In 2007 Casio started preparing for the 25th Anniversary of G-Shock. As we know now, Casio packed out grand and collaborated with a lot of designers and artists. One of the nicest products came from the collaboration with “play set products”. Shiro Nakano, part of their design team, designed G-Shock animated figures, called G-Men. The G-Men appeared not only animated, also action figures were made.
With a lot of envy G-Shock collectors worldwide saw how a limited supply of these figures were used in Japanese shop displays to promote G-Shocks in shops. Somehow it always seemed impossible to get hold to one of these.
Not only small shop display versions were made. At the “Shock the World Tour 2009” parties people could pose with a very big DW-6900 G-Man. This G-Man is awesome!
Finally in September 2009 it was possible to get one of these G-Man. A limited editions G-Shock package was released.
There was also a limited edition Baby-G with a sturdy looking G-Woman figure was released.
The models number DW-6900SW-6JR (and DW-6900SW-ER for the European market) didn’t ring a bell at first, but at the party you could see these sets were called “Shock The World Limited”.
Although these limited edition packages are available on the Japanese and overseas market, I think most were given away in press packages for journalists at the European “Shock The World Parties”. I must investigate if my writing for “50 Gs” is journalist worthy, so I can get a press card…
I met a nice journalist actually. She ripped open the package she got in her press package and strapped on her Baby-G. So I asked her what she was going to do with the little figure. “You want it?” she asked. “Sure”. So I now own both figures. Cool!
The DW-6900SW-6JR looks like a special version of the purple DW-6900CC-6JF Crazy Colors model. At first glimpse they look alike, but when you look closer, you see small differences. The light button on the G-Man Package model is gold metallic, while the DW-6900CC-6JF has a purple light button with a white G. The buttons and buckle of the G-Man model are gold tone, while the crazy colors version has silver buttons and buckle.
Also the back engraving is totally different. Instead of a standard DW-6900 back, the DW-6900SW has the head of a G-Man engraved.
I wish I could make a comparison of the Crazy Colors and G-Man Package model side to side. I almost bought this model at Schiphol Amsterdam Airport. I could have bought it for €87.- at a tax free shop.
I thought this was a little much, but after some investigations, I noticed the purple model Crazy Colors model is not easy to find and it is quite more expensive than the first Crazy Colors DW-6900’s. Finally, after a long search, I found one for around €68.- in Singapore. Most ones I found were actually about the same price as on the airport.
If you ask me which of the two looks best, I’m afraid I can’t give you an answer. The gold metal button looks pretty good, but I think the purple button with a white G matches better with this model. The gold metal button doesn’t look that bad either…
By the way, for G-Shock connoisseurs, the airport shop also had a 1997 MRG-210 (with dead battery), for €330.-. This sounds pretty expensive, but it was about the original retail price back then.
The package is presented in a plastic display box. My experience with these boxes is not very good. I had a nice presentation box for my “Pegasus and Unicorn” Lovers Collection 1997. After opening the box about two times, the plastic tore open. This box feels a bit more solid, but I think it was meant to be disposable. With that in mind, I was pretty anxious to get the watch out of the box for a photo shoot. Actually I made several great photo’s at the party in Barcelona, but, of course, I needed more.
This is not the first DW-6900 on 50 Gs, and certainly not the last, so I can be short on the functions of the watch. It has an alarm with hourly chime, a 24 hour timer and a 24 hour stopwatch on board. Pretty basic, but in daily life just need, besides time keeping.
Among the Crazy Colors models with mostly very bright shouting colors, the purple model looks almost a bit introvert. While purple might be considered not everyone’s color, it does look pretty decent on this model. The resin has a glossy metallic finish, which actually looks like a print. The inside of the band is plain purple.
The display has the same mirror effect as that is found on the Crazy Color DW-6900 models. The display is fuchsia, while the digits vary from black to almost white, depending how light falls on the LCD.
The backlight is bright magenta. You’ll get noticed if you use this backlight in the dark. Not everyone would like this, but I think it’s very cool.
At the moment the G-Man package is still available in Japan and East Asia. I have no idea if the package was officially released in Europe, though –6ER versions are on auction on eBay. I suspect the availability will dry our soon. When I ordered mine in Japan, Katsu Higuchi-san told me this package was limited to one box per retailer. At the back of my DW-6900SW-6 there is stamp showing mine is number 2021 of 5000 pieces.
