G-Shock #14: The Dawn of the 25th Anniversary, GW-5525A-1DR

In 2003 I noticed that Casio released special Anniversary models for their 20th anniversary. I was relative new in collecting G-Shocks, but I managed to get hold of the DW-5000MJL-1JF. Unlike the DW-1983-1 and the DW-5000SP, the 20th anniversary DW-5000 model looked different from the originalDW-5000C. But with the red face, it looked pretty cool.

As the first G-Shock was  launched in 1983, I suspected that 2008 would become a special year, as it would be G-Shock’s 25th anniversary. I didn’t expect that the celebration would start one year earlier.

I think it was March 2007 when I had some e-mail exchange with Katsu Higuchi-san. I probably had received one or more G-Shocks that I had ordered from him. He told me he had been to a watch congress in Tokyo and he had great news for me. Casio was going to release a special series of watches for the 25th anniversary.

He soon sent me some press photo’s about what later would be known as the “Dawn Black” series. Black watches with a greenish gold display and gold accents. As the series were scheduled for May 2007, I had time to save extra money (by simply not buying G-Shocks). I asked Katsu-san to order a set for me and started saving.

Finally the series was released at the end of May. The series were packed in a special box. It looked like a flight case, the type you see musicians with. Actually the panels are made of cardboard.

The initial Dawn Black series were all Tough solar models. The series consist of the AWG-525-1AJF, GW-225A-1JF Frogman, GW-5625A-1JF, GW-9025A-1JF Mudman and the GW-5525A-1JF. Besides the gold display and gold accents, also the buckle and back are made of gold colored metal.

In September 2007 the initial release was followed by a second “Dawn Black” release. These models were only sold outside Japan. These were the G-9025A-1DR Mudman and the G-9025-1DR Gulfman. Also the GW-5525A-1DR and the GW-225A-1DR were released in South East Asia and the US. In Europe the GW-9025A-1DR was available in limited numbers. The last three models were exactly the same as the Japanese market models, but were packed in a special 25th Anniversary package. Like the logo on the back of all the 25th anniversary models, was this tin designed by Eric Haze.

The watch I feature here today is the GW-5525A-1DR. This watch did not only come in a different package as the Japanese models, it also contained a special gift. When the tin was opened you found a nice looking G-Shock necklace with a dog tag.

This dog tag shows on one side the G-Shock logo, on the other side you’ll find the special 25th anniversary logo by Eric Haze in red, white, black and gold. I wish I could have bought a second GW-5525A, because I like this necklace and wanted to keep one mint for my collection. This model was sold in large quantities in the US. You could get them in department stores for relative low prices, mostly around $80.-, much lower than the original GW-5500 would cost you.

You could also find them on eBay. The problem for me with ordering from the US is that packages end up at the customs. I don’t mind paying tax (it would be around €12.- for this watch), but the parcel service adds €17.50 for handing it over to the customs and receive it back. This makes importing cheap G-Shocks from the US pretty expensive. Luckily I found one, slightly used, on the sales forum on WatchUSeek. As I was planning in wearing this watch, it was not a problem to me. I don’t know what I paid for it, but it was a good deal, probably around $80.- shipped.

When the package arrived, the watch looked unworn. Often you can see the imprint of the buckle on the strap when the watch is worn, but I couldn’t find this imprint on this one. As I decided to wear this watch, it is now in a good, but worn state. The necklace was too cool not to wear. I have worn it often, though I had to look for it today.

The GW-5525A is a very nice model. It is shaped after the DW-5500C, released in 1986. The DW-5500C was the second G-Shock model that broke with the traditional square design. The DW-5400, released three months earlier than the DW-5500C, had a round bezel (like the DW-5700). The DW-5500C had a Mud Resist housing and Casio nicknamed this model “Mudman” and considered this the “Master of G”. Although not really as big as later ‘90s models, the DW-5500C was quite larger than his older DW-5X00C brothers. Most eye catching is the wider strap, which makes this model look streamlined. It’s pretty hard to see where the strap ends and where the case starts. A nice extra on the wider strap is that the watch wears very comfortable.

