Well, yes, it is a little confusing. What has been released in Japan (January 2013) as Metallic Colors is being labeled in the USA market as Garish Colors. Adding to the mystery of their series naming, Casio released a set they called Garish Black, back in May 2012 that were hardly what we’d consider garish and are not at all cosmetically related to this new series. But what’s in a name, anyway?

What we have here, five new watches in the “Classic” category (collection), coming to the USA market any minute are products that are fill-in colorways in the GA200 series and the venerable G8900 series with the nomenclature designation “SH” which signifies their bands and cases are sparkly metallic with a “semi-glossy” coating (according to Casio International) and therefore “Garish.”

Click images to enlarge

The analog-digital GA200SHs will retail for $160 and the all-digital G8900SHs will be priced at $110. The distribution of these products is slated to begin soon in G-Shock’s fashion and jewelry tier and shop.casio.com where they are typically available for actual purchase for as long as a day or two. Don’t dispair; if you want one, there is usually a way.

Here’s a video (below) done by myrwatchesvideo (myrwatches.com) on Youtube showing the GA200SH-8 gray watch. If you want to see the blue or red ones in the same video format, click them in the Youtube sidebar.

GA-200SH-1a GA200SH-1a, ga-200sh-2a ga200-2a, ga-200sh-8a ga200-8a, g-8900-1 g8900sh-1, g-8900sh-2 g8900sh-2, garish, metallic, classic collection, new 2013 g-shock watch

As are their popular siblings; GA100, GA110, GA120, GA150, and GA300, these new models are not equiped with solar charging or radio timesetting. And similarly, they are (or will be or should be) in the general price range of around $150 in the US market.

Prior to these three models, the first year GA200 series was limited to conservative white detailing in black or gray with silvertone, rose gold, or blue bezels. So, even though there is nothing new about the watch’s tech to report, it’s good to see more colorful options on their way to market.

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

click image to enlarge

G.P.P.R., a popular new fashion company that leans heavily toward the military style, embraces the G-Shock line in general and features a GA200SH-2 in particular in the following G-ShockUS video.

In the following video by Siam-naliga, we get a better look at the blue and the red versions of the GA-200 and even a quick glimpse of the watch’s backlight in the dark.

tags ga200sh, ga-200sh-1a, ga-200sh-2a, ga-200sh-8a, metalic colors, new 2013, g-shock casio watch,

It’s “super-illumination” auto (comes on with a flick of the wrist) back-light is a dual LED that more than adequately lights the dial and hour hands while showing off the watch’s metallic details. Features include: world time, stopwatch (1000 hours), countdown timer (up to 24 hours), five alarms (one with snooze), full auto calendar, military time (24 hour) (user switchable) display, and a three year battery. When this series comes to the USA it should sell for around $150.

click to view

click to view

The following videos are helpful showing the large size, complicated dial layout and LED illumination. Otherwise, unfortunately since they are not in English are not so informative on the features and benefits of the products. Note that the videos can be switched to HD for a better look. Thanks to Siam- naliga for providing the videos on YouTube.

tag GA-300-1A, GA-300-7A, GA300A-1A, GA300A-2A, GA300-5A, GA303B-1A, gear motif, g-shock watch, 2013 30th anniversary limited special edition, metallic shadow,

All the models in this series have Eric Hayes designed 30th Anniversary inscribed backs and specially marked buckles, are limited production (to 17,000 pieces) models and as such will be collectible. The commemorative packaging is also Hayes designed. It is expected that they will also be released in the USA, in limited distribution, as were the Rising Red products.

Cosmetically, these watches are consistent with a number of previous blue-on-black models which has become almost a signature style for Casio. As far as features go, there is nothing new to report. Even the new model, the GA303, is an addition to Casio’s growing stable of ani-digi products which only differ in dial layout and case bumps. Looking closely at the GA303, one has to wonder if it may be the winning entry in a high-school graphic design contest. It’s theme is “gears” and it’s dial is gratuitously thick and cluttered with three dimensional coin-edge and gear-patterned overlays and cut-outs. From a distance, though, it is, for those who like their watches to appear complicated, pretty cool looking.

