G-Shock #43: Basic Black.

Well, what a title. In all the shouting color variations you can find G-Shocks, there is now an alternative. Complete the opposite. It’s the complement series of the Basic White models, the Basic Black series. The Basic Black consist of three models, The GA-120BB-1A, the GDF-100BB-1 and this DW-5600BB-1. Of the three models, this DW-5600BB-1model is the most basic you can get. On the Bezel you can only find the words G-SHOCK and PROTECTION. On the face plate you only find the functions of the buttons and the brand name CASIO hovering somewhat lonely at the bottom.

While colored G-Shocks probably go well with shirts, sneakers, other clothing and/or accessories in similar color schemes, this watch can go with anything. I know it’s an unisex watch, but I think it can be compared best with a little black dress. I do not know much of women clothing, but one or two little black dresses seem to be essential in a woman’s garderobe, as it can be worn with everything on any occasion. As the little black dress is still a big hit since the 1920’s, maybe Casio should consider making this watch THE basic DW-5600 model. No fancy lettering. Maybe even the functions and brand name could even be more hidden, simply by black elevated lettering or a very dark grey color. It should be similar to the Basic White models, where lettering is light grey on white.

Actually, this is not the original box. When I ordered this Basic Black G-Shock, Dale at Ace Jewelers asked me what kind of box I wanted. He had also this box with a carbon print. Well, it's something different and actually I think it fits pretty well with the smaller G-Shock. 

In Japan the Basic White and Basic Black models were actually combined as one series, called the Solid Colors models. Maybe it would have been good if this name was used worldwide, but on the other hand, I think the names Basic Black and Basic White are pretty clear. With Solid Colors, it could have also been the description of the total baby blue, neon green and magenta pink GA-110B Hyper colors, as they were also only in one solid color.

A frequently reported problem with G-Shocks is the recessed top left button. Actually this is not a failure, but a good design idea. The recessed button prevents accidental change of time setting after the button is accidentally hit. 

The Basic Black theme is looking great, but unfortunately for me, it’s not easy for photographing. First of all a normal camera thinks that the black parts should be as light as average objects, so you have drop the exposure time sometimes with 2 full stops. Then the is dust. Dust particles are everywhere and on most G-Shocks you can remove almost all dust easily, while the remaining particles usually don’t disturb much. My photo’s are from real watches. I try to do most 50 Gs shots out of the hand to create a more live feel, but on this one I got a lot of frustrating results. In real, dust particles on this watch (considered under normal circumstance) are not or hardly noticeable, but with the macro shots of this one, every dust particle looks like a light bulb. So please, if you look at the pictures, bear in mind that most pics are macro photo’s. I’ve tried to remove dust as far as I could for every photo, but it was almost undoable. Sorry.

The DW-5600BB functions similar as all basic DW-5600 models. Since it is a pretty recent model, released March 2012, it has the new 3229 module. It has the same looks as the old 1545 module. The only difference is the internal calendar. While the old 1545 module had an internal calendar programmed from 1 January 1995 until 31 December 2039, new modules have an internal calendar programmed from 1 January until 31 December 2099. Well, that’s for now a long way to go… I still remember my father telling me in New Year 1975 (I was 8 years old and we were standing in the kitchen) that in 25 years it would be the year 2000. It looked so far away, but we have passed that milestone already 12 years ago. In that light, 27 years might not look that long anymore (or does this simply say: “You’re getting old, Sjors”).

The 5600 has only a few but good modes. First of all, when leaving the Time Keeping mode, there is the Alarm mode. It can not only function as a Daily Alarm, it can also be programmed to a Date Alarm. When one of the date digits is left blank, you’ll get a 1-Month Alarm or a 1-Day Alarm. Of course the DW-5600 also has an Hourly Chime (or Hourly Time Signal as it is called nowadays). Of course you can toggle the Alarm and Hourly Chime on and off individually.

The Countdown Timer has a capacity of 24 hours, but programmable to the second. As a cherry on the cake it also has an Auto Repeat possibility. The ideal set-up for a Countdown Timer if you ask me.

The DW-5600BB around my 7.2" wrist.

The 24 hour Stopwatch. It simply does what it has to do. No laps for runners, but it can record time up to 1/100th of a second. It also has a Split Time, so you can view elapsed time of an event or time two finishers.

This is Lilian. I saw her walking here in the hall and thought she was perfect to fit my DW-5600BB. I think it suits better around a small wrist than around my big wrists. 

The DW-5600BB is about one of the smallest G-Shocks available, and maybe therefore very suitable for women too, probably to combine with their little black dresses. I bumped into a girl on the hallway dressed in grey and black, so I asked her if she could show off this nice black G. It would probably look better on her than me (with my 7.2” wrists).

