G-Shock #7 & #8: High Tech Team Tough

The final carbon fiber G. And it is a Project Team Tough!!! Woo-hoo! It came out August 2013 and it was a complete surprise. There had already been a Project Team Tough release (DW-5030C from the Resist Black wave) and Casio had never released more than 1 in an anniversary before. Wait, it gets a little wilder. For the 30th Anniversary, Casio used the screwback chassis from the GW-5000 for the Project Team Toughs. Very high quality indeed. Like the GW-5000 it is a stainless steel screwback case. Oddly, this one is not serialized where the GW-5000 is. Proven and durable, and unlocks a readily available cheap to source spare resin should you want to set the carbon fiber aside.While people have done it and it does look great, this article is about the carbon fiber G-Shock. Not quite as useful if we just set it aside now is it? The good news is that the carbon straps are very durable and tough to cosmetically damage. As you may guess, this is the first Project Team Tough and first screwback to receive carbon straps.

Speaking of the straps if you read about the 30 Stars brothers DW-6930D and GW-M5630D than you probably have a solid idea of what these straps look like. While they are indistinguishable from each other I will still post photos but not as much verbage about them. I do really enjoy the Gold lettering and stars underneath the clear urethane resin.

No, what really sets this one apart from the others is the screen. Where the GW-M5630D used a green mirror-like display, this one uses the micro-dot display which puts it in with some esteemed company. Such as the GW-T5030C. It looks like the surface of an LP or vinyl record, and it is obvious with a little light. I have tried to capture it here. It looks like a 1mm deep puddle of gold! And because of the stainless steel case it is obviously the heaviest carbon fiber G at 83 grams. While not exactly heavy for a watch, or even a G-Shock, it is very noticeable vs other squares. It lends a presence to the one wearing it and you rarely forget you have it on the wrist. And then you look at it and it is a treat.I’ve been talking about this screwback, it is time to show it. Gold colored like the rest of this series, the stamping is a treat. Of course it perfectly matches the screws and buttons and lettering.

As for functions it has EL backlight with afterglow, flash alert that can work in conjunction with the buzzer for alarms and hourly chimes. Getting ahead of myself there. 1/100 second stopwatch for the first 60 minutes then whole seconds after out to 24 hours. The Countdown timer measures in seconds and has a range of 24 hours, settable to the minute. It can also auto-repeat. Multi-function alarm, hourly signal as previously mentioned. Calendar goes out to 2099. 12/24 hour format, and runs on a CR2016.

Original suggested retail was 50,000 yen. Wait. WHAT? Built in markup? Casio get nuts on this one? Nope, crazier than all of that. It was one of TWO Project Team Toughs in the GSET-30. Yes, in the 30th Anniversary Casio brought out a total of 3 Project Team Toughs. In a single year they doubled the number of models released! It also came with a G-Shock figurine just to be over the top. Ready for the other Team Tough?

It is a homage to the original design and to the 10th Anniversary release (DW-1983) and the 20th anniversary release. Differences? As already mentioned this one comes in a GW-5000 screwback case only with a chrome coating that seems very fitting. To this day this is still just such a clean design. The graphics are dialed, the screen Is just extraordinarily crisp. The silver accents (screws, buttons, buckle, and metal keeper) are just perfect. I have absolutely no criticisms of this classically styled G. This is retro done right in my eyes. And again, the resin from the current GW-5000 fits, and probably not that noticeable other than for the keeper. Let’s have a look at that back.

Ready for another weird part? For various reasons many collectors bought the set and then sold off the one they didn’t care for, either the carbon or the classic. If you only want one of these the good news is that many sets are broken apart so it shouldn’t be an issue. More good news? The G-Set30 was also an international release. Which means tons were made. I still think this was easily the best real world collectible of the 30th anniversary (not including the titanium G’s).

G-Shock #29: Resist Black DW-5030C.

A few months ago, I saw the models being released for G-Shock’s 30th Anniversary, and was immediately drawn towards the DW-5030C. When these limited edition Project Team Tough anniversary models come out, they are typically VERY limited, and extremely hard to acquire. I dropped a note to Seiya to see if he had any, he quickly replied he didn't, but would notify me when they become available. Shortly after, I received an invoice, promptly paid, and 2 days later my mailman brought me a package from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Like the original Casio Packaging of 30 years ago, it is no frills. Simple cardboard box with off white coloring and the 30th Anniversary design. The box looks like, and is designed to look like it has been sitting for 30 years. It reminds me of an old Baseball Cooperstown Collectible packaging. Some folks on the forums were disappointed with the Cardboard instead of the tin, or hard case, but I like it very much. Sliding off the sleeve reveals a 2 piece cardboard box. Opening the top is a slot where the watch sits in plastic wrapping with tags, and adhesives to keep its Rose Gold Steel keeper and Black polished Screwback finish intact. Pulling the watch out reveals it's paperwork underneath it, written in Japanese. The DW-5030C offers the classic Module # 3421. I like simplicity in my Classic type collectibles, and this watch does not disappoint. No Atomic or Solar, simple old fashioned battery power.

Pulling the watch out of the plastic, removing the tags and putting them to the side, I am so impressed by the very classic charm this watch has. The display shows a coppery aged finish, it's got gold lettering on the front of the bezel. The inlay is black with gold bricks and lettering showing the button operations. In a very understated and non-distracting red it shows "Project Team Tough" below the Hour. The Display shows the Day of the week, month and date in the small box on the upper right, the time which could read in 12/24 hour format and the seconds. Holding the alarm on/off button shows an EL Hourly flash indicator. The buttons are Rose Gold as well as the Keeper. The Keeper shows 3 stars and "Since 1983" engraved into it. The Stainless Steel Screwback Case is a polished black and shows the 30th Anniversary logo engraved. The buckle is the same polished black as the back case. It has that great stainless steel weight to it to let you know it is there.

I debated keeping the plastic attached to this and storing it in the box to look at occasionally. Strapping it on my wrist, my decision was made easily, this will be sitting in my watch box and will be worn occasionally, I like it too much. This collection reminds me of a retro version 25th Anniversary Dawn Black collection. 


I tend to be a bit old school when it comes to my squares, I do not like them at all without the screw backs. I took out my DW-5600C and GW-5000 and this fit in perfectly in the middle. I have my old school classic 901 module with my DW-5600C. I have its updated completely modern version with all its bells and whistles. I have included photos of all three. The thing I love about the squares over time is the style stand the test of time (No Pun). These watches fit in just as easily today as they did 30 years ago when the G-Shock was first introduced. They continue to represent what they did years ago…toughness. Now with so many models there is a G-shock to suit anybody. Here’s to another 30 years!