One of the thrilling new Casio watches launched as a part of the fortieth anniversary (1983-2023) of the G-Shock is a model of the steel GMWB5000 referred to as the GCWB5000 in carbon. Casio launched the GCWB5000 in two types together with the black carbon GCWB5000UN-1, and this galactic purple reference GCWB5000UN-6 model, which has shades starting from magenta to violet. This higher-end-priced Casio G-Shock represents a brand new visible aesthetic in addition to efficiency as a result of its very mild weight. Let’s examine the numbers. The all-metal Casio G-Shock GCWB5000 has a reported weight of 167 grams, and this carbon model of the identical profile weighs solely 65 grams. Do you are feeling that on the wrist? You guess! Or somewhat, you don’t really feel it.
The G-Shock GCWB5000 is Casio’s greatest entrant to this point into the ultralight life-style watch race. Casio has at all times prioritized weight discount in its G-Shock watch design, however primarily for particular sports activities functions. Lately, there was a push to make a number of the world’s most high-end luxurious watches very light-weight. We are able to thank manufacturers like Richard Mille for that. To create weight-saving methods, watchmakers have more and more relied on sturdy, albeit non-metallic supplies. Carbon, in its many types, is commonly the chosen candidate. Some years in the past it was virtually an anathema to counsel a luxurious watch may weigh little or no as bulk and density had been prized. This was principally a results of the mentality that good watches had been produced from treasured metals (like gold), and that treasured metals weighed greater than frequent metals. The supplies utilized by the watch business over the previous couple of a long time have modified a lot that this conventional capacity to measure the standard of a watch by weighing it in your fingers has dramatically modified. Whereas the watch market nonetheless has some high-end, very heavy watches, a brand new technology of fans is beginning to see worth in watches which can be featherweights.
The trick is to not make the watch too small consequently. Folks nonetheless like visually assertive timepieces and which means viewing area. Subsequently, a small and light-weight watch doesn’t actually fulfill present tastes. Moderately, persons are on the lookout for showy watches (both by way of measurement, supplies, or general design), however these which can be additionally snug and sporty on the wrist. That’s the place a watch just like the G-Shock GCWB5000 succeeds. Casio changed as a lot of the steel as potential with light-weight carbon components. This even seems to incorporate the bars within the hyperlinks that maintain them collectively, which on this watch seem like one thing like graphene and never metal. Casio claims that three completely different carbon supplies are used within the case, bezel, and bracelet.
As soon as you’re employed with carbon, you may have quite a lot of colour and aesthetic choices obtainable to you. Carbon fiber was extra restricted in its visible properties, however the newer crop of layered or cast carbon development processes, enable for firms to go fairly wild with colours and texture. Casio principally makes use of a proprietary cast carbon mix for the GCWB5000UN circumstances and bracelets. Right here they showcase a number of the beauty alternatives obtainable with this course of through the use of a mix of purple colours, with some shiny components in it. Within the all-black model, the cast carbon has a extra delicate, albeit nonetheless natural, floor texture to it. The caseback of the watch is produced from a monocoque phase which is carbon fibers blended with resin. Layered carbon is used for the folding items within the deployant clasp as a part of the bracelet. The cast carbon is admittedly the hero materials since it may be injection molded into small, exact components. With that stated, as evidenced by the thickness of the bracelet hyperlinks, the GCWB5000’s cast carbon bracelet has hyperlinks which can be appreciably thicker (albeit a lot lighter) than the metal steel bracelet hyperlinks on the GMWB5000 fashions.
It was solely a matter of time for Casio to make use of carbon for G-Shock watch circumstances. I recall again in 2017 reviewing an fascinating aftermarket G-Shock watch by Alvarae that changed the resin case with a cast carbon one. What was instantly obvious was that the texturing alternatives with carbon supplies made them particularly interesting. Carbon is mild, sturdy, and could be made right into a collection of more and more exact shapes making it well-suited as a wristwatch case and bracelet materials. However is carbon a luxurious materials? That’s the fascinating query and the place the timepiece market should work the toughest. The actual fact stays that some cheap watches available on the market have carbon circumstances, however so do million-dollar-plus ones. Extra so, the value of the GCWB5000 is bound to make many G-Shock followers wince, if solely as a result of there’s little built-in understanding amongst the watch lover neighborhood as to what carbon is price or tips on how to worth it.
My very own interpretation of carbon supplies science is that none of those unique carbon blends are themselves per se treasured supplies. All of them principally use cheap base supplies which can be far outclassed by the valuable nature of say 18k gold. With that stated, carbon turns into extra fascinating within the distinctive formulation of the ensuing mix and the manufacturing approach utilized to create the ultimate components. These elements decide how visually pleasing the floor textures of the carbon are in addition to its general rigidity and skill to resist put on and tear. So how does Casio’s cast carbon age over time? I actually don’t but. I’d should put on this look ahead to some time to know. The general natural mix of colours may really cover blemishes fairly properly. I don’t suppose carbon is as scratch-resistant as different supplies, nevertheless it additionally isn’t notably fragile. For fans, the worth of carbon watch case materials is in how light-weight it’s, and the way it affords designers enormous selection by way of colours and textures. Casio made certain to decide on the correct kinds of carbon for the G-Shock GCWB5000UN-6, with a ensuing design that is perhaps polarizing however is undeniably cohesive.
The GCWB5000 watch case measures 45mm vast, 14.5mm thick, and with a 49.1mm lug-to-lug distance. The case is waterproof to 200 meters and has an AR-coated sapphire crystal over the damaging show LCD display screen. Contained in the watch is certainly one of Casio’s trendy Bluetooth-connected modules which additionally has Robust Photo voltaic charging. The dial design is like Casio classics, however with small variations to assist commemorate the fortieth anniversary of G-Shock together with the “Since 1983” label. We additionally see magenta and violet accent colours to match the case and bracelet’s carbon materials.
Because the GCWB5000s are a part of Casio’s extra elite group of G-Shock watches, they’re all assembled in Japan. In addition they include particular packaging associated to the G-Shock fortieth anniversary celebration. Will there be extra Carbon Version G-Shock watches? Most definitely. I anticipate that Casio will launch watches that blend resin straps with carbon circumstances, just like what the corporate has accomplished by mixing steel circumstances with resin straps. Carbon will take pleasure in attract due to its sturdy construction and its mild weight, however the largest enchantment to shoppers will doubtless be the color-blended circumstances and visible spectacle related to the relative novelty of these kinds of watches. As a timepiece fanatic, I like the concept of a extremely sturdy watch you could barely really feel on the wrist (much more so than most G-Shock watches). I additionally just like the artistry obtainable with the cast carbon supplies. I’m not certain that every one fans will wish to spend this a lot for the expertise, however as a minimum, Casio has one more ultra-cool, and unique look ahead to collectors to swoon over (“Is that the Carbon Version? Let me really feel it!”). The worth for the Casio G-Shock fortieth Anniversary Carbon Version GCWB5000UN-6 is $2,000 USD. Be taught extra on the Casio web site.
