G-Shock #5 & #6: Carbon, the next generation

OK, maybe “generation” is the wrong term.  After the RM series release in 2010 Casio started putting carbon straps on GW-9300 Mudmen (Japan market release) but never with the clear exterior to show it off.  The G-Shock cognoscenti had to wait until August 2013 and the 4^th wave of the 30^th Anniversary!  Isn’t that odd?  Normally when Casio does a colorway (let’s call the carbon fiber straps a colorway of their own since they were called the RM series) they run it through a few different G’s over a couple of months (say a summer or a winter or whatever).  We only had those TWO Carbon G-Shocks for a little over 3 years!  Crazy!  The Frog?  Ignore that for now, let’s keep focused on actual carbon fiber straps with clear exterior urethane for the identifiers here.

Let me introduce the DW-6930D.  The first ever carbon fiber 6900!  Even crazier?  Still the only non-square carbon fiber G-Shock.  Pretty unique piece from a few different viewpoints right there.  As part of the 4^th wave of the 30^th anniversary it features 30 stars on the end of the strap. Even wilder is how shouty the face is. Gold mirror screen?  Check.   Gold reflective face?  Check.  Mirror gold light button?  Check.  This is the loudest carbon fiber G I’ve seen.

Let’s talk about the features of the DW-6930D before we get into more visual details.   It is 200m water resistant, EL backlight with afterglow.  Multi-function alarm, hourly time signal, can flash with the buzzer for these alerts as well.  1/100^th second stopwatch that will go to 24 hours.  Can do elapsed time, split time, etc.  The countdown timer works on full second intervals and can go to 24 hours as well as an auto-repeat feature.  Full auto calendar out to 2099, and 12/24hr time formats.  The battery?  CR2016 and it has the 3230 module.

Originally released with a suggested price of 24,000 yen this and its brother have some very nice eye candy.  First let’s start with the straps themselves.  On the long strap at the end is the 30 stars.  Wait, look at them again, those little stars have a height and are physical pieces UNDER the urethane resin layer!  You can watch the light reflect of the sides of them.  Further up the strap is the verbage “30^th Anniversary”, again, actual gold lettering under the urethane.  The cosmetics of these carbon fiber G’s are very durable because of all this.

These carbon fibers G’s cosmetics are surprisingly durable.  I have yet to see any yellowing/discoloring of the clear urethane (unlike the clear jelly Glorious Gold wave of the 25^th Anniversary) on any photo of one anywhere.  Since all the graphics and pieces are underneath, there is no stripes to crack or rub off, and they are safe to wear with cuffs as there is no wear marks unlike bright orange or yellow G’s which commonly get black marks from rubbing/contact with clothing.  You can wear these without great worry about them, the best of all worlds and exactly as Casio intended.

Back to the straps.  Over on the short strap near the bezel is the classic “Since 1983” while on the band keeper (which is also carbon) it simply says “G-SHOCK”.  All of the lettering and stars being in gold to go with the theme of this wave.  The gold continues over to the buckle, buttons, screws, and caseback.

The caseback.  Being a 30^th Anniversary G-Shock the caseback is engraved with the infamous Eric Haze 30^th logo.  It is very nice and adds an extra touch that this G is special.  I also like how the caseback matches the screws perfectly.

The brother.  Or the modern version of the RM series, the GW-M5630D.  If you remember, the RM series were kind of a bridge between the GW-M5600 and the GW-M5610.  This one is a 5610 though with the “30” for 30^th anniversary.  We’ll get into features shortly, for now just look at it.

I like how the Green mirror screen offsets the gold accents.  The purple solar panels also somehow match well.  Like the 6930 it shares the straps and coloring of the gold buttons, screws, buckle and caseback.

And have a look at that caseback will you?  Like the RM series this one is serialized as well.  Very unusual indeed as not many G-Shocks get this treatment.  Mind you, this numbering refers to a batch date, not and individual serial number.  You will also notice how much more pronounced the engraving is on the back vs the 6930. 

Original suggested retail was 33,000 yen.  This one has the 3159 module which of course is solar and atomic as well as 200m water resistance.  Full auto EL backlight with Afterglow, World Time of 29 times zones (48 cities + UTC) with city code display and daylight savings on/off.  4 daily alarms and 1 snooze.  Hourly chime, 1/100 second stopwatch up to 24 hours.  1 second count down timer again to 24 hours.  Calendar is good until 2099 and the watch has 12/24 hour time formats.  Button operation tone is also on/off switchable.  Finally, and really pretty cool: approximate battery life of 10 months on full charge with no further exposure to light.  Oughtta get you through a long winter pretty easily. Due to the lack of titanium this one is specified at 51.7g or almost 5g (10%) heavier than the RM’s.  On one side, 5 grams is nothing, but on the other side you can actually tell.

Intermezzo #71: The end of 2013. My personal top 10 and the future of 50 Gs.

