The world of watchmaking and the technicality associated with it is often overlooked due to the flash photography and the glamour that comes along with it all. The game, however, has changed a lot and gold and bling can only get you so far. Watches have been involved in a continuous evolution process that has led to the birthing of a variety of watches.
One such watch that has become truly iconic in the recent times is the G-Shock.
The Casio G-Shock – A Modern Day Design Icon
Every successful watch design in history has had one thing in common. It is that they all presented a solution to a problem. In this particular case, we are talking about the new Casio G-Shock.
There are lots of reasons why the new Casio G-SHOCK GA2100 has become one of the most amazing G-SHOCK watches of all time, which is surprising because it was only launched in 2019.
All the G-Shock watches in the past came back to one single problem, they all presented a problem of design. This problem has been faced by watchmakers since the dawn of mechanical watchmaking. Â You see, watches are delicate items. They break way too easily and there is nothing one can do about it.
The Next Generation G-Shocks
More than thirty years later, both the DW5000C and AW500 references have become iconic watches in the G-SHOCK watch catalogue. Their blueprint has been passed down to hundreds of subsequent G-SHOCK designs, the most recent ones being the GA2100-1A1 and its sibling the GA2100-7A. The former is a black-on-black beauty while the latter is a white-on-white masterpiece.
While both the GA2100-1A1 and GA2100-7A are really advanced timepieces that feature a world timer with 31 time zones, five daily alarms, and last but least, a perpetual calendar that will go all the way to 2099, what truly sets them apart is how they embrace the DNA of the G-Shock DW5000C and AW500.
When we speak of Ref. GA2100, there is one specific feature that stands out more than anything else, the timepiece’s bezel. Now, while the GA2100’s octagonal bezel has drawn comparisons to other famous watch designs like the Octo Finissimo and the Royal Oak, this eight-sided shape has been an integral element of the G-SHOCK’s design since 1983. Yes! This is not a new thing for the G-Shock.
In the GA2100, the bezel is rendered in a more equilateral form. The bezel here is more than an aesthetic element, however. It is a huge part of the timepiece’s brand-new Carbon Core Guard. This makes the case a whole lot lighter, stronger, and water-resistant. It also offers greater protection from sudden impacts and other environmental elements.
A Design Spectacle
As fashion, architecture and interior design move towards sleeker shapes and a more monochromatic palette, the GA2100’s minimalist look remains perfectly in sync with the zeitgeist. Thanks to the use of light and strong carbon fibre-reinforced resin, Casio was able to create the slimmest analogue-digital G-Shock case yet – just 11.8 mm thin – without sacrificing the watch’s legendary durability.
Despite this uber-modern and sleek case, the GA2100 still inherits elements directly from the very first G-Shock model in its profile. The timepiece possesses the same button layout, the same fixed-angle band, and an uneven surface.
Adding to the neat lines of its case, the GA2100’s dial is equally classy, with every detail and aspect implemented for functionality as well as style. The dial creates a sense of depth and dimension through its sophisticated use of 3D molding. Minute-mark-notched dial ring, analogue day indicator, index cuts, irregular-shaped LCD, are a few elements that make the watch a winner.
As a conclusive touch of finesse, the simplistic faces of G-Shock references GA2100-1A1 and GA2100-7A are rendered in carefully selected shades of black and white respectively, resulting in a rich display of light as well as shadow.
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