#41: L.X in Red

In 2004 watches with a wide leather strap (“wide cuff”) became very popular for a while. I think that from this trend lead to the recent trend of extreme big watches. While 5 years ago G-Shocks were considered big and owning watches was considered being stupid, because you could read time from your phone, nowadays Dutch street fashion is dominated by huge watches with cases that easily can be bigger than 60 mm.

In June 2004 Casio released the first of the L.X series. This series have characteristic leather straps. According Casio the design is done by the “famous L.S.D. brand”, which specializes themselves in silver accessories. I think Casio refers to Love.Sex.Diamonds a.k.a. LSD Fashion Lab.

Casio released in June 2004 not less but 6 L.X models. Three G-5600 models, a G-5700, a G-7300 model and a GW-500 model. It was a busy month for Casio, because also a bunch of the I.C.E.R.C. models were released, one of them the I.C.E.R.C. Frogman of 2004. Also the Triple Crown model of 2004 was released the same month.

In November 2004 Casio released 4 more L.X models. This time it were 4 DW-5600 models. Also the Lovers Collection 2004 was inspired on the L.X series. Both the G-Shock and the Baby-G had a big, wide leather strap.

The most important characteristic feature on the L.X models is the leather strap. There are two kind of straps used. Versions with a wide part at the case that goes into a normal width strap and a single hole buckle and versions that have a wide strap over the whole length.

Special parts are sewn upon the strap to attach the case. The case is actually hovering above the strap. On both parts that are holding the case is a little metal button for decoration. This small buttons have the letters G and S engraved on it. It’s a pity that it’s so miniature, because it is a very nice design.

This G-5600LL-4JR comes with a strap that is wide on the whole length. It gives quite an impressive look to the watch. It’s a pity the trend of wide straps was not a very long one. Soon after the wide straps came the trend of watches with big cases (often derived of Russian Submarine watches).

The strap has a kind opening under the case, which is covered with netting fabric. I guess this opening is made for ventilation. Also the models of the L.X series with the less wide straps have this kind of opening. Maybe artificial leather is less breathing.

The G-5600 was the first solar 5600 model. It dates from September 2002. The looks of the case are pretty classic and most of the display looks just as the old DW-5600C and DW-5600E models. The battery indicator, which is the oval futuristic thing in the upper right corner, breaks with the classic looks in my opinion. On the later Waveceptor models this indicator was replaced by a more classic design, which matches more with the classic look.

On the G-5600LL the futuristic energy level indicator looks great, because the whole watch looks pretty much different from the classic design. The use of red (artificial) leather gives the watch a somehow retro science fiction look.

I think it is a pity these versions of the series was only available for a very short time. These wide cuff strap models of this series were released in June 2004 and if you tried to find it around August or September 2004, there was only a very small chance you would find one. Once I saw a photo of a Japanese pawn shop (many years ago) with the black version in the shop window. I wish I was there, because I would have probably bought it in a moment. For me at that time the watches were too expensive to buy more than one of each model (I bought the black and the red G-5600LL version with one month between them). The version with the leather strap that is only wide at the case was easier to find. I guess there were made quite a lot more of these.

So what’s under the hood of the G-5600 model. Of course the G-5600 is a basic model. It’s the successor of the popular DW-5600E. The G-5600 has not been a very popular model in the past. There were pretty much start-up problems with this model. A lot of basic G-5600s got the “Recovery Blues”. It is said it is from a failing rechargeable Panasonic CTL1616 battery, but also the 2597 module of this model had some flaws in the beginning. Recently a G-5600 was released in the Green Colors series. It seems Casio has still faith in this Tough Solar non-Atomic model. Since there has been at least 5 years between this Green Colors model and the last G-5600 version, I think the module has probably been revised on this new one.

Like on almost every G-Shock you can scroll through the functions with the lower left (MODE) button. The first function of the watch you’ll find when you leave Timekeeping mode is the Countdown timer. It is a decent Countdown function. It is programmable up to 100 hours. I always plea for at least a 24 hour timer. 60 minutes is simply often too short. With an over 4 days capacity, this Countdown Timer is great.

