G-Shock #11: Techno in Red

It’s the second article for my month of "Techno" models. This time it’s a real Techno model, as the DW-8140 and DW-8150 were the officila models from this series. All other models in this series this month have a similar big square metal bezel with resin bumpers. They mark a period of BIG G-Shocks in 1995 and 1996.

Todays G-Shock is the brother of the green DW-8150 that I have featured here two years ago. The model number is DW-8140TC-4VT. I am not certain, but I believe this model was only released outside Japan (“Overseas model”). It was not released in Japan, so you won’t find any information about this model on G-Shock Perfect Search (GPS).

The DW-8140 and the DW-8150 were called the “Techno models”, hence the letters TC behind the basemodel number. Not sure if these names were global or only used in Europe and/or the USA. The Techno models were part of a range watches with a DW-81XX model number. For XX there could be filled in two ciphers. At least I know it can be 00, 10, 20, 40, 50, 60, 95. I can’t find proof there was a DW-8130 model, though it could be logical one existed as the modules on the DW-8140 and DW-8150 share the same module as the DW-8040 and respectively the DW-8050.

The DW-81XX models can be seen as the successors of the DW-6400C from 1994, nicknamed “Gundam”, named after the Japanese animation series. I do not know if these series were broadcast outside Japan, but I haven’t seen it. As it matches the US super heroes comic series, I would not be surprised this was a popular series in the US too.

In Japan, G-Shock collectors (G-Shockers) also call the DW-81XX and DW-8300 models also “Gundam” models, although personally I think these models do look a bit different from the DW-6400, though they share the big metal square bezel with resin bumpers.

I was quite lucky I found this model. I think it was somewhere in 2004. I do not know exactly what I paid for it, but it should have been around $200 shipped.

I found this model on the Sales Corner of WatchUseek. I do not know exactly who the seller was, but he was a respected member on the G-Shock forum at that time. His name was Lee, but that’s all I can remember.

My package was shipped via a parcel service, I think originally by DHL, which was not operating in The Netherlands then. The shipping was fast, but unfortunately nobody was home to collect it. I found a note in the mail that the parcel service (“The Dutch Parcel Service), would try to deliver the next day, but I knew there was a good chance there was nobody at home again. I called the parcel service. It was possible to collect the parcel in a city called Goes (pronounce Goose) 25 kilometers from where I live). If I could get over there before 18:00, I could get my package at their sorting and collecting facility. As it was already over 17:15, I decided to call the guest parents that I would collect Bram later and rushed to Goes. I think I arrived there around 17:45 at that building on a small industrial park. It was already dark and only one light bulb was shining next to a window and door, which I assumed was the entrance. Luckily someone helped me quickly, so about 5 minutes later I had my package and could rush back home. Luckily I got no speeding tickets afterwards. I was pretty excited with my package. The watch looked awesome. Well, the former owner was happy too, because he knew it ended up in a good place.

First I thought this model was similar to the green DW-8150 I had. Actually I saw on my website G-Peopleland that I have both categorized them as DW-8150 and have shared the EL displays. I should change that soon, as it is not right. While the DW-8150 has a slot game, this DW-8140 has the same coin flipping game as found on last week’s DW-8040. If you watch the movie of the EL backlights in that article closely, you can see this red Techno model in the background. As the EL backlight was not different than that of the DW-8040, I didn’t use it in the movie.

This DW-8140 came in a nice plastic show container. It has been a little riddle for me how they had put in the manual, as it is slightly larger than the size of the square sides. I have a suspicion that this container was not intentional made for this model, as it shows the “G-Shock 540º” logo. “G-Shock 540º” is was a series of DW-004 G-Lide Snowboard models, if I’m correct (I only human).

The DW-8140 and DW-8150 came in different colors. At least there were silver, gold/yellow, green, purple and red versions. I’m not sure about other colors and I do also not know if all colors were available for both models.

The DW-8140 and DW-8150 were known because their Game function. This model has the same flipping coin function as the DW-8040 reviewed last week, the DW-8150 has the slot game, which was featured in last week’s video.

The DW-8140 has a 1431 module and is operated with four buttons. With the characteristic light button under the display, this means that this model only has one button on the right side of the watch. This makes operating not always easy, as the upper right button is often used as split/reset button in the Stopwatch mode. The Adjust button (upper left) handles this operation instead.

Except for the Game function, there is not much exciting to report about the functions. It has a simple Alarm function, a 24 h Stopwatch function and a 24 hour Countdown Timer. The Countdown Timer has an Auto Repeat function and can be set to the second. This means you can set very short loops.

I recently found out it was possible to play the Coin Flipping Game (and the Slot Game on the DW-8150) without a backlight. Normally there is a small bar visible above the day number in the date window (default after a battery change). When you press and hold the right button for about 3 seconds you will hear a beep and the bar will disappear. You can now play the Coin Flipping Game without draining the battery. If you want to use the EL backlight at night, don’t forget to turn the EL Backlight on again (similar procedure).

A very nice extra on this watch is the strap. The straps seem to consist of two parts. I haven’t took it apart, but it looks like there is a part that fits over the actual strap, like the strap adaptor does on models with a double Velcro watchband. The upper part has on both sides a big metal piece enclosed, which says “SHOCK RESISTANT”. The band loop on this model is made of metal. Since I have bad experiences with band loops of similar watches from the same period, I pretty much like that. Maybe Casio should re-introduce these band loops again. It would sure look good on the G(W)X-56 King.