The DW-5600BB is a very basic but cool looking watch. I obtained mine from Ace Jewelers in Amsterdam, which are also the G-Shock Forum sponsors. I bought it together with my Breezy Colors GA-110SN-3. Great guys to deal with, just like the other G-Shock sources that you can find in the menu on the right (unfortunately only in web view, not in mobile). It seems that this model is only released in Japan and Europe as it is sold here for only €89,99. Somehow the price for this model is almost double if you find on in Hong Kong or Australia, which is a bit ridiculous for an almost basic DW-5600 model. Unfortunately this model is as good as sold out in Europe too. If you are looking for one, try G-Stock in Spain. They seem till to have them and currently and for a good price too!

G-Shock #33: Basic White in High Key Exposure.

In March 2012 Casio released a series of 4 watches in the so called “Solid Colors” series. This series contains 2 black and 2 white G-Shock models. Internationally this series was split as Basic Black and Basic White series. The main feature of these models is the lack of lettering around the display. Only the brand, CASIO, is shown. Of course the functions of the buttons are still on the bezel, but no paint is used, so only shadows show them slightly. For the white models, it’s a kind of stealth, but then, in white surroundings (like snow, laboratory, etc).

This article is about the Solid Colors DW-6900WW-7, outside Japan better known as Basic White. I think I saw the first photo’s of this model in January 2012 and was quite curious how it would look like in real. Some people in the G-Shock community complained in the past about the amount of lettering on the display on some G-Shocks. While I think on the DW-6900 models this is not excessive, I even had my thoughts with the GW-M5600 with 3 lines of lettering above the display and 4 below. For me the functions on a basic G-Shock are pretty logical, specially the 5 button models. With the Mode button bottom left, the Start/Stop button bottom right and the Adjust button top left, it’s normally very easy to operate the functions of your G-Shock.

I think Casio had heard these comments and made this very interesting series. The Solid Colors series consist of three black models and two white models. These are: DW-5600BB-1, GA-120BB-1, GDF-100BB-1, DW-6900WW-7 and GD-100WW-7. I think it’s pretty logical that the BB are the Basic Black models and the WW are the Basic White models. Currently I only have this DW-6900WW-7, but I am also want to have the DW-5600BB, because it would be nice to do a face to face comparison with a DW-5600VT model.

White G-Shocks seem to be pretty popular at the moment. I see a lot of white GD-100’s and DW-6900s lately on the streets. I even spotted a student at my school wearing this Basic White model before I even got it. White is a great color (it is actually not a color but a combination of all colors) to wear in summer. There is only one disadvantage about white resin, it gets dirty fast by “bleeding” clothes. When wearing white or other bright colored G-Shocks, it’s best not to wear dark or strong other colored clothing over it, as the resin easily adapts the fabric colorants. This seems no problem for me is summer or at work. I almost always only wear short sleeves.

The first association I had with this white out G-Shock, was the big white void in the movie THX-1138, which was the prison of THX’s world. This movie is one of my favorite classics. It was the first movie written (together with Walter Murch) and directed by George Lucas.

Here stealth would not mean black, but white. As I cleaned the lab for the big summer break, I could use one to make my own white void for making “high key” images. As I actually have no experience with high key photography, this G-Shock would be an ideal model, patiently posing in my own white void.

Everything on this watch looks white, but I think the face plate and display show a very little greenish hue. This small, hardly noticeable, accent makes the watch more alive, than if it was plain white. It was something that even attracted me to buy this watch.

The DW-6900WW comes with the new 3230 module. This module is practically the same as the classic 1289 module, except that the calendar of the watch now works from January 1 2000 until December 31 2099. Besides Timekeeping function, there is an Alarm function, a 24 hour Stopwatch and a 24 hour Countdown Timer. The Alarm can be programmed as a Daily Alarm, a Date Alarm, a 1-Month alarm and a Monthly Alarm. The last two alarm types can be achieved by leaving the day, respectively the month blank in the date area. The Alarm function also has a Hourly Chime. The Countdown Timer has an Auto-Repeat function, which of course can be toggled on and off. Always cool is the Flash function. When an Alarm sounds the EL Backlight light up shortly.

The DW-6900WW, is like all other Solid Colors models still in production and can be easily obtained at a good Casio dealer or on-line shop. Prices might vary a bit, but in the US the common price is $99.-, in Europe that is €99.-. If you look a bit harder, you can find it for around €70.- in East Asia, though shipping and import duties (not mentioning the two to three weeks shipping times) might make it less interesting to buy it intercontinental. I simply bought mine at Unknown, a sneaker and street fashion store in Alkmaar, who have also an on-line shop called I Love Sneakerz. It was the last one that they had in store when I bought it (this models seems to be very popular), but since this model is still in production, I think this model will be restocked in Europe.

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