 10-layer cover atop the quartz movement keeps the guts of the watch safe, and a hardened mineral crystal and stainless steel case back ensure that it can survive in the harshest of conditions. No wonder that the G-Shock has become the primary choice of soldiers, adventurers and athletes since 1983.
Over 100 million G-Shocks have been sold worldwide since then, and the Casio wave shows no signs of slowing down. Of course, this means that there are more G-Shock models on the market at any given time than you can shake a stick at, making it difficult to keep track of them all. Here, then, are seven of our favorites from across the different G-Shock categories, which should at least provide a jumping-off point:
Buying Guide
DW9052-1V
A simple and subtle G-Shock, the DW9052-1V is a long-time favorite of military personnel. Featuring button guards, a retangular dial with backlight, a multi-function alarm, a 1/100th-second stopwatch, 12/24 time formats and more, the DW9052-1V is water-resistant to 200m and provides maximum visibility in the dark.
Case Diameter: 48.5mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Price: ~$45
DW5600E-1V
One of the most basic, least expensive G-Shocks around, the DW5600E can take a shocking amount of abuse before finally giving up the ghost. Smaller and thinner than the DW9052-1V, it still features all the typical G-Shock functions (countdown timer, auto calendar, Afterglow backlight, etc), but the thinner profiles means it’s barely noticeable on-wrist.
Case Diameter: 45mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Price: ~$45
GA2000-2A
Available in 6 colors and with interchangeable straps (Velcro, Cordura and cloth are available), the GA2000 line utilizes the new Carbon Core Guard case design, which is extremely lightweight and features improved durability. Other features include world time (48 cities + UTC, DST on/off), 5 alarms and dual LED lights (Super Illuminator LED and LED backlight for LCD with 1.5/3-second afterglow).
Case Diameter: 51mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Price: $130
35th Anniversary Black Gold Digital DW5035D
The DW5035D celebrates the original G-Shock that debuted in 1983 with black and gold livery and a vintage-inspired case. It features a backlight, flash alert, daily alarm and 1/100th-second stopwatch, as well as a gold buckle and a band loop engraved with stars to commemorate the brand’s 35th anniversary.
Case Diameter: 44mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Price: $240
GW9400 Rangeman
The Rangeman series takes the G-Shock to the next level of toughness and utility, employing a Shock Resistant Triple Sensor that gives the wearer altitude, barometric pressure, temperature and direction readings. The watch’s cylindrical buttons are impact-resistant and extremely easy to manipulate, and additional features include sunrise/sunset data and one-touch time recording and elapsed time measurement.
Case Diameter:
Water Resistance: 200m
Price: $395 (frequently discounted to under $200)
DW5000C
The DW5000C is the G-Shock for those who want some heavy metal in their lives. Riffing on vintage G-Shock case designs, the DW5000C is constructed entirely from stainless steel and incorporates a super-illuminator LED light and solar battery, making it self-charging. Using Bluetooth and the G-Shock app, the user can take advantage of two-way time sync and Atomic Timekeeping technology.
Case Diameter: 43mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Price: $499
MT-G MTGB1000BD-1A
A sort of uüber-G-Shock, the MTGB1000BD-1A features the Connected Engine module, which pairs with a smartphone and keeps time using radio wave time-calibration signals. Most of the watch’s functions can be controlled via the G-Shock Connected smartphone app, including a world timer and alarms. The watch picks up radio signals from six different transmitters worldwide for consistent accuracy, and features all the standard G-Shock tech, as well.
Case Diameter: 52mm
Water Resistance: 200m
Price: ~$985