Last year the all black model – an unlimited, in-production piece – was trading above RRP on the grey market after shops sold out. The digital display is tiny in comparison to other models by Casio – you are not using this easily to track your run times or check the time in Moscow even if it is capable of both. The lume has also decided to take the stealth option, it’s there on the hands but it’s so faint and discreet it might be unnoticed 5 minutes after the light being switched off. The digi display has a light but this has a time limit so you will find yourself pressing it multiple times in order to read anything useful. But with this said, no one buys the Casioak as a tool.
I don’t know if there is any AR coating on the glass or if it’s due to the matt, sandblasted style finish, but no reflections are present and even photos with my camera phone cut right through the glass to the dial with ease. My G history has been quite short, spanning maybe only a year and a half at best. The product can still be used safely after proper cleaning. Remove the battery with gloves and clean the battery compartment with a toothbrush and vinegar.
I have small hands and a relatively narrow 6.5” wrist – not the best place to put a large, chunky watch. And then the G-SHOCK GA-2100 series caught my eye – and fit my wrist. Thanks to its Carbon Core Guard architecture, the GA-2100 is the thinnest analog-digital G-SHOCK’s ever made. Well, it was until sales of the “Casioak” went nuts . Analog hands Easy to Read, digital windows are small but light button works and is bright.
Whilst the original G-shock also has an octangular bezel, it is also rectangular, which makes its design a bit of a stretch in terms of resemblance. But with that said, it also gives Casio the argument of simply reshaping and redesigning its already existing model. The case is matte which tones it down even further. All three of the original GA-2100 versions have a negative liquid crystal screen with light colored letters. The other two are black , blending in well with the rest of the watch face. There’s a supplementary half dial – indicating the day – next to the 9 o’clock index, and a small digital screen positioned in the lower right quadrant.
However, my favorite complication of the CasiOak is the world timer. I don’t travel often but the ease with which you can change time zones with just a few button presses makes this feature great for frequent travelers. The CasiOak lists the cities in those time zones as you scroll through them, taking the guesswork out of the process. I will admit that watching the hands spin around the dial as you change to a new time zone is also immensely satisfying. G-Shocks are no stranger to being bold and in your face with their wrist presence. The CasiOak takes a step back from that and is more subdued, both in looks as well as case dimensions.
Part of this is an illusion – the strap starts tapering almost immediately, making the horizon of the north and south poles of the GA-2100 disappear along with it. Still, that optical effect has a real impact on the wearing experience. It’s all about what you see when you look at your wrist.
This would make sense and be on-brand for Casio as G-Shocks have always fit a variety of personal styles. There is quite a bit of text that adorns the case of the CasiOak. G-Shock and Protection are presented at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions. Adjacent to each button on the side of the case is text indicating what that button’s function is. modification kit of gold-toned brushed steel butterfly bracelet and case , including that enigmatic octagon bezel.
If you have had any experience with a resin-cased G-Shock, there aren’t going to be any surprises here. The case is grippy, light and comfortable on the wrist. The matte black case and strap have the feel of rubber but don’t feel cheap. Casio have done a nice job of making the CasiOak feel like a tool and not a toy.
The answer, I think, is in how this watch wears, which is really unlike any other G-Shock I’ve strapped to my wrist. The GA-2100 series appears to be G-Shock’s most successful new model launch since the GMW-B5000. The blackout GA A1, one of three debut models from 2019, is still widely sold out and unavailable. The new GA-2110SU-3A (GA2110SU-3A in the U.S.) has been selling out quickly at some American retailers. Based on my own experience and the reactions of others, the reasons are very simple.
At 9 o’clock, it also has an analog day display that displays the day of the week. Lastly, we have a digital display presented https://www.gshock.com between about 3 and 6 o’clock. This digital display is integrated discreetly and blends in well with the dial.