Here’s some pictures of the new products. Click on each to enlarge (use your back button to return)

GA-113B-1AJR – 18,000 yen

GA-113B-1A G-Shock new in 2013

GA-303B-1AJR – 20,000 yen

GA-303B-1A G-Shock new in 2013

GB-5600AA-A1JR – 22,000 yen

GB-5600AA-A1 G-Shock new in 2013

GB-6900AA-A1JR – 22,000 yen

GB-6900AA-A1 G-Shock new in 2013

GW-9230BJ-1JR – 32,000 yen

GW-9230BJ-1 G-Shock new in 2013

GW-9330B-1JR – 40,000 yen

GW-9330B-1 G-Shock new in 2013

And a couple detail pictures of the package and the specially signed buckle and case back..

This blog will be looking for vendors who will be stocking these items and shipping to the USA, so check here for more information. And, feel free to leave comments if you have source information, reviews or pictures to share.

Also of interest – The first series commemorating the G-Shock 30th Anniversary. Click below

tags – initial blue g-shock watch, ga113b-1a, ga303b-1a, gb5600aa-a1, gb6900aa-a1, gw9230bj-1, gw9330b-1, GA-113B-1AJR, GA-303B-1AJR, GB-5600AA-A1JR, GB-6900AA-A1JR, GW-9230BJ-1JR, GW-9330B-1JR, 2013 30th anniversary limited special edition, eric haze, new watch casio,

Surfing the web, checking out what’s going on around the world can be so informative that I make sure at least once a day that I spend a few minutes perusing far-away web sites in the Orient, Africa, Europe, South America and even the wilds of New Jersey. And sometimes I make such startling discoveries that I am compelled to share them in one of my blogs with all my friends.

While looking for region-specific wrist watch products, I stumbled across a Thai vendor who sells watches by the dozen. This particular find is astounding. There are so many more G-Shock models out there that I didn’t know existed. Goodness me, so many more. As it happens, the Orient (particularly those lucky countries unencumbered by rule of (copyright and patent) law) is getting some dope product that the rest of us can only dream about. Check them out..

1. The Mud Resist
This watch comes in four colorways – all bright markings on black. What makes this a special watch is that it not only resists mud (says so right there on the head of the strap) but it tells time with a set of hands (if only our MudMan had some hands..) and it has flashing time! Wow, how cool is that?

2. The GA150
Here, in the domestic market, we are locked into just a couple colors of this marvelous new model while the Orient is flooded with more colors than you might find at your local A. C. Moore paint isle. I’ve posted a few of the more interesting colorways below. The system there is glorious as well. Buy only fifty watches and the price nets to a paltry $12.50 each. And you don’t have to concern yourself with all the confusion of fancy product numbers and letters – you just tell them you want a crate of yellow and blue (for instance) GA150s. Like Staples says, “there, that was easy.”

And, similarly, the GA120 series watches are so colorful and feature enhanced in their Oriental iterations. Here’s just a few of the fantastic analog/digital marvels that abound in that far eastern marketplace..

3. G-Shock G140
Betcha didn’t even know there was a model number G140. Well, not only is there such a model, but it is a doosey. Rich with color, angles, and lots of nice cluttery little dial markings, it is bound to be the envy of every street corner banger in Shanghai – more plastic markings than should be legal on a single wrist.

4. Edifice G-Shock G410
Yep, they even have a hybrid Edifice/G-Shock. It goes beyond classy – I’d call it swank. It has it all: sweeping color band, hands, LCD sub-dials, chrome, plastic, rubber, buttons, crown. A real cornucopia of features and cosmetic accouterments.

5. G-Shock GA160
Yes, you heard that right – the GA160. My cup runneth over. I’m covered with goosebumps. This watch is the epitome of high tech and I can hardly wait to get mine. This secret model that the lucky Oriental market enjoys has some really progressive ideas – for instance, Casio’s long standing 20 bar water resistance is pure overkill – I mean really? If a human being goes to the depth of 660 feet he’ll be smashed flatter than a tortilla, so why bother? This new model is rated at 3 bar, and that should get us through our showers. The GA160 watch features a compass bezel that rotates and five operations buttons. And, where there could have been an LCD readout, wasted on features no one uses anyway, there is a truly psychedelic god’s eye that one can stare at for hours and hours of pure blissful, confusion-free non-feature pleasure.