The original retail price was ¥16000 (€120 , $178). For a special model, I think the package was not very expensive. Recently I saw the G-Man figure on auction for a starting price of €33.-. with retail price for the purple Crazy Colors is here in the Netherlands around €90.-. If you now take a look at eBay, you see that the price has risen from $200.- to $260.-.
So it worth buying it? Well, if you are a G-Shock collector, I would say yes. I have waited a long time to get hold of one of those G-Men. This is one of those models you want in your collection. If you just want to have a cool deep purple G-Shock, you could save yourself a lot of money by buying a purple DW-6900CC Crazy Colors. The gold metal light button is funky, but I think a resin button looks better on a DW-6900. I couldn’t choose actually. I bought a DW-6900CC-6ER a week ago. It should arrive any day now…
When I was introduced to the vintage G-Shock classics, most models did not much to me. No wonder, I was pretty new to the subject and gotten into G-Shocks by the bigger 90's models.
Still one vintage G got my attention in my early collecting days. The DW-5500C (August 1985). Already at release this model was a milestone.
Casio named it G-Shock II. It was nicknamed "Mudman" and it was also the first model of the "Master of G" line.
I didn't knew these details back then, but I very much liked the bigger case and the red covered buttons. In fact, this must have also been the first colorful G-Shock. Ahead of it's time.
I was pretty happy when I found out the G-5500 was about to be released in 2006. Now various Atomic and non-Atomic 5500 variations were released. In May 2009 Casio released a completely other 5500 version, the GLX-5500.
The GLX-5500 is part of the G-Lide series. In adverts Casio showed that they aim this model for surfers and other water sporters.
The watch has the same 3151 module as found on the GLX-5600. The first thing you'll notice on the watch is the Tidegraph. The Tidegraph is a kind of sinus wave grid with vertical bars. A block of black liquid crystals shows the current tide, if the Tidegraph is programmed correctly, of course.
For the correct display of the tide, you'll need to know your longitude and the Lunitidal Interval. It's a pity Casio does not produce G-shocks which you can program with both longitude and latitude. With these two parameters you can calculate also sunrise ans sunset.
Above the low tide part of the Tidegraph, there is a circular grid cut out, again with vertical bars. This circle represents the moon and it displays it's phase.
Under the Tidegraph part there is a normal display that shows time, day and date. At the bottom there is a small line for markers. Here you can see if your alarms, hourly chime, auto EL, etc are toggled on or off.
An additional function is shown in that line too, the Mute function. You can toggle Mute on and off by pushing the "MODE" button for about three seconds. In normal mode there are beeps, when changing from one mode to the other. In Mute mode, the watch stays silent when the MODE button is pushed. If alarms and/or hourly chime are programmed or a Countdown timer ends, beeps are still heard.
Very cool is the ring around the display. At first look the ring looks a bit maroon to dark purple. When more light falls on it, the ring turns to a lighter shade of purple.
Like the GLS-5600V models there is a pattern etched into this ring, so light is reflected different every time you move. Quite an eye-catcher.
The resin used on the bezel and straps have a glossy finish. Only the buttons covers are matte. It accentuates the fact that these covers are made of a softer kind of resin.
On the DW-5500C the button covers were the weakest point. Far the most of these that were for sale (pretty rare occasions) had missing button covers on the bezel. Knowing Casio is always looking for new technology, I guess that the button covers of the new 5500's will be made of a new, stronger and longer lasting resin.
Besides the series name G-Lide, there is also an exotic print on the strap. It looks like a kind of stystic Hawaiian flower design. When strapped on, you immediately feel how comfortable the wider strap is. The 5500's have been out of sight for 21 years, but I ho e they are back for good.
The EL backlight is beautiful, clear and bright. Standard the EL stays on for 1.5 seconds. You can set the EL time (Casio calls this "Afterglow") to 3 seconds.
The prominent appearance of the Tidegraph clearly shows this is an ultimate watch for the extreme water sporter. Although it's black, the glossy finish, the reflecting maroon/purple ring around the display and the exotic flower print makes this a flashy watch for a surfing daredevil.
I am not a surfer or practicing water sports, but I like the looks very much. In some of the photo's the ring around the display might remind you to the Crazy Colors series, but in real this ring is much more subtile.
This model is still available. I got mine from a Singapore seller. I'm not sure what I paid for it, but it would have been around €50.- or so. In my opinion almost a steal.
