#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.

Intermezzo #7: Thinking thinking thinking...

Sometimes it can take a lot of time before I find a new subject to a new 50 Gs article... This week was very hard. The final exam candidates had a party yesterday. I was by car, so I decided to drink cola. Loads of that stuff. For some kind of reason some sorts of cola's have a pretty unpredictable working. Often I get hyperactive, so yet last night. When I came home around 3:00 I went editing photo's for an upcoming review/intermezzo (not sure how to fill in). Completely awake I stepped into bed to not wake up this morning around 9:00. So I started writing a new 50 Gs article. I had a candidate and some ideas.
I already had taken my fully charged PDA with me to bed yesterday and also I had my iPhone within hand reach, so I can perform simple searches on internet. Often I check my own website and G-Shock Perfect Search (GPS). A copy of the G-Shock Perfect Bible was also handy. Well, actually I am at the moment still not finished writing, but most investigation work is over.
Then the next stage. I think 50 Gs articles are worthless without photo's. Actually Eva (my girlfriend) found me like this this afternoon. "What are you doing"? "Thinking for backgrounds". Well, I build an alternative set, after turn off filling the dinner table with logs of wood.
Of course there is always something that won't work in an alternative set-up. Also the light gives sometimes problems. I had to wait until the sun had set. I must say this is a very nice set-up, but it had to wait. There was a favorite program on the television.
So all photo's are finished. In total I transfered 70 photo's to the computer for tomorrows article. I have no idea how much of them I finally will use. I just uploaded 49 photo's in my Photobucket album. Then I have to edit a lot of photo's. For details I make macro shots, where only small parts are needed. Often I try to remember what I was thinking during the photo shoot, while during the photo shoot I am already thinking what I will think if I get it into Photoshop.
The photo's were pretty clear this time. Sometimes I have to edit some dust away or use some effects. I hope you will like tomorrows article.

Intermezzo #6

My girlfriend Eva has rented a beach cabin this year. I'm normally a pretty active person, so going to the beach and just fry in the sun is not a typical activity for me. Normally when Eva and Bram go to the beach, I rather take my mountainbike (Cube LTD Team 2006) for a sunny ride.
Now that I'm pretty immobilized, due to my slowly recovering elbow, I will join the family probably more. I'm pretty handy for carrying bags anyway.
So what do you do if everyone is lying in the sun? Take some photo's of course. There is quite some tide here, so a Tidegraph function is handy. Therefore the Gulfman is a great beach watch.
Actually I would like to have a 2nd Rescue-G Gulfman. My basic black model is of course looking very nice too, but the Rescue-G version is just AWESOME! One man needs to have a holy grail. I hope I will have some spare money next month for this model. It would be of course be a nice next intermezzo here on 50 Gs. So if it shows up here with some sandy photos, "It's just Sjors getting bored at the beach".
Look, I already have a sun taint on my feet... Do you see the moon on the photo below. It seems the moon phase indicator is working fine.

#20 The Lion of Zion

"I'm gonna be Iron like a Lion in Zion" (Bob Marley, 1973).
From the start of my collection I was not very enthusiastic about the DW-5600 models. I bought my first G-Shocks because they were colorful and big.
Still among my first Gs there was a red DW-5600E. Though it looked smaller than my other Gs, I was surprised that it still looked big on my arm. Maybe because it has a face protector (a.k.a. "Bull Bar").I was pretty lucky getting that watch. It was priced f80.- which is about €37.-. Considered the retail price for the basic DW-5600E-1V now is €99.- and the cheapest G-Shocks I can find here are €80.-, that was a real bargain.
Still the love for the "Classic Squares" had to grow on me. I got some nice DW-056USV models, which looked bigger due to the double Velcro straps. Nice for the collection, but I preferred the bigger ones.
I think things changed when I got my first DW-5600C. This vintage heavy screw-back forced respect to the classic squares.
Casio never lost faith in the original G-Shock design. New models based on the classic DW-5000C, DW-5600E and DW-5700C are still released.
So is this DW-5600R-3DR of the Rastafarian series. Before the GLX-5600 and the GLS-5600V (see this year's G #17 ) were released, this was probably my favorite square.
You could find them at budget friendly prices after release. This is my second ("to wear") of this model. I bought it at Tiktox. They still have one or two left at the moment and it is (due to the low British Pound) a real bargain. A small search on eBay show the watch is still available in the €65 - €100 range.
Jamaican cultural heritage themes has been used frequently by G-Shock. In the past series were released with reggae, Bob Marley and Xaymaca as theme. The Rastafarian series of March 2008 is the latest in this row.
Actually model is of the 3rd Rastafarian series. Also in June 2005 and May 2006 a Rastafarian series was released.
Sticked former series to the Rastafarian colors: red, yellow and green (of the old Ethiopian flag), this series uses the colors of the Jamaican flag: green, yellow and black.
The EL background is very impressive. It is the lion from the Ethiopian flag during the reign of Emperor Haile Selasie(1930-1974).
Rastas hold that Selassie is a direct descendant of the Israelite Tribe of Judah through the lineage of King David and Solomon, and that he is also the Lion of Judah mentioned in the Book of Revelation*. Jesus Christ was also called "the lion of Judah". The lion was the symbol of Haile Selasie.
I don't think there is a deeper meaning in the dark green color or the glossy finish. The DW-6900R and G-5500R of this series where white and black and have the same finish.
The gold color buttons and buckle perfectly match the dark green tone and the gold colored display. The strap keepers bear the color of the Jamaican flag.
With the glossy finish I regret the back of the watch is just plain like a basic DW-5600. A shiny back, like the DW-5000SL Spike Lee would have fitted well with this model. A gold tone back (like the 25th anniversary models) even better.
For functionality the DW-5600R is pretty simple. It tells time (with day and date), it has an alarm function with hourly chime, a stopwatch and a countdown timer. Frankly these are the functions I most need on a watch.
Overall I think this is a great watch with a beautiful chic look, which you maybe still can find for a great price.
* Quoted from Wiki Page: Lion of Zion