6. The Collaboration G-Shock X IMGUR
One of the greatest sites in the world recently published this set of preview pics of a G-Shock that appears to be a hybrid of the GA110 and the AWG series. I am entranced by this modern marvel – it has the goldest face I’ve seen on a plastic watch, and so slick it looks like the dial has been greased with vasoline. The hip-hop blingers are going to love this one when it hits the sneaker stores’ display cases. And as a bonus, this is one of the special post-Ming dynasty G-Shocks that has an added crown; also gold plated for your pleasure.

7. More GA110s, More color than I can stand
Here’s a selection of watches that has me a-jingle. Colorways even Crayola would love. And, like the GA110 above, the bonus crown is the added touch that puts these delights a notch above our boring local selection.

8. PRO TREK G-Shock hybrid – “World Time”
Happily blended like I’ve never seen before, this series of watches is not only G-Shock, but ProTrek as well – and some of them are marked with “tough solar” and “tough movement” which would make them the watch to own for all reasons. The World Time model boasts compass function as well. Wowwy-zouy!

I know I have excited all of you with these wonderful options that could come our way, someday. I can barely wait to see these delightful advanced-feature-and-technology products on the shelves here in our country.

And for those who can’t wait, eBay and iOffer regularly have treasures from China that not only blow open the doors of options, but allow us to get G-Shocks on our wrists “on-the-cheap.” Here are some examples of recently found eBay auction listings (courtesy of guyonearth and others on watchuseek).

9. And, So Many More..
As I collect (and fix up the graphics) these exemplars of modern watch manufacturing mastery, I find myself at a loss for words. I’m mentally out of breath. So here are a bunch more miscellaneous products to which you can apply your own flowery descriptions and praise.


















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But, actually..
I abhor the practice of copying products. Particularly egregious is the illegal use of others’ trademarks and trade-names. It might not be so obvious at first that Casio manufacturers top grade products, but when you compare them to the knock-offs you start to realize how far Casio goes to make products as well as they can be made. Their selection of the finest materials, manufacturing techniques, and the cutting edge technologies in which they invest heavily to develop, are the high-water mark in the watch industry. They deserve the profit they make and they don’t deserve the losses of sales to the bootleggers and the bad PR that goes with the trash that is made and sold around the world in their name. And, shame on you China for letting it happen.

G-Shock Steal: Not Really Real, Not Really a Deal
Bootlegs also harm the consumer. The counterfeit product is almost always of considerably lower quality. There is no one around to fix it when it doesn’t work. And in the case of the more accurate knock-offs, the consumer is tricked and wastes money on an investment that has no value.

In the post above, I poke fun at the situation because I like to get a laugh. I am a cynic and I am sarcastic. My writing is often mean and I think I’m cool. But I won’t buy counterfeit products. I often re-think my purchasing decisions to try to “buy American” when I can afford to. So, I might be a dick-head, but I’m loyal to my country and my principals and that redeems me enough for my own conscience. I posted these pictures so that you, too, could identify and side-step the illegal products and, thereby do the right thing.

tags – fake g-shocks, bootleg watches, counterfeit wristwatch, phony gshock, replica g-shock, knock-off, pirate, illegal, infringement, copy copyright patent, caveat emptor, imgur, ebay, ioffer, find spot identify tell know

So, the cool thing about the AWG G-Shocks is they are not so popular that they are ever out of stock or out of the hands of the deep discounters. As much as each of the dozens of models of G-Shocks (in general) are unique; features, layout, colorways, etc., they are the same – at first glance, you can tell it’s a G-Shock but you won’t know which one it is. The AWGs look like the ani-digi lines in general, with their black plasticky thick bumpy roundness, stubby hands, and cheesy strap, and require closer scrutiny to discern that they are, indeed, not one of the trendy new GA110s, 120s, 150s or 200s. They are the pleather of watches.

