G-Shock #21: Mission Impossible:DW-5300

Today’s G-Shock is a strange model in the chronologic evolution of the G-Shock line. It’s a kind of “The Missing Link” as it is a bridge between the vintage “squares” and the more beefy late ‘90’s models.

When looking to the model number, you would expect it would fall between the DW-5200C and the DW-5400C, as only the DW-5000 and DW-5600 have evoluted further in their bloodlines. Still, the DW-5300 has been released long after the DW-5600C in 1987, but two years before its successor, the DW-5600E.

According to my own website the DW-5300 was released February 1994. This was an interesting time for Casio, as they had been releasing many variants of the DW-6000’s, DW-6100’s and DW-6200’s and a bunch of analog G-Shocks. In January the DW-6400 “Gundam” was released and also in February the first SkyForce was released, the DW-6500. It was just four months before the DW-6600 was released, the first G-Shock with an Electroluminescent Backlight, being the footprint of the modern G-Shocks.

 The model number that was chosen is strange, as it always seem to be in ascending order. Also the number 5300 had also been used by the WW-5300C (1994). In the early eighties it was still a novum if a LCD display would function below freezing point. Casio used new LCD technology on the WW-5100C and the WW-5300C models, which had LCDs that would work at least until -20°C. The prefix WW stands for Wide Temperature range and Water Resistant.

 A second strange phenomena: this watch was only sold outside Japan. G-Shock collectors in Japan have to search outside Japan to find it. This is pretty remarkable, since most G-Shock models are released in Japan and outside Japan we have to hope that it will be released outside Japan (like the GXW-56 recently).

This model is known as the Mission Impossible 1 model. For a long time it was internationally thought that the character Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) was wearing a DW-5300 in this movie that was released in 1996. Even in Japan graphics of Mission Impossible were shown with this model. In January 2010 “Liquidus2172” came up with proof, that the watch worn in that movie was not a DW-5300, but a DW-290, a model that sometimes is referred to as a pre-G-Shock model, like the DW-1000 model. In 2003 or 2004 I had made screen shots of this movie. You could see that Tom Cruise was wearing a bulky G-Shock like watch. Unfortunately the screen resolution of my screen capture program was to restricted in resolution to capture a clear shot.

Auch!

 

After quite a search, I found a DVD-player that can make bigger screen captures. (VLC Media Player) . It is now pretty clear this is not a DW-5300, but a DW-290.

The screenshots of “liquidus2172” were much clearer and the DW-290 were easily revealed. Since the movie is already 15 years old and the name “Mission Impossible” for this watch is probably as old too, I do not think the nickname of this model will ever change.

Left the DW-5300, right it's succesor, the DW-6800.

The DW-5300 is a kind of DW-5600C on steroids. It has the 901 module with the light bulb. I think the DW-5300 has been produced for about a year. It’s not a real rare watch. In March 1995 this model was successes by the DW-6800, which featured the EL Backlight feature. Although the space around the display and the structure of the bezel are different, it still has the same similar look as a DW-5600, but then bulky.

If you own a DW-5300, this means the watch is at least 16 years old. Spare parts are almost impossible to find and the bezel can become brittle. I got quite a lot e-mails over the years of broken bezels of a DW-5300, but I was never able to help anyone. As a collector I recommend strongly to keep your DW-5300 in a safe place, but even that would not guarantee that the bezel stays in one piece. During my search of additional information about this watch, I stumbled upon a proud Japanese collector showing his DW-5300, which he had imported. Unfortunately the bezel fell apart after he had written his review.

As on most G-Shock models, the Adjust button is somewhat recessed in the case.

Casio’s guideline of spare parts is that spare parts are available up to 10 years after the model was sold. I think you can’t blame Casio on that. They produce so many products in every division, that it is hardly impossible to store spare parts for long times. 10 years ago, I bought my first digital camera. My canon 7D is already my 5th digital camera and I am already thinking about upgrading to a 5D mkII or a mkIII if that’s been released. For most electronic equipment we use in daily life, 10 years is a relative long time.

