Just when you thought a G-Shock couldn’t get any more utilitarian
Tom Austin- Casio returns with a new two-tone colourway for five models in its G-Shock collection, keeping things simple while appealing to fashion-conscious collectors.
- Inspired by the G Mudmaster series, the collection features a two-tone colour-blocking, with a black watch paired with a beige or olive strap.
- These distinctive models are designed to appeal to the Gorpcore urban fashion trend, featuring utilitarian aesthetics and blocky colours.
Summer wouldn’t be summer without a G-Shock. Perfect for the beach, the park, or the pool, there really aren’t many situations where a G-Shock isn’t appropriate. Luckily for us, Casio knows this, and is never too far away with a new set of colours to get collectors excited. And if the G-Shock wasn’t utilitarian enough for you, the brand’s just launched a set of super-rugged, super-on-trend G-Shocks, with the new Two-Tone Utility series.
Watches nowadays cannot just be categorised as tools. Their main “tool” function is of course, telling the time, amongst many other additional extras, and when we’re talking digital watches, the lists of functions can be as long as your arm. But now, watches are more than that, they are in many ways a fashion accessory, or an extension of someone’s style and personality.
Fashion evolves over time, and with that, we now have names to associate with particular trends that extend way past casual or vintage. If you move in those circles, you’ll now be faced with “preppy”, “Barbiecore” or even a touch of “coastal grandmother” (yes, I’m not joking) to name a few. Think of it as Gen Z vocabulary that will leave most people born before 1990 baffled and confused. Why am I telling you this, and what does this have to do with G-Shock?
Casio is well-known for using G-Shocks to follow trends in the fashion industry for decades, for example, inspiring kids to wear Baby Gs in pastel colours for years, and doesn’t just focus on making watches that would suit Rambo. This new collection from G-Shock is supposed to inspire a new generation of fashionistas… the ones now called the Gorpcore.
Essentially, Gorpcore involves wearing outdoor utility-like clothing in urban environments. Think puffy North Face coats, think ripstop cargos, the kinds of things you’d wear on a good hike, but usually with bright and obnoxious colours and generally worn in the city. Apparently, the term Gorpcore comes from the hiking snack “good old raisins and peanuts”, which is fine, I guess, and it’s what Casio has used to describe their latest collection, the Two-Tone Utility Color Series.
Ok, enough about fashionable things that I’m not very qualified to talk about. The collection consists of five watches in total: the DW6900 with an iconic triple graph or the GA700 with a large case, both of which feature a metal front button with the anti-slip finish; or the large-case designs of the GX56, GA100, and GA110. All of these are staples in the G-Shock world and, individually, are all fantastic watches. For this series, they’ve been given a subdued makeover with the colours, very much in a Gorpcore, defiantly ugly, utilitarian way. See, I’m getting into this fashion-speak now.
The watch bodies are all in the standard G-Shock black resin finish, but each watch has been treated to subtle details in matching colours to the straps, such as the beige text on the bezels and dials, which, I’ll be honest, even if you’re not into this whole trendy urban aesthetic, looks very Desert Storm, and pretty damn cool for it. Each watch is paired with a matching beige rubber strap, aside from the GA100 and the GA710, both of which are available on a dark, military olive green strap.
As usual, these G-Shocks aren’t all for show, they can take a beating with their practical shock-resistant design. They all feature the 200 metres of water resistance we’re used to seeing, and amongst them have all of the common features you’d expect to find on a modern G-Shock. These comprise of full LED backlights, stopwatch, countdown timers, 4 daily alarms, multi-function alarms, World Time functionality, Solar power, the list goes on. You don’t need me to tell you how practical a G-Shock is; they’re some of the toughest watches in the world.
Sometimes, G-Shocks can be pretty loud and ostentatious for some folks. If you’re after something that’s stealthy, goes under the radar, but isn’t completely devoid of colour and character, then these new two-tone offerings could very well do the trick. They offer the rugged design and features we expect, but also cater for the growing Gorpcore fashion trend, too. These G-Shocks will be just as at home on your wrist at the beach or hiking through the mountains as they would on that hardcore commute through the urban jungle.
Casio G-Shock Two-Tone Color Series pricing & availability
The Casio G-Shock Two-Tone Color Series is now available for purchase. Price: US$110 (GA710TU-1A3), US$110 (GA100TU-1A3), US$110 (DW6900TU-1A5), US$130 (GA110TU), US$150 (GX56TU-1A5).
| Brand | Casio |
| Model | G-Shock Two-Tone Utility |
| Reference | DW6900TU-1A5 GA710TU-1A3 GA100TU-1A3 GA110TU-1A5 GX56TU-1A5 |
| Case Dimensions | 50mm (D) x 18.7mm (T) x 53.2mm (LTL) (DW6900) 53.4mm (D) x 18.5mm (T) x 57.5mm (LTL) (GA710) 51.2mm (D) x 16.9mm (T) x 55mm (LTL) (GA100) 51.2mm (D) x 16.9mm (T) x 55mm (LTL) (GA110) 53.6mm (W) x 17.5mm (T) x 55.5mm (LTL) (GX56) |
| Case Material | Resin |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Mineral front |
| Dial | Digital display (DW6900, GX56) Ana-digi display (GA710, GA100, GA110) |
| Strap | Olive or khaki resin |
| Movement | Module 3529 (DW6900) Module 5522 (GA710) Module 5081 (GA100) Module 5146 (GA110) Module 3545 (GX56) |
| Availability | Now |
| Price | US$110 (GA710TU-1A3) US$110 (GA100TU-1A3) US$110 (DW6900TU-1A5) US$130 (GA110TU) US$150 (GX56TU-1A5) |