It's all over. All 50 articles have been written and made up. Tomorrow the last article will be automatically posted. Again a special model from my personal collection. Frankly, it was quite a tough year writing and organizing, so I am happy I made it this year for the 6th time in a row. At the end of the year it's always ice to look back what it has brought. So I thought, why not do a personal Top 10 of my favorite G-Shock releases this year. My only rue, only one model of a series, so I get a good variety. Of most models I took a new wristshot, but under poor light conditions, so they might look a bit pale or cyan. Don't let that take away the pleasure, so: LET'S GO!

Number 10:

1st Bearbrick Collaboration model in white. At first I didn't know what to find of this model, with all the colored details on it. I bought it at Gorilli directly after the release party.

Number 9:

The nice Black and Yellow color scheme is one I like very much. So the Wu-Tang Clan Collaboration model, released at the beginning of 2013 should definitely be in my Top 10.

Number 8:

One of the models I had been waiting for. Every Anniversary series should have a Project "Team Tough"DW-5000 model. I informed long before the real 30th Anniversary about a special commemoration model, but nothing was official. An important insider close to the G-Shock designer team secretly told me I should save up money for around the real 30th Anniversary in April 2013.  The DW-5030C Project "Team Tough"came out with two other G-Shocks, but this was the one I wanted most.

Number 7:

The Undefeated x G-Shock is a very nicely done collaboration. It isn't just a fancy color scheme and a logo. It comes with a great ZULU style strap (or was it NATO, I keep confusing myself about these straps).

Number 6:

Crazy Colors DW-6900SC-7. In my opinion the best G-Shock model with 3D design in the nicest color scheme.Just a great watch.

Number 5:

Pictures don't do justice to this model. Poor light doesn't work right too. A perfect concept design by New Era in the color scheme of their well known stickers of their fitted caps. A big plus for the little cap which is actually a pouch for the watch. Looks great in day light, specially with sunshine.

Number 4:

Air Sea Land, The "Ill Collaboration". Bape x Stüssy x G-Shock Frogman. Another great 30th Anniversary collaboration. Both Stüssy and Bathing Ape (Bape) are known for their great and wanted collaboration models. One of the greatest things that could happen in G-Shock history is that two brands of this calibre collaborate. If you were in time at the Stüssy Store, it was even not a very expensive Frogman. I was lucky to get this with the help of two friends.

Number 3:

The Lightning Yellow Rangeman. The best looking model of this new Master Of G range. Let's hope Casio has some more special Rangemans for us in the near future. I think I do not have to explain why it's in my personal top 10. Very well readable display, packed with cool features, atomic time. 

Number 2:

The Gorilli Collaboration. It took a long time from concept to this real model. A sceptic would say "It's only a DW-6900NB-7 with a print on it". Well, basically that's right, but… First of all, it is a very limited run, so Casio would not let you do other things than a special print. So, you need a print that stands out. What's better for a in Netherlands based store than to use the Deft Blue print. You find it everywhere in our country. 

This afternoon I went for a Frozen Yoghurt with my sister in my favorite Coffee Shop and saw this Delft Blue plateau, hidden behind a stove and ornaments. The Gorilli came with a special designed Delft Blue tile and a DW-5600 shaped 4Gb USB stick. What a great concept. 

Number 1:

No doubt. Give me the 9 models above randomly and I will probably put them in a slightly other order, but this model is my absolute favorite of 2013. A true winner on my personal Top 10! The Kaneda version of the Akira Collaboration set. You might think, "Is this a 2013 model?" The pre-ordering started in December 2012, while the release was on April 30th. You can't forget that date. It was our last "Queen's Day", as we now have a King. This watch is packed with great details of the Akira comic and anime. A photo of this watch even made me win a G-Shock Contest. My description of the watch was that it was impossible to catch all great features of this watch in one photo. 

Today I got two G-Shock Mooks. The 30th Anniversary Collection Book came with a tote bag. I haven't read them yet (they arrived just less than an hour ago), but the Book is not really thick for a Mook. No real wonder as it only shows the 30th Anniversary models.The 30th Anniversary Bible is just what you would expect from it. Some eye candy about the latest 30th Anniversary releases, some scoops and a huge back catalog as you can also find on G-Shock GPS. 

So, What about the future of 50 Gs. Frankly I have been thinking the past months of slowing my posts drastically down. Writing even a simple article costs a lot of time. Sometimes articles are thought out already in my head, but often I have to retrieve information from loads of sources. My idea now for 2014 is to do a sabbatical year, which will not mean I will stop writing, but now (for the first time in 6 years) without a strict deadline or the goal of making 50 articles. This will give me time to get my finances a bit back on track, as 2013 was very expensive for a simple Technical Educating Assistant. I have been playing with the idea of 50 Gs Classics, a kind of favorite articles. Almost 400 have been written, including the intermezzo's that is (4 hours have already past on this intermezzo already since I started!). It might an idea to bring that up for 2015. If everything goes well, I plan to visit Japan in 2016 again with my son. This means less G-Shock and more saving for the trip. 2016 might be a good time to set a goal of 50 articles again, but that is a long, long way to go. One thing at a time, my father would say. For now, I hope you enjoy tomorrow's last article for 2013. Let's see what 2014 will bring!

A big THANK YOU! to Debrah for helping me translate the G-SHOCK 30th Anniversary Collection title.