The first two pictures below are new versions of the venerable AWG100 that include progressive features by Casio (in their long-range push) to make all their watches less user dependent: Solar recharging (so battery changes are off the table), Atomic time-keeping (so the watch keeps resetting itself) and perpetual calendar equipped (so the watch knows it’s way around DST, 28, 30 and 31 day months). These two newbies bring contemporary, conservative simplicity to the wrist in black on black with white markers and dark metallic blue on black. And, they LED-auto-back-light (a feature woefully lacking on, but not usually installed on almost all brands of analog watches) after dark (smart trick, that!). Also, the two newest, the BC models include better bracelets with button release clasps (a huge improvement over most of the others that only have the resin straps with buckles).

Other watches in this gallery have been released sometime in the last four years; some are discontinued, some current in Casio’s catalog and all are continuously available on amazon.com, eBay, and other watch vendors’ sites at very good prices.

If you are considering one of the AWGs, but not the newest ones, you have to consider, if there’s a downside with this product line? You bet! First and second (and ubiquitous general G-Shock) complaints are the crappy (resin/buckle on most of the models) strap, the bulkiness of the case (at 15mm thick), and the almost indecipherable digital midget read-outs (on all of the AWGs). Meaning; the watch is always uncomfortable, often caught up on a sleeve and case rolling around the wrist like a large bauble on a chain – you go to see what the time is and instead you are disentangling you shirt and staring at the buckle that is where the dial should be. Unless you have perfect vision, you’ll need reading glasses to take-in the digital info in the tiny LCD portholes. Also, the operation of the many features is complicated and defies memorization – so the operator should keep the instructions nearby.

But the real draw to most buyers of this watch is not that it has such a rich set of features, but that it doesn’t not have them. A lot of owners of these megafunctionals admit that they not only don’t use anything but the time and every once in a while the date, and that they don’t know anything about the features, “I bought it ’cause it’s dope..” So, if you’re going to pay $125 for a plastic watch, at least it should have “a bunch of nifty shit it can do.. you know, in case you someday figure out a use for it..” To which this writer says, “works for me.”

These are heart-and-soul G-Shocks, almost indestructible, accurate and reliable beyond belief and completely water resistant. Almost mechanically identical, all models from 2007 to now only differ in the Atomic feature that was upgraded from MultiBand5 to MultiBand6 (which, evidently, is not an important factor for the North American continent) and along the way the back-light became an auto-back-light.
Also, they hold their value. It’s an easy sell and a quick close to eBay an AWG for 50-70% of it’s original discount price (even if the watch has had a lot of use) – especially if you hold onto the original packaging, tags and manual. The Toyota Corolla of watches.

tags – AWG100 awgm100 awg-m100 awg-100, G-Shock watch gshock, Casio new 2012, street fashion colorway, 50% sale discount collectible, awg-101,

Me Too..
There are similarities of this product to the new G-Shock GB**AA watches in that they alert the user of the phone’s major activities (and help find the phone when you walk off and leave it someplace), but the G-Shock, in it’s unabashed digitalness, does more – it tells who’s calling, allows some control via tapping the screen (crystal, that is) and since it’s a G-Shock it has a load of G-Shock time features like alarms, stopwatch, count-down timer and perpetual calendar.. and, of course, the unmatched G-Shock durability. Guessing that Casio ran out of room inside – the G-Shocks don’t have solar recharging and atomic timekeeping – Citizen Proximity has both.

“Dude, nice looking watch”
..is what they will say to you in line at Starbucks. And you’ll be able to talk about how cool it works with your new iPhone for the entire twenty minutes it takes to get to the head of the line. This blogger staggers under the impact that the simple act of going for a cup of Joe with the right accessories can so radically enhance one’s social life. These watches are meant to be noticed – they are both bold colorways and they are big – 45mm fashionably big.