The next function you find is the Alarm Function. It has 5 alarms (one is a Snooze Alarm) and of course a hourly signal.

Next you find the Stopwatch function. Like the Countdown Timer, the Stopwatch also has a 100 hour capacity (well, actually it is 99 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds and 99 hundreds of a second).

The last function on the watch is the Dual Time function. Actually I like Dual Time. The Worldtime function, found on many recent G-Shock models do not have a function that automatically changes the DST settings in different timezones. With focusing on just one other timezone it’s much more easier to compensate for DST, if it might apply for your desired timezone.

One of the nicest designs on this particular G-Shock model is pretty hidden. You need to remove the strap from the case to view. The back of the watch is beautifully etched in the same style as the letters on the metal buttons.

The EL backlight has a very nice designed skull. I still regret I never got a second of this model, so I could wear one. I pretty much am interested how the strap would hold out when it is worn for longer times.

 The original price of this watch was 16000 yen. I haven’t seen this version for sale for quite some time. The black version I have seen for sale recently in Japan for around $100.- I think (quite used). I was very happy with it, back in 2004, but it somehow looks a bit dated now, since big pilot and submarine watches have successfully replaced the wide cuff watches in street fashion.

#21 6th Generation Basic G-Shock and a little History of the Basic G-Shock

Already over 26 years ago, on April 1983, the first G-Shock was launched, the DW-5000C "Gravity Shock", in two versions, -1A with red lettering and -1B with gold lettering.

A funny detail is the text LITHIUM on the display. Nowadays the most common button cell batteries, like the CR-1616, CR-2016, CR-2025 and CR-2032 are lithium batteries.
This model evolved pretty much unchanged via the DW-5200C to the DW-5600C. Aside from this line the WW-5100C (5000 produced) and WW-5300C (15000 produced) were released as Casio experimented with extreme low temperature resist LCD's (WW = Waterresist Wide Temperature resist).
The WW line wasn't needed to be continued. Further research of liquid crystals lead to low temperature resists displays for all G-Shocks (-30ºC to 50ºC).

A round sister model was introduced as the DW-5400C, which evolved into the DW-5700C and later 5700 models.
Also interesting was a basic square where the buttons were totally covered by the bezel. The DW-5500C G-ShockII "Mudman" was very unique. For a long time it looked like it would be a dead-end development, but since June 2006 the 5500 model is revived in both a G-5500 as a GW-5500 model.
The DW-5600C was very popular and produced from June 1987 to June 1996. While its predecessors were based on the 240 module, the DW-5600C got the improved 691 and 901 module. So you might consider it the 2nd generation basic G-Shock. With a price of only ¥9800 it was very affordable.
For it's time G-Shocks were pretty big, especially for the domestic market. In March 1988 a smaller version of the DW-5600C was launched, the DW-500C-1 with the 540 module (no light bulb). This model got nicknamed Baby-G. In 1993 a yellow DW-500C-9B was released. With a retail price tag of only ¥7900, this is probably the most affordable G-Shock made. Since 1997 Baby-G is an official spin off Casio sub-brand, mainly popular by women and girls.
In 1994 Casio launched the DW-6600, in answer to Timex's "Indiglo", the first G-Shock with an Electro-Luminescent backlight. In 1995 the DW-6900 was added to the G-Shock line. In June 1996 the DW-5600E was launched. The 1545 module featured also the EL backlight. These three models are today still the most popular models for limited edition releases.
Though from the outside this 3rd Generation basic G-Shock looked pretty much like it's ancestors, the guts pretty much changed. Until the DW-5600C Casio used steel cases with a screwback. All those screwback models also had a serial number.