The Techno series and other DW-81XX models are great to collect. Most of them are hard to find and rarely show up for sale. Best chance to find them is in Japan. The price I paid for this watch, $200, is still a good regular price. If you look at Yahoo Auctions in Japan you can find DW-81XX models for around ¥10000 used, up to ¥15000 for a good looking/mint model. You still have to get it shipped to your home, which is probably quite expensive. I guess it does not need introduction to say I really like this model and am very happy to have this one in my collection. I pretty much like the red color of the metal parts on the bezel. If there is one model in the DW-81XX line that I really would like to have in my collection, that would be the DW-8195-4. It is part of the Crazy Gangsters (June 1995), which shows a red head pin-up girl.

G-Shock #10: Flipping Coins on a Playful Futuristic Design

I want to do this month a special of a bunch of "Techno" models. This term was actually only applied on the DW-8140 and DW-8150 models. Somehow the name of this series has been long gone in history. Like what almost happened with the "Master of G" series, you can't find this name unfortunately anywhere, except on my collection website G-Peopeland and maybe some directions from Riley's My G-Shock. As I want to do more than only the DW-81XX models, I have put a bunch of similar looking watches on a bunch and write about one every week. The main features of all these watches are that they  are big, square and have a combination of metal and resin in the bezel. We stat off with an exception of the rule, as this model is relative smaller and has only a resin bezel. Because it has a module that can be found in a Techno model , I consider this watch also a Techno model, but more based on functions and looks.

Photo by Bram

Today’s G-Shock is not really a model with all kinds of bells and whistles on it. It’s the DW-8040 from the DW-80XX series. In this series the XX stands for 2 ciphers, in this case 40, but there were a lot of varieties. The DW-8040 is an overseas model of the DW-8010 model.

The DW-80XX watches were in Japan all released in August 1995. The watch looks like a they have been taken from the props of the old Battlestar Galactica science fiction series.

Maybe not a bad comparison, on board of the Battlestar Galactica the people liked to play games. The DW-80XX models were intend to be seen as playful. All of these models have a kind of game on board. This model, with module1431, has a coin flipping game. When the EL backlight is pressed, a fast rotating G appears in the upper part of the display. After about 2.5 seconds you see the result. The results can be a “G”, a mirrored “G” and “Lost”. The intention the makers had of this game was that of a coin flipping game. A coin could fall on it’s head, “G”, on it’s tail “mirrored “G” or fall of the table and everybody has “Lost”.

With the DW-8040 there was also the DW-8050 released. This watch has the 1433 module. The DW-8050 is probably the overseas equivalent of the Japanese DW-8020. The 1430 module (DW-8000, DW-8030) have a slot game instead of the coin flipping game. On that module you need to get three Gs n a row. There is also a 1431 module. This watch shows several expressions like “Rave”, Cool! and “Mega” when the EL button is hit.

Maybe the Coin Flipping might be the only game you can really use on a G-Shock. The slot game is just fun to watch, though, if you push several times, you’ll probably will see three Gs in a row. Somehow it is not possible to get three hearts, sevens or bells in a row.

I found out that the game on my DW-8140 can also be played without EL Backlight. If you push and hold the lower right button, you see a mark disappear in the upper right corner of the display. Now you can play without draining the battery. If you want to turn the EL on, just repeat the procedure and the mark will appear again.

Personally the DW-80XX models are not my favorite style, though I very much love the bold DW-81XX models. I guess Casio released these models on purpose around the same time. The DW-81XX models are pretty big. On most Japanese and East Asian wrists, these models would look extreme big. Not everyone loves big watches, so Casio released these smaller, playful, but less striking models with no metal parts in the bezel. Ans actually, the watch is still sized like a DW-6900, so not that small.

Remarkable is the text “SHOCK” and “RESISTANT” prominent on the bezel. On this version this text is not colored, but on the Japanese models they are mostly white. I’m not sure about the straps on this watch. The text says “Water Resistant 20BAR”. On overseas models normally 200M was used (since a few years also overseas models have the 20 bar instead of the 200 meter notification).

The use of white, red, yellow and blue markings around the display do look a bit busy, but indeed add the playful looks of the watch. It doesn’t really bother me. It just adds more to my Battlestar Galactica feeling.  

There is more remarkable on the bezel. The light button is actually under the bezel. By just pushing on the G, the EL light will turn on. The DW-80XX models only have three buttons on the side. The upper right button is left out.

The DW-8040 has just basic G-Shock functions on board. It has an Alarm function with a Hourly Chime, a 24 hour Countdown Timer and a 24 Hour Stopwatch. The stopwatch is operated with the lower right button (Start/Stop) and the upper left button (Split/Reset).

These watches are already more than 15 years old, but were released in big numbers worldwide. The Japanese DW-8000, DW-8010, and DW-8060 have a background design, only the DW-8020 didn’t have it. These models are overseas much harder to find than the DW-8030, DW-8040 and DW-8050 models that were released worldwide. These watches are not really the wanted models on the G-Shock collectors market, but they look funny enough to have at least have one in your collection. Although released in big numbers, it will not really easy to find one, but it should also not be too hard. Prices are a bit like the DW-003 and DW-004 watches, probably varying between €30 and €70.-, depending on the state and version. The Japanese models might be more expensive, specially the “Endless Summer” model (DW-8060D-1). In Japan the original recommended retail price was ¥12000 for the normal models and ¥13000 for the Endless Summer edition.