A little pricey..
At $495 these gadgets are not cheap. But on-line retailers have already come to the rescue with pricing in the $370 range. Stores, when they get them (fairly soon, I’ll wager) will discount them about 20% to be competitive, but don’t expect the salespeople to demonstrate how they work.

Published Description:
Introducing Citizen Eco-Drive Proximity, a perpetual calendar chronograph with low-energy Bluetooth®4.0 powered by Eco-Drive technology. Unique features include time/calendar adjustment, iPhone® search, 10-meter sync, phone and email alert, and appointment calendar notification. Citizen Eco-Drive Proximity is currently compatible with the iPhone® 4S, iPhone® 5, and pairing is simple with the free Citizen iPhone® app with technical update.

Key Watch Features:
Citizen Eco-Drive: Light-Powered Environmentally Clean Energy Source
Perpetual Calendar
1 second Chronograph Measures up to 60 Minutes
12/24 Hour Time with AM/PM Indicator
Dual Power Reserve Indicator
Non-Reflective Crystal
100 Meter Water Resistant
Perforated Black Leather Strap with Contrast Stitching
45mm Stainless Steel Case

Bluetooth® Features
Bluetooth® 4.0 Low Energy Powered by Eco-Drive
Automatic Time/Date Sync (no need to manually set your watch again)
iPhone® Search (sound plays on compatible iPhone®)
Visual and vibration notification for: Telephone Call, E-mail (up to 5 IMAP enabled email accounts), Calendar Event
10 Meter Sync Range
Bluetooth® reconnect through a simple press of a button
Free Citizen-Developed iPhone App® with Convenient Technical Updates
Style #: AT7030-05E and AT7035-01E

..but wait, there’s more
And in additional to the above, Citizen has released a number of other new models that are amazingly fetching in design and interestingly feature rich. Pictured below are some of the more attractive new products spanning their various lines: Drive, Signature and Eco-Drive.

tags AT8020-03L, BZ0016-50E, AV3006-09E, AW1135-01E, CA0421-04E, CA0435-51E, AT7030-05E, AT7035-01E, citizen eco-drive, proximity bluetooth 4.0 low energy,

This rock solid, uber-reliable watch, it’s aesthetic a meandering fashion trail back to the days of Baywatch, Wayne Newton and Pong, is re-invented and is as relevant today as it was on the wrist of President Ronald Reagan. And it is more useful now with it’s five alarms (one with snooze), twenty-four hour (1/20 seconds) stopwatch with split, world time & UTC, 12 or 24 hour switchable (military) clock, and twenty-four hour countdown timer.

GW-5000-1JF – An Alternative
If you like the idea of an old face with the latest technology hiding behind it – and you want a more sophisticated package, but don’t mind spending about twice as much, then the GW5000 may be for you. Like the original DW-5000, this watch has a historically correct screw-down back and unlike the earlier G-Shocks, this one sports a comfortable soft urethane band.

Special thanks to watch-tanaka.com for the excellent video of this iconic timepiece.

Always in the Catalog
The DNA starts in the DW5000C and twists, curls and mutates through the 5600 watches over the 30 years since it was born. The digital watches of the world are all always compared to this benchmark line. Even today, it is no surprise that a brand new line of “smart watches” are the same form factor, but with more contemporary colorways and relative read-outs.

The GW5610 is to be released in Japan first at 20,000 yen and we expect soon thereafter a world wide distribution will occur. This blog expects this model to become one of Casio’s standard high-production products which will be on the books for many years to come.

tags; GW5610-1b, dw-5000c, retro, g-shock, new 2012, 1983, gb5600aa, dw5600 gw5600, watch history

The introduction of three new watches in the GW-A1000 (GWA1000) series triples the color options of these more than competent timepieces for owners who desire G-Shock, but upscale. Majorly upscale.