 

The DW-5300 operates with a 901 Module. Although there might be very minor differences, the look and button functions are the same as the 691. Both these modules are used also on the DW-5600C. On board of this 901 module we find, besides the Timekeeping Function, a Alarm function, a Dual Time function, a 24 Hour Stopwatch function and a 24 hour Countdown Timer function. For a basic digital watch I guess this model was quite packed with functions for a 1994 watch. The Alarm function has an alarm that can be set to a date, which is not unusual for a G-Shock model. If only the day number or the month number is chosen, the alarm will only sound respectively once a month or during only the specified month.

The DW-5300 has also a special feature in the Timekeeping function. In the display the text REM is visible. This stands for reminder. If the lower right button is pressed for about 2 seconds a digit next to REM starts to blink. The Reminder function acts like a "String around your finger" or as we say in The Netherlands (and also in Germany) a knot in your handkerchief.

The DW-5300 seems still a quite popular watch, specially by regular owners of the watch. Probably because it looks tougher than a basic DW-5600. From time to time you can find a DW-5300 in reasonable to NOS state on eBay. The watch has been mass produced and has been sold at least in Europe and the US, so there must have many float around. If you find one, they are mostly not really expensive. I got mine for scratch from eBay Germany (probably in the €30.- - €50.- range) in 2004.

 

The original price tag says the first owner had bought this watch for a discount price of  €51,10 and under the marker I can read the original retail price of  €99.95. Frankly I wouldn’t really invest too much money in a DW-5300, just because the chance of cracking of the bezel in the near future from old age is not unthinkable. A pity for a nice looking bulky G. Luckily we now have the GX-56 and GXW-56, which are maybe worthy successors of this model.

 

G-Shock #20: DW-003 G-Lide, Addendum

"You always find what you are not looking for."I didn't knew the model number and a search on the Internet did not reveal much extra information. I was looking for some G-Shocks for next articles this evening and found my 2nd "#2", which I bought a few years ago NOS in Germany. Funnily there was a hand written label on it. The full model number of this G-Lide model is DW-003V-4VT. Another case closed.

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G-Shock #20: DW-003 G-Lide, My eternal #2

Set-up for the photo shoot in the back yard.

The yellow towel seems to attract a lot uninvited guests :-)

Today’s G-Shock is for me quite a special G-Shock. I always call it my 2nd G-Shock, but in fact it’s actually my 4th. Still this might be the model that got the ball rolling for me to get into G-Shock collecting.

Back in June 2000, my good old Timex watch bracelet broke, while I was shopping in the Middelburg City Center. It was actually not a real disaster. I had bought this watch for about f30.- (thirty guilders), which is about €13,65 three years earlier and actually I was waiting a bit for it to break.

When I had bought that watch, in 1997, I managed to scratch the display on a wall at the school I worked those days. I was pretty annoyed, because it happened within a week I had this watch. Not much later the display of that watch bumped on a door handle, leaving quite a dent.

In the summer of 1999 I noticed In Vlissingen (Flushing) a display of G-Shock watches. They looked nice and colorful. Most important, I noticed the rim around the display, to prevent scratches on the crystal. I knew if my Timex would give up, I would go for a G-Shock.

I still remember going inside the watch shop. It was a very warm day, but it was nice cool inside. I told the shop owner that I was interested in G-Shocks and we went outside to the show case. I narrowed down to two models. The first was a DW-004 with a leather/cloth strap. The second was this G-Lide. Both in maroon, I pretty much liked that color.

 The shop owner and I went to a special table, where the shop owner took his time to tell about the watches functions. First I tried the DW-004. It was love at first sight. It looked great on my wrist, the time was clear, I liked the seconds animation, the watch looked rugged and sturdy and I loved the greenish EL Backlight, which was brighter than my broken Timex. Second I tried this G-Lide model. Wow, this watch was B.I.G.! The watchband was the most comfortable watch I had around my wrist ever. While the watch strap and case looked huge, you almost didn’t notice it was on your wrist. This was going to be a very tough choice.

I couldn’t afford to buy them both. They cost f250.- each, which now would be €113.-. I just had started a new job, so I had not a big salary (not that it is big now), and also in that time you could buy more with f250.- than you can now with €250.-. I had to make a decision. I tried them on both a second time. Again the G-Lide felt the most comfortable on the wrist, but also looked very big. Maybe too big. I pretty much liked the lay-out of the display of the DW-004. Finally I went for the DW-004. It had a more decent look, as I thought the DW-003 might look ridiculous.

