G-shock #18: The Khaki Green King

Before the first “Army Green” series models were released in November 2011, photo’s of the Army Green GXW-56 were already seen. When this series were officially announced in Japan, it was a bit disappointing this model was not present in the release list. I think I already wrote it with my article of the GW-6900KG-3JF, that if such a GXW-56KG would be released, I would buy one. Well, you got to do what you promise yourself, so when this model showed up in the March releases, I immediately ordered one at Katsu-san (Higuchi Inc, Oita, Japan). He told me that the release would be at the end of the month, so after a wait of about two weeks, I got a message it was ready to depart from his shop.

Shipping from Japan is always exiting, as packages were often caught by the customs and delivered, with a small week delay at home with quite a big bill (compared with the watch value). It seems that March was my lucky month. Both my GXW-56 as my GB-6900 came from Japan through the customs with no bill and only a slight (2 days) delay. This means I can spend around €70.- more on new G-Shocks…

The GXW-56 models are currently the biggest G-Shocks that are available. Still the design is very classic. Maybe you could see this model in the classic G-Shock DNA line, that once started in 1983 with the DW-5000C. The GXW-56 looks like a beefy pumped up DW-5600, like it’s on steroids. The main reason the GXW-56 is that big, is that it has a Mud Resistant structure. This means that the buttons are hidden under the bezel. The button parts of the bezel are a bit softer than the other parts of the bezel, so you still can push the buttons. As the buttons parts are pretty big, it is not too hard to operate the buttons, although through a Mud Resistant bezel will always be harder to push.

In April 2012 also international models of this series were announced. These are the GX-56KG-3, the GR-7900KG-3 and the G-6900KG-3. The GR-7900 is the Tough Solar version of the G-7900. I think it would be great if Casio would upgrade all G-7900 models to at least GR-7900. A further investigation learned a G-5600KG is also released. All international models look almost the same as the Japanese models, are Atomic, but do not have the (Multiband) Waveceptor function. One one end, I think that’s a pity. You would like to use the functionality of a G-Shock to the max. On the other hand, the prices of the international releases will be much more affordable. I have seen the MSRP (Manufacturer's suggested retail price) of $120.- for the GR-7900KG, G-6900KG and the G-5600KG. Although the “Military Green” series (or just the “Olive Drap Colors” series), as the international series are referred to, are marketed as limited editions, the Japanese models are not dated. This normally means they will be available for a longer time (often about a year).

The G in the model number stands for Gravity. It refers to the Shock Resistance, which is expressed in G (gravity acceleration). The X stands for Extra, which here means extra shock resistant. It refers to the new α-gel pad, that has been used to even better withstand impacts. This α-gel can clearly be seen in the display. It’s the rubber profile you see around the display, which seems to continue under the solar cells (the outer black part around the display, where the lettering is put over). The solar cells nowadays seem pretty well evolved to a higher efficiency type. While the first Tough Solar panels were more blueish to purple, depending to the angle of light, the new solar cels are deep black. A fully charged battery can run the internal time of this watch for about 10 months in complete darkness. I can’t find the battery type in the (Japanese) manual. Funny detail is that I could find that the quartz crystal used in this watch has a frequency of 32768 Hz. Just in case you needed to know this.

The color green is, as the name of the series already says, adopted from the army. To be more exact, it was inspired by the green bomber jackets with their orang lining (If I'm correct a crashed pilot could use the lining of his jacket to attract attention for rescue from the sky). This explains also the orange lettering. I think the combination of orange lettering, a black (negative) display and the khaki green resin is a very nice combination. Casio has used this khaki green (a.k.a. olive drap) before on G-Shock models, but not with this orange lettering. In the lower right corner of the display, you will find a star. All models of these series have one or more stars. This is a playful reference to the Army Green theme, as stars are used in the military ranking system. Frankly, I would have liked to see more stars on this GWX-56KG. While the GW-7900KG has 2 stars, the GW-6900KG has 3 stars and the “tiny” GW-M5610KG has even 4 stars, I would have like to see the King with 4 stars at least! It’s the biggest and toughest looking guy from the whole series. Why should Casio else call this model (worldwide) the King…

The GXW-56KG-3JF is equipped with a 3220 module. It’s brother, the GX-56 will be equipped with the 3221 module, by the way. The 3220 module has the usual functions on -board which you find on most other basic Tough Solar Waveceptor models. While scrolling through the different functions by pushing the mode button, you’ll find a 48 cities and 31 time zones World Time function, an Alarm function with 4 normal alarms, one snooze alarm and a hourly chime, a 24 hour (okay, okay, 23 hour, 59 minutes, 59 seconds and 99 hundreds of a second) Stopwatch Function and a 24 hour Count Down Timer. Well, what more do you actually need on such a watch, for me it’s already over-complete, as I use besides Time Keeping, mostly the Count Down alarm and scarcely the Stopwatch function. The World Time function is nice, if you know which timezones have Daylight Saving Time /Summer Time. You have to toggle the DST manually on and off. Luckily the timezones I use a lot, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, do not have DST. The US has DST, but the begin and start date differ from Europe. Frankly I find that confusing. It would be better if Europe and the US would sync their DST.