Some Background..
Casio’s most popular G-Shock products are in the $60 to $120 price range and are about fashion = size, features, and colors – a (youthful) culture thing and a lot of wrist decoration for the fashion-conscious or nerdy or sports-fan or special-feature-attracted wearer. But these G-Shock owners, for the most part, are not aware of the many pricier model line-ups that can boast about special features, certain combinations of which are exclusive to Casio watches – and this despite the fact that Casio is the most boisterous of all watch makers ie their sponsorship, non-stop press releasing, special-interest internet reporting, the-whole-world-circling flamboyant promotional tours and events exploding with snowboarding, bicycle tricks shows, Formula One racing, rock and rap music concerts, surfing-beach parties, and the like. Stores that sell the watches in big numbers don’t bother showing G-Shocks above $150 on their showroom shelves. But the GW-A1000 series, not at all a pocket-change decision to purchase at around $500 USD, is already gaining traction as a watch to check out, on the internet (cause the stores ain’t got ‘em) and consider for that next way-dope body-accessory acquisition. The GW-A1000 watches are extraordinary and the world is taking notice.

GW-A1030A-1A Aviation G-Shock
Special Limited Edition
30th Anniversary Commemorative G-Shock
Commemorating their 30th anniversary, they are issuing another special limited edition unit that will become collectible and should appreciate in value. The unique details are; the colorway is a blend of a lot of black and a little yellow markings and gold buttons, commemorativly engraved keeper and buckle and the specially engraved watch back. The watch comes in a collectible presentation, mini-trunk inside a nicely branded box. If you are a collector, this is a good one to grab.

GW-A1000FC-2AJR Navy Blue Aviator
Casio is the classic learn-by-doing kind of company. What separates them from the rest of the pack is that they do a lot more doing – hence, they develop loads of learning opportunities than all the other watch companies. For instance, they have seen the navy-blue and black style has been popular and the GW-A1000 watches are selling above projections, that to release a navy-blue with black GW-A1000 makes sense. So, that’s what we have here next. This blogger’s take on it is: well conceived mature design (that, nevertheless, can be a challenge to dress and accessorize around) on a killer hi-tech (notwithstanding the enormous learning curve required to launch and benefit from the well control-embedded complications) thoroughly modern wrist bangle. The band is an upgrade, also, metal embedded resin with a one-button release clasp. Again, a somewhat collectible model since it is a limited production colorway, it’s a sound investment.

GW-A1000FC-1A
This watch is another one almost the same as the other one except that the (5000 yen upgrade) band is a combination of resin and metal which releases via a one-button clasp.

Special thanks to watch-tanaka.com for the excellent video clips of these watches.

And, oh.. we don’t know which of these will make it out of Japan. Even if they are announced in the USA maket place, they may prove to be elusive.

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Ariel Adams recently posted this informative video about the GWA1000 watch on YouTube. Please visit his site, ablogtowatch.com – it’s excellent!

tags: GW-A1000 Aviation Series G-Shock, GW-A1000FC-2AJR Navy Blue Aviator, GW-A1030A-1A sky cockpit, Special Limited Edition, 30th Anniversary Commemorative watch, gwa1000, gwa1000fc-1a,gwa1000d

Casio’s coming G-LIDE series, GLS100, is new product designed tough for use in harsh winter conditions with timing features useful for competitive sporting.

These moderately priced watches have a new look, which Casio tells us is inspired by sport goggles, and will be available initially in four colorway options. Two of the watches (khaki and black/green) will have CORDURA® straps and two (black-blue and white) will have synthetic leather straps. The GLS100 products are distinguished by their extreme resistance to cold temperature (-20 degrees Celsius) and extra visible digital readout which at night benefits from Casio’s “super-illuminator” LED with after-glow.

Other features of note: G-Shock’s trademark water resistance to 660 feet and extreme shock resistance, double stopwatches with split, countdown timer, five alarms (one with snooze), 12 or 24 hour (military) time display, full auto-calander with day and date, and battery life of three years.

First release of this series will be in Japan (November 2012) with a price of 13,500 Yen. This blog expects that this watch will find it’s way into general distribution and will be available in the USA for around $100.

G-LIDE G-Shock, GLS100-1 gls-100-1jf, GLS100-3 gls-100-3jf, GLS100-5 gls-100-5jf, GLS100-7 gls-100-7jf, extreme winter sport low temperature, goggles, glx150, gwx8900