The DW-5600E has a resin case. This improved the shock impact resistance and also reduced the weight of the watch very much.A resin case and screwback won't go together. The thread would be stripped too easily. A stainless steel backplate with four screws replaced the screwback. Though many regret this change, it does not affect the water resistance. It might even improve it if not proper installed.
The four-screw backplate is pushed on a rubber gasket when attached. If the watch becomes under water pressure, the back will be pushed harder onto the case (where still is an 1 bar air pressure environment). This type backplate makes it easier to open the watch for battery changes. Also a screwback easily get scratched by opening the case, even worse things happen if the opener tool slips.
Still the story of the basic G-Shock doesn't end. In September 2002 Casio released the Tough Solar G-5600 (4th generation basic G-Shock). Battery changes were not needed anymore and a full charged watch provides energy for many months. Another improvement, the Countdown Timer on this model can be set to 99 hours.
This model became equipped with the infamous CLT1616 battery. Models bought around 2003 could get what was later called "The Recovery Blues". It appeared Casio got a batch of these batteries from Panasonic. Quite a high percentage of these batteries suddenly went into recovery mode after approximately 1 year loyal service, even if the battery if fully charged.

A few years ago someone got a mail from Casio (I unfortunately can't find that post anymore) confirming they got a faulty batch, but Panasonic now delivers an improved CTL1616 version, even with a bigger capacity.
The recovery blues was mainly affecting the GW-300 and some G-5600 models. Also a PRG-80 was reported once with the same symptoms.

If you have a watch with the recovery blues, replace the battery (preferred by a Casio service center). I have a 75% faulty percentage on my GW-300's (the 25% has another module), but after a €14.- battery change and water resistance test they work all three flawless.
In March 2005 a logic successor was launched, the 5th generation basic G-Shock the GW-5600. To good to be true. A waveceptor function, Tough Solar, World Time instead of Dual Time.

At the time I heard about the release, I wanted one (though I was not such a big fan actually of the "basic squares").
It was not only released in Japan, you could also find it, for even better prices in the US. Waiting was for an European release. Well, there lies the bummer. Probably because the US transmitter uses the same frequency of one of the two JP transmitters, it was easy to make a watch that could receive both the JP as the US signal, but somehow the Mainflingen signal (near Frankfurt, Germany, the Rugby transmitter wasn't used around that time) wasn't included. Long have I waited for that European version.
Another function was changed. The GW-5600 got a 60 minutes countdown timer. That’s even worse then the 12 hour(!) countdown timer on the 240 module of the DW-5000C...
Finally in February 2008 (after publishing photo's months earlier) Casio came with a massive update. The 6th generation basic G-Shock (or as Casio calls it Type VI). The GW-M5600 does receive 5 atomic time transmitters, which were all public transmitters around that time. In the meantime a transmitter in China is added.
I was pretty lucky. Keith from Tiktox mailed me he was getting a limited supply of this model. I noticed if you are a good customer, sometimes sellers inform you about novelties or special deals.

The display lay-out of the watch does not differ much from it's predecessors. The space around the display looks pretty different. I think it's about the most and busiest lettering on a G-Shock. The lower part has even 4 lines of text. It looks like reading a book! I think if I designed the watch, I could have done it with less words.
The functions on the watch are what you can expect from a basic (Waveceptor) watch. Worldtime, a 1000 hours Stopwatch, a 60 minutes Countdown timer and 5 alarms with hourly chime.
This model has, like all newer Tough Solar models a Power Save (PS) function. This function goes to sleep mode the LCD when the watch isn't used for some time during daytime. All Tough Solar models have a movement sensor for the Full Auto-EL function. In Power Save mode, the watch can work in the background for about 11 á 12 months.
Actually Casio announced another update of the basic G-Shock. Soon (May 31) the GW-5000 will be released. I think we can consider this model the 7th generation of the basic G-Shock.

The number 5000 reveals it all. The steel case with screwback returns. The 6th atomic time transmitter is added and good news, the 24-hour Countdown Timer returns. Also the lettering is pretty decent.
I think there will be not much to improve. Well, maybe the price tag is a little steep, but you wanted that steel case with screwback. For a little less than $400.- (¥39000) you'll have the perfect basic G-Shock.