The best function on board, in my opinion, is the Multiband 6 Waveceptor function. This watch can receive the Atomic Time signals from 6 transmitters in the World. These transmitters are are Fukushima, and Fukuoka/Saga (JJY40 and JJY60), with a 500 km radius, Fort Collins (WWVB60), with a 1000 km radius, Mainflingen (DCF77) and Anthorn (MSF60) with a radius of both 500 km and the newest transmitter is located in Sangqui (China, PBC 68.5kHz). If Auto Receive is toggled on (default), the watch will attempt to receive the atomic time signal up to 6 times if necessary every night. As the watch has a maximum precision of +/- 15 seconds a month, the watch can be maximal 0.5 seconds off around midnight, before it begins to receive the signal again automatically. Actually the marge of +/-15 seconds is pretty big. Usually a newer an un-synced module has a marge of +/- 7 seconds a month. If you want to be very sure, or when the watch has failed to receive the signal overnight (you might have been inside a building that blocks radio waves), you can also perform a manual sync, by press and holding the lower right button.

The MSRP in Japan is ¥28000.-, which is pretty expensive. Usually shops and sellers in Japan have a better price than the MSRP. I was pretty happy I got this beautiful model over 20% cheaper shipped to The Netherlands. Well, I guess that is a good deal (specially when you keep in mind that only the EMS shipping will be somewhere around ¥3000, so the netto price I paid for this watch was less than ¥20000). As there is no date for this model on GPS, I think it will be still available in Japan in the forthcoming months. If you don’t want the Multiband 6 Waveceptor function, or find this price too high, it is probably worth to wait for the release of the GX-56KG-3, later this month. I do not know exactly where it will be released, but the US will be one of these locations. My guess is that the GX-56KG will be priced a lot under the ¥20000 ($250, €190) which I paid for this model. I am still not sure what I will do with this watch. One side of me wants to keep it in perfect shape for the collection, the other side wants to wear it. If the prices of the GX-56KG is very affordable, I might buy one of these to wear. Prices for that model will be probably friendliest in the US. Maybe I’ll ask a US friend to help me out ship one to The Netherlands. Direct shipping will cost me at least €35.- extra (those horrible Dutch custom fees).

G-Shock #17: It's Friday 13th, time for a Jason!

It must be a special Jason year. It’s only April and there is another Friday 13th and another one is coming up in June. It must be a good yea for people who love the Friday 13th movies. I checked the TV guide, but unfortunately, tonight no Jason Voorhees.

Jason Voorhees is the main character in the Friday 13th movies. He’s best known for wearing an ice hockey mask, while killing around teenagers. I have only seen one of the Friday 13th movies and frankly, I have been more laughing than that I was shocked. It looks to me these movies are more for teenagers. Popcorn and screaming…

The DW-001 was released in November 1994. The rumor goes that a Japanese pop star happened to be at the design department and saw a prototype mock-up G-Shock, which was not meant to for release. He insisted it should be released. This original Jason model (there were only 5 different variations of this model) was the first “Capsule Tough” model, later succeeded by the DW-002 and DW-003. They were called that way, because of the bigger case (than the DW-5600), which made look like the module was kept in a capsule.

Remarkable on the DW-001 was that it had a Thermometer function and a Sun Set and a Sun Rise function. These functions did not appear on the new Jason models, the G-001. Officially already 13(!) variations of this model have been released yet. To be honest there is at least a 14th model. G-Shock made a collaboration model with Stüssy. I wish that this model was a bit more affordable, but I don’t have the steep €345.- for this model. I think this price is the reason it is still available on their website (it was released many months ago).

My first and only DW-001 was the yellow version and when I saw that this epic model was going to be re-released, the first one I wanted to have was of course this yellow model. I have been trying to find an affordable second one to wear, but I have been not that lucky. A yellow Jason would be much fun to wear, don’t you think? Meanwhile I have 4 versions of this model and a 5th is on it’s way. With the release of the Rastafarian models I have been tempted to get another one, but I have completely dried out my funds and have already pre-ordered a G-Shock in the somewhat more expensive range for next month.

If you look at a Jason model, you probably would think, why on earth would I buy one. I think the design is very playful, although the part with the holes (they are not open on the G-001 anymore) have no function anymore. I think it’s something I have with other G-Shock models too. You might ask yourself, why do you or other people like the Gundam/Techno models. I think they look that great or good actually because they are bulky and ugly. Ugly things make people curious. It makes it interesting to look at. It’s different. After a while you might think, “is it actually ugly?”. I like that kind of design. I think Casio likes to make G-Shocks that look different from what “normal” digital watches look like.

Although it is a little mystery why the G-001 was released, the DW-001 model has always been desired by a select group of (mainly Japanese) collectors. I think that the fact this model was discussed about on Japanese BBS (kind of small personal forums) might have been the reason it came back, 15 years after the first version was released. The rumor of the return of the Jason model had been there maybe since 2008.

The G-001 has the 3247 module and has pretty basic functions. Besides Time Keeping, you’ll find World Time (48 cities, 29 time zones), a 24 hour Stopwatch, a 24 hour Countdown timer and 3 Alarms with a Hourly Chime. The third alarm is a Snooze alarm. Remarkable for a battery driven model is that this model has an Auto Illuminator function. When turned on, it turns itself off after six hours to prevent the battery drained by continuing light operations. For those who are not familiar with the Auto Illuminator function, if this function is turned on (press and hold the upper right button for about 5 seconds) the EL backlight will turn automatically on when the arm is held about parallel to the ground and tilted toward you for about 40 degrees. This sounds complicated, but this is actually what you normally do if you look at your watch.

Some other special features are that you can adjust the EL Backlight duration from 1.5 seconds to 3 seconds and you can also sync the EL backlight to alarm sounds. If turned on, the light will flash when an alarm goes off, a countdown operation has ended and with the hourly chime.

I think the G-001 is a fun watch, which is also pretty affordable. I must have paid around ¥13000 for this yellow version, but if you look around good, a G-001 version can be picked up with prices starting from €70 -€80.-. For a collector, I think they are fun to have at least one, just to wear every Friday 13th.