I have always had a soft spot for Casio watches, from owning a Casio CA-52W-1 to my first G-Shock; the DW-5000C. This model back in the day was one of the more popular ranges from Casio, and seeing some of my friends and even my brother wearing it at the time, I was more than tempted to get my own.
The G-Shock DW-5000C served me well throughout my schooling and university years, and I remember wearing it to almost every occasion possible; sports days, swimming, cross country running to the less physically inducing desk work and social gatherings. These watches are known to have an incredible shock resistance, which gave me the flexibility to wear it to any occasion. I mean the G-shock does after all hold the Guinness world record for the heaviest vehicle to drive over a watch, so me wearing it to sporting events and a little dip in the pool was like a walk in the park for the DW-5000C. The functionality of the watch, such as the stopwatch features and the alarm clock was just as good as the mechanisms inside protecting it too. It’s safe to say the G-Shock DW-5000C was my all-round daily beater.
Fast forward a decade and I was in search once again for a watch that would suit all purposes of my life. After I tragically lost the DW-5000C, I moved onto trying other watches. Seeing my brother’s watch collection at the time and trying to collect my own, is what eventually lead me into the world of horology. It’s funny though because most of the pieces in my collection at the time were never really able to replicate the uniqueness of the G-Shock DW-5000. To be able to wear a watch to any occasion and put it through its paces without needing to worry of it breaking down is something not a lot of pieces in my collection had a reputation for.
Luckily for me, in 2018 Casio released the GMW-B5000GD-1, a 35 year anniversary revamp of the original DW-5000C released back in the 1980s. I almost instantaneously fell in love with this model thanks to its all-black “murdered” out look and also for the fact that the watch face closely resembled the old DW-5000C I used to own.
The DLC
What I loved about this piece was that the square case design, screen along with the bracelet feels like the original G-Shock DW-5000C I had when I first got into watches. The main exterior feel of this watch is that it carries more weight compared to the original DW-5000C, which makes sense as the GMW-B5000GD-1 is completely made from stainless steel, from the casing to the bracelet. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as the presence of this watch is definitely noticeable on the wrist, even if it is trying to achieve the opposite effect by being all black.
Thanks to the scratch-resistant coating, you won’t need to worry too much about getting nicks and dings from everyday wear. I’ve been able to wear this watch to sporting activities, and its almost always my go to gym watch as I can be rest assured that it’ll hold up through the rough workouts I’ll go through. It’s interesting to note though that for Casio to make sure that the GMW-B5000GD-1 is highly shockproof, there is a fine resin cushioning material inserted between the stainless steel casing and the bezel, with the module closed in a protective shell. The final product is a shock-resistant structure, that is protected by a steel case, providing a level of toughness most watches dream of. The steel bracelet is connected to the casing using a three pronged structure, which helps distribute the pressure when under heavy shocks. To provide strong resistance to abrasion and scratches, the back casing of the GMW-B5000GD-1 has also been coated in DLC.
The functionality of the G-Shock GMW-B5000GD-1 is almost as good as the protection surrounding the watch. The watch comes packed with features such as five world times, 1/100-second stopwatch, daily alarm and the use of a smartphone app to send reminders of dates to the watch. These reminders will appear on the watch in the form of a title display and special light emission pattern on the watch screen. The stopwatch feature along with the daily alarm really does come in handy.
Personally, for me, this watch will always have a special place in my collection thanks to its all-round versatility. What started my love for watches with the very first G-Shock DW-5000C has now made a return with the all-new and updated GMW-B5000GD-1. I now have a timepiece that I am proud to wear to any occasions including luxurious events.