I was very happy with my DW-004, no doubt, but every time I was in Vlissingen, I tried to walk by the G-Shock show case. Every time my eyes fell on the DW-003. I was still impressed by the comfortable strap. A friend of me told me that a discount store has a G-Shock for f120.- ((€55). I couldn’t resist and I bought that model. It was a DW-003 with a BPM counter. Pretty Cool. I used it a lot at “I Love Techno” at Flanders Expo in Ghent. Not much later I noticed a Gaussman in another shop. It was for sale. I do not know the retail price exactly, but the sale price was f200. I still remember that I went to that shop to buy it. It was raining terribly hard. My son Bram was just a 4 months old. I just had collected him at my parents around 17:30 and I arrived at the shop around 17:50, ten minutes for closing time.

 The Gaussman was Big and sturdy. If I could wear this, I could wear the DW-003 G-Lide too. Finally, when I got my salary, I bought this watch. I have never regret that. I wish Casio releases still models with double Velcro straps, They are not only comfortable, they are also very secure around the wrist, the case can move slightly along the strap for a perfect fit and the construction with the strap adapters make it a very construction while surfing, skateboarding or snowboarding. If one springbar might snap during an impact, the watch will still stay safe on the strap on the other springbar.

It’s not easy to find out when this model was released, because it is an overseas release. As far as I can see, this model was available in Europe and possibly the US. Most probable it’s a 1997 model, as most DW-003 models were released in that year.

The DW-003 is the last of the so called “Capsule Though” models. In Japan these models are referred to as the “Nexax” models. The case is covered on top by the bezel, while the back is also covered with a back protector. This might be the reason why it’s called “Capsule Tough”. I still don’t understand why the DW-004 isn’t part of the “Nexax” and “Capsule Though” line, as it has a similar construction as the DW-001, DW-002 and DW-003. Maybe it does not belong to this group, because the first three models were round and the DW-004 has more or less a drop shape.

At the lugs there are two distant holders attached. These distant holders allow a little space between the strap and the back of the watch. This allows ventilation, so if the band may become wet from water, snow or sweat, it can dry quickly under the watch, preventing irritation. With this kind of double Velcro straps, I would not recommend keeping it on while drying. The big elastic under-strap might dry quite slower than the models that have a thinner nylon under-strap.

 Although the display on the DW-003 is in one part (except for a very small eye upper left), you can divide the display in three parts. Above the day and date, in the middle the seconds animation and below the time. The small eye shows if the Flash function is turned on or off. Default the Flash function is turned on. A small star appears in the eye. The Flash function means that the EL backlight flashes when an alarm tone sounds (except when switching modes).

This DW-003 has a 1597 module. Besides Timekeeping, it has 3 other modes, Alarm Mode, Countdown Alarm Mode and Stopwatch Mode. The Alarm Mode has one alarm. It can be set to a daily alarm, or it can be set at a day and/or month. If you only set a day number, the alarm will sound every month on that date, if you only program the month, the alarm will sound daily only at the programmed month. The Countdown Alarm Mode and the Stopwatch Mode have both a 24 hour capacity. The Countdown Alarm has an Auto Repeat function.

I pretty much love my watch. I have a colleague on my school, who also did like ths watch. About 5 years ago I started searching for one and discovered it wasn’t easy to find one. Luckily I found a NOS one for him, but it took quite some time. Much later I found one extra for in my collection. The color, and the tough look of the strap make this a favorite model for me. Even though it’s over 10 years old, it still looks pretty good, though I have worn it a lot in the past.

If you want to look for one of these, you have to search hard. It’s a model that mostly have been sold in Europe, so that’s the place to look out for one. In the late 90’s it must have been a common model as you could find one easily 10 to 8 years ago on eBay Germany. I’m afraid this model now has become pretty rare. Finding a new one is almost impossible but if you keep an eye out, you might find a reasonable used one. It never had been a cheap model. While you could find a simple basic DW-003 model for €40.- or $50.- back in those days, you rather expect prices in the €60 to €80 for this one. Nowadays I would expect prices varying around €80.- for this one. The only problem is to find one.