 Of the current Mud Resistant models, the 5500 models have the easiest button control. The parts that cover the buttons feel softer than the covers of the current Mudman models and the GX(W)-56 models. Nice detail is the ADJUST button cover. Some G-Shock models have a recessed Adjust button, to avoid accidentally entering setting mode. The normal buttons on the GW-5525A have a ribbed grip, while the Adjust button has a smooth(er) surface with a single dot at the point where the button is.

 

The GW-5525A -1DR does have the same looks as the DW-5500C, but has been equipped with the latest technology, including a 5 band Waveceptor function and a Tough Solar energy source. The Waveceptor function is Casio’s name for an Atomic Time Receiver.

Before 2006 you could only buy G-Shocks that could receive the two Japannese signals and the US signal, or G-Shocks that could receive one or two European signals (Mainflingen, Germany and Anthorn, UK). With the GW-9000 Mudman, Casio released in 2006 the first 5 band Waveceptor model, followed by the GW-5500 models in 2007. Still a sytrange idea that 5 and 6 band Waveceptor models are now common, but that the first was released less than 5 years ago. A is a little pity that the GW-5625A-1JF is a modle that only receives the signal from the two Japanese transmitters (Fukuoka/Saga and Fukushima) and the US transmitter (in Fort Collins).

 

The GW-5525A has the following functions on-board: 48 cities World Time, 1000 hour stopwatch, a 60 minutes Countdown Timer and 5 Alarms and a Hourly Signal. It’s a pity there is only a 60 minute Countdown Timer on board, but all other functions are more than perfect. Interesting is that Alarm 1 can be set to a Snooze Alarm or a normal Alarm. Normally is the Alarm with the highest number automatically the Snooze Alarm.

The GW-5525A was sold in large quantities in the US, but it is already almost 4 years ago that it was sold. Finding one now will be hard. Back in 2007 this model sold out in the US in a few months. As they were sold at a relative low price in department stores like Macy’s and Wallmart, most of these would have been bought by regular customers who probably still wear this watch, as it is pretty complete and also very comfortable. If you want one, you probably will have to look in Japan. At the moment there are three available at Yahoo Auctions varying in price from 7000 to 20000 yen. Casio has not produced a new GW-5500 model for a long time, but Casio still releases non-Atomic 5500 models, which can have different modules, solar and not solar, but same comfortable wear. These can be good alternatives to this GW-5525A-1DR.

Intermezzo #37: A unexpected view under the hood of a rare G-Shock

I have this rare G-2400 G-Shock with a dead battery. So I took a CR2016 battery and my tools. When I opened the back, I noticed that the back plate looked different from other G-Shocks. There seems to be a conducting strip that connects two springs. Probably the springs are needed for the EL backlight.

 The case and module is not very big, so the battery looks pretty huge. The G-2400 has similar dimensions as the G-2300. It's a hard to find model. It has a 500 Lap memory Stopwatch. No idea why this watch is this rare. I think the G-2300 size and the 500 Lap Memory feature is quite attractive.

The battery change itself is quite the same as with other G-Shocks. I have reset and closed the watch. It seems to work fine.

G-Shock #13: The Masami Nagasawa model, The perfect watch for Sakura

Spring has finally begun in The Netherlands. Yesterday it was 20ºC here and a friend of me reported it was 27ºC in Eindhoven this afternoon. It is the time that the blossoms are in bloom, specially the cherry blossom trees.

I love the cherry blossom season. A lot of streets in my area turn pink for a short time. In Japan the name of these cherry trees is Sakaura (サクラ). The blossoms of this trees are in Japan a metaphor of life: short, beautiful and transitory. Also the flowering of the cherry tree is called Sakura.

A very beautiful G-Shock for this short season is this DW-6900FS-4JF. It was released in December 2005. Although I think this watch was available in North America, it was sold mostly in Japan. The white version (-8JF), which was released at the same time was far more common and was available in large quantities in North America. 

The "Hot Pink" DW-6900FS was marketed in 2005 as a model that matched the latest street fashion . It was suitable both for man as woman. Personal, I think wearing pink as a man shows you are a strong personality.

My friend DragonJade has also an interesting theory why I seem to be atracted to pink colors. I am a little dyslectic, so I am a slow reader. Specially blocks of texts without interpuntion or paragraphs can drive me crazy. You might already have noticed that my articles on 50 Gs always are divided in a lot of small paragraphs.

