G-Shock Alternatives
Celebrities like Eminem, Pharrell Williams, and Bradley Cooper love their G-shocks. They are tough enough to survive the apocalypse and are designed to last generations.
If you’re looking for a high-end alternative to a G-Shock, check out the Casio Pro Trek series. These tough hiking watches have triple sensor features (altimeter, compass and thermometer) but have a different look.
Ana-Digi Temp
With its boxy silver form and angular bisection of displays, the Ana-Digi Temp positively reeks of the 1980s. Yet, despite its retro aesthetic, this is one of the most groundbreaking timepieces to ever come out of Japan.
It incorporated analog and digital components, including dual time functionality, alarms, a chronograph, an ambient temperature sensor, and display back lighting. The result was a timepiece that was lightweight, durable, and extremely functional.
In the end, it was the Ana-Digi Temp that helped usher in a new era of tech-driven tool watches. Its influence can still be seen today in Casio’s G-Shock line of watches.
The Ana-Digi Temp was reissued in 2018 as part of Citizen’s collaboration with Japanese retail chain BEAMS. The collection included six different Star Wars-themed Ana-Digi Temp watches, each based aesthetically on a specific character or element from the film series. The most popular is this gold C3P0 model, but there are also R2D2, Darth Vader, and Boba Fett versions available as well.
G-Steel
If G-Shock is known for anything, it’s its substantial, ready-for-anything watches. But that’s not always the most comfortable look for slimmer wrists, so Casio has introduced its thinnest G-Steel yet with this GSTB400-1A model.
The new case uses a carbon core guard structure to achieve its low weight, high strength, and chemical resistance. It also eliminates the need for shock-resisting button guards and reduces the amount of metal used in the design. The GSTB400 also has a front LED light button that makes it easy to read the time in dim conditions.
Unlike other G-Steel models, this one features a chronograph function with an analog display and a dual-coil motor in the rotating dial at 9 o’clock. The watch also has Bluetooth connectivity that connects to your smartphone and synchronizes your time with the internet time server. All of this is packed in a watch that is both durable and elegant. It’s the perfect G-Shock for people who want to stay connected and still have an unbreakable timepiece.
G-Shock MR-G
The MR-G line represents the pinnacle of G-Shock’s engineering and bulletproof capability. It is characterized by its use of premium materials and a rugged aesthetic. The watches are made with a flat sapphire crystal that is armored by the bezel, which protects the glass from direct contact with objects that could shatter it. They also have a number of other features, including an alarm, a chronograph, and an altimeter.
This watch is part of the Full Metal MR-G series, which uses titanium and other advanced materials to showcase the brand’s Japanese heritage. Its dial was designed with the traditional Japanese kachi-iro color, which is dark navy blue and has a rich history in Japan. It was favored by samurais as a “winning” color and was used on their armor and helmets.
The MR-G line is meant to appeal to an older demographic, as opposed to the MG series, which caters to teenagers. These models are nigh-indestructible, and are crafted from premium materials such as titanium and fluoroelastomer rubber.
G-Shock AW-500
Originally launched in 1989, the AW-500 Series shattered the then widely held belief that analog watches are easily susceptible to shock due to their delicate hands and gears. This reissue of a classic features basic stopwatch and timer functions, along with an EL backlight and seven-year battery life.
This model is available in popular mud black or mud red hues and offers a unique dial presentation, fulfilling G-SHOCK’s promise of 200-meter water resistance and drawing on inspiration from diver’s watch design with a layout featuring a triangular marker and minute-displaying index.
In the 1980s, Casio understood that to appeal to a younger audience, they needed to use street culture in their marketing. The brand started using rappers, skaters, and fashion designers to promote their products, which helped them become a cultural phenomenon. Their newest models are no exception. The new AW-500D-1A8 looks like the original, but is lighter and has a more modern module. The watch also includes an EL backlight, so you can read the dial in the dark.
