G-Shock

Founded
1983
Based in
Tokyo, Japan
In our catalog
11 watches from $50 to $4,000

G-Shock was created to be unbreakable. Since 1983 it has grown from a single digital watch into a whole world of tough watches, worn by soldiers, skaters, astronauts and fashion designers. It's part of Casio but has become a brand in its own right, with a huge range of shapes, colors and materials.

History

Casio engineer Kikuo Ibe broke a watch his father had given him and decided to make one that wouldn't break. His brief was "Triple 10": survive a 10 m drop, resist water to 10 bar and have a 10-year battery life. According to the story, he tested prototypes by dropping them from a window of Casio's building. The breakthrough came from the idea of a module floating inside the case, like a ball inside a rubber ball.

The DW-5000C was launched in 1983. G-Shock took off in the US in the 1990s, helped by an appearance on Keanu Reeves's wrist in the film Speed (a DW-5600). The Frogman diver arrived in 1993, the premium MR-G in 1996, and metal versions of the original square in 2018. In 2019 the slim, octagonal GA-2100 became a hit, nicknamed the "CasiOak" for its resemblance to the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.

Signature models

What it's known for

G-Shocks are among the most durable watches made, and Casio releases hundreds of colorways and collaborations every year. Many are solar-powered and sync to radio or Bluetooth time.

Price and positioning

G-Shocks start around $50, with metal and premium versions costing up to several thousand dollars. It's one of the best watches to own if you want something you'll never need to worry about.

G-Shock watches in our library

All watch brands