Casio celebrates 50 years in electric blue and fluted gold of the Sky and Sea
Borna BošnjakUs watch nerds have a hard time agreeing on anything – except for the fact that Casios and G-Shocks are cool, it seems. Since the first Casio released in 1974 under the Casiotron name, the brand gave rise to numerous models deserving of the iconic moniker, from the cheap and cheerful F91W, to the game-changing G-Shock DW5000C. As 2024 marks 50 years since the very first Casio, it would only be appropriate for the brand to release special-edition models across all of its families, and that’s exactly what Casio did. Unified with a gold and blue colour scheme, a gold clasp details, and subtle nods to the original Casiotron, we’ve picked three models to highlight.
Casiotron TRN-50SS-2A
The model that the 50th anniversary celebrations began with gets a snazzier colourway, while remaining as faithful as possible to the 1974 original. The blue surround to the square display remains, while the inner fluted bezel is now accented in gold, surrounded by a bright blue IP-coated bezel.
Though revolutionary at the time, Casio didn’t just simply reissue the 1974 original with period-correct technology. The new Casiotron Sky and Sea gets Bluetooth and radio-control functionality, also making sure that you don’t run out of battery with solar charging capabilities. This is of course alongside the host of other functions you’d expect from a modern Casio, including alarms, a countdown timer, stopwatch, world time, and a Super Illuminator backlight.
The Casiotron TRN-50SS-2A is available from the Time+Tide Shop. Price: A$999
| Brand | Casio |
| Model | Casiotron 50th Anniversary |
| Reference | TRN-50SS-2A |
| Case Dimensions | 39.1mm (D) x 12.3mm (T) x 42.7mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Mineral glass |
| Dial | Positive digital display, blue background |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet, folding clasp |
| Movement | Module 3542, Tough Solar |
| Power Reserve | 11 months (normal use) 22 months (no use, power saving mode) |
| Functions | Bluetooth connectivity, world time, timer, LED light, calendar, stopwatch, alarm, mute, battery display, date, month, day in six languages, hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$999 |
G-Shock GWM-B5000SS-2
The only way a G-Shock could get more durable is if you make it in metal, and that was the exact idea behind the GMW-B5000. Though this came with a challenging proposition of ensuring the hard outer material would dissipate just as much shock as a resin case, which the boffins at G-Shock naturally succeeded in. Meant to evoke the design of the original square G-Shock, the case and bracelet are a combination of polished and brushed stainless steel, and the new Sky and Sea variant gives it a pop of extra colour.
As this is a tribute to the very first Casio, the B5000SS gains a gold-coated internal fluted bezel, with the iconic “PROTECTION G-SHOCK” outer bezel getting the bright blue colouring. Just like the Casiotron, the 50th Anniversary square G gets radio control, Bluetooth, and solar power with the usual shock resistance and 200-metre water resistance available with most G-Shock watches.
The G-Shock GWM-B5000SS-2 50th Anniversary is available from the Time+Tide Shop. Price: A$1,299
| Brand | Casio |
| Model | G-Shock 50th Anniversary |
| Reference | GWM-B5000SS-2 |
| Case Dimensions | 43.2mm (W) x 13mm (T) x 49.3mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Mineral glass |
| Dial | Positive digital display |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet, folding clasp |
| Movement | Module 3539, Tough Solar |
| Power Reserve | 10 months (normal use) 22 months (no use, power saving mode) |
| Functions | Bluetooth connectivity, world time, timer, LED light, calendar, stopwatch, alarm, mute, battery display, date, month, day in six languages, hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$1,299 |
Baby-G BGA-S290SS-2A
The Baby-G is an oft-overlooked part of Casio’s collection, perhaps understandable given the usual focus on G-Shock. But that’s a shame, as the Baby-G resolves what is at times an issue for smaller-wristed folks when it comes to G-Shock, offering shock-resistance and 100 metres of water-resistance in a vastly reduced size, and often more subtle styling. This all-white Baby-G matches the fluted flange with a gold handset and Casio branding, while the dial and inner bezel are blue for great contrast against the white resin exterior.
The small screen at 6 o’clock will show you a stopwatch, countdown timer, alarm or world time, while the main time-telling display is analogue. Though the hands are lumed, the 50th Anniversary Baby-G also includes an LED light, and you won’t have to worry about overusing it thanks to the solar charging.
The Baby-G BGA-S290SS-2A is available from the Time+Tide Shop. Price: A$329
| Brand | Casio |
| Model | Baby-G 50th Anniversary |
| Reference | BGA-S290SS-2A |
| Case Dimensions | 38.6mm (D) x 12.4mm (T) x 44.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Bio-based resin |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Mineral glass |
| Dial | Blue with negative digital display |
| Strap | White resin, PVD gold pin buckle |
| Movement | Module 5576, Tough Solar |
| Power Reserve | 11 months (normal use) 20 months (no use, power saving mode) |
| Functions | Analog – hours and minutes Digital – 31 time zones, stopwatch, timer, alarm, LED, calendar, mute, battery level, hours, minutes, seconds, month, date, day |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | A$329 |