I'm also quite hyperactive (although it has attenuated over the years a bit), which makes concentrating on one subject not always easy. Maybe that's why some of my articles (apparently including this one) seem to meander off topic from time to time. Also my 50 Gs articles are often written in my bedroom or at night, when everybody sleeps. According DragonJade, the color pink might bring calm in my head. That's why lenses of glasses for dyslectic people have blue, purple or pink colors. It might be that pink is a color that allows me to get things in order.

The DW-6900FS-4JF was the first pink G-Shock that was released. In Japan this model is sometimes called the Masami Nagasawa model. Masami is a well known actress and model in Japan. She is a busy lady. She has played in several Japanese movies and television series. She also hosts a radio show called "All Night Nippon". The reason this G-Shock model is named after here is the fact she appeared in the "G-Shock Official Book" mook of 2006. A mook is a typical Japanese combination of the words magazine and book. You can buy mooks about every thinkable subject (sports, motor bicycles, gardening, architecture, etc). They are thick glossy magazine, bound like a thin book. The National Geographic magazine might be considered a mook in Japan.

It is a pity I can't read Japanese. I'm quite curious if Masami Nagasawa is showing the watch as a model, or is telling about her personal G-Shock. I think it is the last, although I can't find any photo of her on the web where she is wearing a watch.

Actually I have a second DW-6900 in the same color. I bought it in Hong Kong. It must be a modded model, as it does not have DW-6900FS stamped on the back, only DW-6900. Surprisingly this G-Shock has a dark gray light button with a white G. For a while I have thought it was an overseas model, but highly probably had a previous owner bought a bezel and strap set for his DW-6900. I am a bit puzzled about what the original model would have been, as the red eye and white G on the button looks like a DW-6900H-9 is used. Unfortunately all DW-6900H models show FOX FIRE in the display, not ILLUMINATOR. Although the white button on the real thing is absolutely beautiful, this gray light button with a white G does not look bad at all.

I think I was pretty lucky in finding these two watches, as it was not easy at all to get these. I bought them both around November 2008, three years after the release. I have no clue what I paid for them anymore, but they weren't really cheap. I did a search today on Yahoo Japan and frankly all I could find was a pink bezel/strap set for around 3500 yen. Strange enough, the white version is, 5 years  after the first release, still available, both in Japan as in North America.

So if you like this watch, there are two options. Wait endless before one pops up at eBay or Yahoo Auctions Japan, or buy a white DW-6900FS-8JF and a bezel/strap set of the pink version. They both share the white button with the black G and the color of the texts on the display seem to be the same.

Intermezzo #36: KIKS TYO Charity "Hope Japan" T-Shirt.

I had seen several known brands having a special T-Shirt release to support the Japanese Red Cross. FUMI posted several shirts about a week ago. When I saw these shirts, I contacted KIKS TYo if they were also going to release a charity T-Shirt. I soon got a reply they were working on it, but it was delayed, because of the exhibition of the Summer Collection 2011. Yesterday Hiro Ueno posted the concept of the shirt on Facebook. Now it's available both in the Japanese as the International KIKS TYO webshop.I have ordered mine. If I have some spare money next month and the shirt is still available, I will buy one for my son too.

Other known brands with charity T-Shirts supporting the Japanese Red Cross are Stussy's "One World, One Love, One Heart",  HTML's "One for All Japan Unity" and Neighborhood's "You are not alone".

(photo by FUMI)

There are many ways to support the Japanese Red Cross, but I think, as a big T-Shirt lover, that combining charity with something you love is a good combination.  Of course all profits of the T-Shirts of these brands go for 100% to the Japanese Red Cross. 

Photo above: Bernard Vercouteren van den Berge

Here some photo's of a meeting I had with Hiro Ueno (International Director) and Hobby:tech (Founder) at the KIKS TYO Head Office in Shibuya, Tokyo.

The press machine operator at KIS TYO, cleaning up around the printing unit. He's the guy who prints all these prints on your KIKS TYO shirts. Below the printing unit of KIKS TYO. They are very proud with this machine. It's is the highest quality printer for textile available and there are only a few (2?) of them in Japan. Another great guy around the office is Ro, who does most of the international communication ans shipping. He's a great guy. Although I met him for only about an hour, it was like I met my lost brother.